Relocating to PA (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown: low crime, houses, employment)

[sljo]

Hello,

My husband and I would like to relocate to PA next summer. We know we want to move to PA because we LOVE the east coast atmosphere but we have one major issue. We're not sure city in PA is the best to move. We're looking for a good African American community where is prosperous for blacks, good schools, etc. I'm not sure if Philly, Pittsburg, Allenton, Erie, or Reading would be a good choose. Also, if a particular city is suggested could you provide some informational websites for research. Thank you.

[ScranBarre]

Hello there! It's nice to see someone (I'm assuming from the West), with an interest in relocating to our beautiful Commonwealth! Personally, I won't be able to help you much without a bit MORE information about what you're looking for in an area (City, suburb, rural area near a city?), housing price ranges, etc. I don't quite know why you name-dropped that you were African-American; I truly believe that anyone in our state has an equal opportunity to truly excel in life and everyone is afforded an equal opportunity in our state to fulfill their most wondrous dreams! I myself am also a minority, and while I've experienced some cultural tensions because of it (I live in a smaller city), I still never really felt as if the windows on economic opportunity were out of reach for me!

With that being said, generally avoid Luzerne and Lackawanna Counties if you're looking for a "diverse" type of area, as we're 99.9% straight, white, non-Hispanic, Christian, middle-aged, Conservative, etc. In general, you may also want to avoid MOST of our state's suburbs, which also tend to be 99.9% white and not too accepting of minorities (perhaps the exception would be in Montgomery, Delaware, Bucks, and Chester Counties around Philly). Philly itself is a wonderful city, but all of the "safer" neighborhoods, such as Olde City, Manayunk, Roxborough, Fairmount Park, etc. are quite expensive. Pittsburgh is a city I've only been to twice, but I've never failed to be amazed by its beauty, cleanliness, and friendliness! From what I hear, Pittsburgh proper doesn't have many "liveable" neighborhoods, and I'm not sure of any African-friendly suburbs, so if you're interested in Pittsburgh, post another thread on the Pittsburgh sub-forum, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of helpful responses!

Other major cities in the state are Erie (beautiful location with dreary weather and stagnant economy), Reading (convenient to Philly but horrific violent crime rate), Lancaster (average city surrounded by horrible urban sprawl problems), York (another average city with a bit more crime than Lancaster), Harrisburg (state capital with great employment outlook, great location, but high crime rate), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (up-and-coming area close to NYC but very narrow-minded towards minorities, especially blacks and gays), Williamsport (beautiful setting with a stagnant economy but isolated from major cities), Hazleton (STAY AWAY), Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton (possibly a good bet for you; near to NYC and Philly with average crime, average housing prices, and milder weather than many other areas of the state due to valley location), Altoona/Johnstown (no economic vitality left whatsoever, isolated yet somewhat convenient to Pittsburgh), State College (Liberal college town, home to Penn State, isolated from major cities), and finally the Pocono Mountains, which are a blend of murderous gang problems in some areas to paradise-like living in others.

If you can help me out a bit more here with more information, I'm sure I can help you narrow down your choices! I'm always glad to help, and welcome to PA!

[deedee ramone]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

From what I hear, Pittsburgh proper doesn't have many "liveable" neighborhoods, and I'm not sure of any African-friendly suburbs, so if you're interested in Pittsburgh, post another thread on the Pittsburgh sub-forum, and I'm sure you'll get plenty of helpful responses!

Not true. Parts of Oakland and all of Shadyside, Bloomfield, and Friendship are nice places to live. The South Side isn't bad, but the prices keep creeping up (as they have been for a decade). Mount Washington isn't bad, either, and has a spectacular view overlooking the city.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by deedee ramone

Not true. Parts of Oakland and all of Shadyside, Bloomfield, and Friendship are nice places to live. The South Side isn't bad, but the prices keep creeping up (as they have been for a decade). Mount Washington isn't bad, either, and has a spectacular view overlooking the city.

I actually forgot all about Mount Washington! The skyline views from there are awesome, and taking that incline cable car was spectacular! As I said, I'm not familiar with the other neighborhoods; I was just going on "from what I've heard" (then again, there are a lot of people who make Scranton out to be worse than Camden, NJ, so I guess everyone truly has their own perspectives!)

[normbarnes]

Info on schools is available at schoolmatters.com. Upper Merion is a fine school district. Homes are about 315 - 390K Taxes about 3,600. Wynnewood is affluent -- can't get into race requirement -- that is a personal matter. The area is just outside of Philly near St Joseph's University home of the "Hawks". Yeadon is another nice area but William Penn School District needs some help. More information directly contact me at norm.barnes@longandfoster.com. Good Luck -- Buy safely.

Norm

[openless]

Harrisburg (state capital with great employment outlook, great location, but high crime rate),

I live nad grew up in harrisburg. I would like to say that it is a great place to live. But yes I think its true that in the city itself there is a very high crime rate. mostly its drug related, or drug fueled. you always need to be carefully and watch your personal safety level in the city.

although some of the suburbs around here are straight, white and conservative, not all of them are. there are great areas around harrisburg for you to go and settle into. Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland, Susquahanna Township, Linglestown, Paxtonia are all good places to go.

I am white and my wife is asian and we do sometimes get a double look here and there, but never a stare or anyone refusing to talk to us because of it. There are a lot of ignorant people out there, but that's everywhere. You wouldnt have a problem at all because of being from a different race. Harrisburg is the 3rd most diverse place in our commonwealth after philly and pittsburgh. despite the fact that other PA cities (erie, allentown, reading, scranton, lancaster) have far large populations.

I would suggest Susquehanna township, it is highly diverse, and has a lot of Jewish, Black and Spanish people in it. It is highly prosperous and has an average school. close to shopping and tons of jobs, its a great suburban place to be.

[Syrinx2112]

Originally Posted by sljo

Hello,

My husband and I would like to relocate to PA next summer. We know we want to move to PA because we LOVE the east coast atmosphere but we have one major issue. We're not sure city in PA is the best to move. We're looking for a good African American community where is prosperous for blacks, good schools, etc. I'm not sure if Philly, Pittsburg, Allenton, Erie, or Reading would be a good choose. Also, if a particular city is suggested could you provide some informational websites for research. Thank you.

Philly will probably be your most diverse city in the state and there are incredible racially mixed neighborhoods like Mt. Airy, East Falls, Overbrook.

Good luck

[only1leah]

If you can't afford private schooling for your children, then Philly is not the best place to move. You hsve some flexibility if your kids are in highschool, but the nice neiborhoods in Philly are just expensive to live in, and 10 years from now, it may not be the same.

Montgomery County is better for schools, but it's not diverse at all. I think they like it that way. I guess the idea is that if you keep blacks out of the neighborhood, you can avoid crime.

I reside in Delaware County, and I love it. Again, some of the school districts are better than others, so I would do my homework. Aldan, PA is beautiful. Aldan calls itself "A community of homes". It has a very low crime rate, it hasn't been "overrun by West Philadelphia", as I've seen other comments posted on this site about Delaware County. It's diverse and the homes are georgous older homes, big yards, well maintined, - it's a very nice place to live. It's a little pricey, the taxes are what they are but I think it's worth it. You can find a lovely 4 bedroom home for about $200 - $250K.

Aldan borderlines Lansdowne, Secane and Yeadon, but it's different, and maintains it's own charm. It is also very convenient to shopping, and you can really avoid Baltimore Pike traffic altogether.

I love living in Delaware County. I would never move back to Philly.

[DaveKeyz79]

I'm going to be looking at some houses in Yeadon, PA. this week. I live in Brookhaven, PA. right now but I'm looking to move to a different area. Any comments good or bad about Yeadon?

[runswithscissors]

Depends on what you mean, really. If you want mountains and rural (why, though ....for you?) go west.

I suggest and come from Bucks County, north east of Phila.on the Delaware River near Trenton NJ. Easy to get to downtown Philly, and NYC by car or train. Good schools, diverse but maybe not "enough" yet but has always been and even in the original farm-type non metro burbs, back to the 80's when my kid was in school. No wierdo-stupid prejudice there, no skinheads etc lol

Cosmopolitan (for burbs) in that people come here from all over and ransacked the area from NY and Princeton NJ in the 80's LOL.

My coworker is the NAACP regional secretary (?) for example and has lived in Bucks forever and in a famous small quaint unpretentious neighborhood famous for being the first integrated section in the 50's with all nationalities and races.

Sometimes it feels crowded, but it's all in your budget and background what you think.

MAJOR plus is African Americans are not even considered something we would even think anything about (if you know what I mean) but there is a good community for you guys to "support" (?) mentor, attend church, whatever it is ....sorry I'm Caucasian so perhaps saying this ungracefully.

other MAJOR plus is the totally quick and easy access to escape the burbs and get into Phila and NYC for any cultural activity you can imagine.

Stay over by Yardley, Newtown and west and north not east of there not Levittown or Bristol, both fine but education is not respected there and it's a whole different vibe, also very crowded with more invisible prejedice.

The city of Phila is fine, more or less, really depends on YOU, it's large with alot of neighborhoods that never intersect with the downtown urban feel, but tricky. And for kids, public schools I vote nope. Even though I like the city and the arts etc there. If you have that affinity you can enjoy Phila but will be frustrated with some elements of crime and some elements of poor role models for your children at time.

The city wage tax however is something to add on.

Name a budget and we'll tell you for sure. And if you want burbs or urban or farm lol. And your traffic avoidance tolerance LOLOL