Fish out of Water (Scranton, Wilkes-Barre: apartment, daycare, how much)

[jolie]

Hi and thanks in advance for any helpful advice

I have been a like quiet peaceful, spiritual fish out of water in an intense, noisy NYC environment most of my life. My mom will be retiring soon and I am still raising a teen daughter. Its been a long awaited dream of mine to settle down in the country.

However I am concerned now that I've done some research and read about how some PA residents feel about former NY'ers & crime. I planned to relocate to the Pocono region with my mom & teen daughter. We are quiet, simple people. We are also a mixed-race family. I appear Hawaiian and my daughter looks like Halle Berry.

I was in particular drawn to the Chesnuthill township which is the Pleasant Valley school district.

Is there any constructive advice you can give me about what my daughter, or my mother or I will face?

We want to blend in as quietly and peacefully as possible

Thanks again & GOD BLESS

[bamboosmom]

Please don't let anybody tell you what to do.
You have dreamed for this for so long, this is a free country and you can go anywhere you choose. Be happy and don't let others that are negative scare you. You will be around many other people from New York in that area.
Live the American dream and don't let anybody stop you.
Welcome to Pennsylvania

[FightinPhils]

BUT...the Poconos could hardly be considered "the country" or "rural" anymore. The Poconos, especially Monroe County, are more like North Jersey than they are like PA. My advice is to look at different areas than the Poconos (as long as you aren't commuting to NY). The Poconos are more expensive, since realtors are preying on gullible NY/NJ people who think Poconos prices are cheap...look to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre or further west. The pace is a little slower and the prices are more bearable.

[jolie]

bamboosmom
You are very sweet, thankyou


conorsdad
Thank you for your advice. In researching I did notice some over-priced homes.

[bamboosmom]

If you want to be closer to the city then the Stroudsburg area is a hop and a skip away. Scranton is a bit further but nice too.

You can get a great priced home if you check the mls for the Stroudsburg area. I think you would feel comfortable in that area because of all the New York and New Jersey families. You will have things in common to talk about too! There are many surrounding areas that are also lovely. I still consider it the country when you come from an apartment building that is right next door to other buildings, beeping horns, taxi's etc.!

[batialeah]

Pike county in the Poconos is one of the fastest growing counties in the country - lots of NJ AND NYC folks buying up land and houses. I would try in and around Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area - there are some good school districts - and welcoming people. I am also mixed race - don't EVER feel like you have to explain yourself to anyone. I agree, live and let live, you will find your kindred spirits.
Best,

[jolie]

batialeah
Thank you for your advice

[snowghost]

I remember going through Easton a few times and really liking the feel of the town. Don't know how much you need to get to NYC though and what that might do to you to try to commute from there. There's a college there, up on the hilll overlooking the town...just nice

[jolie]

Thanks. I won't be commuting

[winnie]

I live in Pike and am a NY native.

While people won't necessarily be outright nasty to you they might be somewhat aloof. Frankly I am now just fine with that..I did not come here to be a social bug I came here for the peace and quiet.

i am sure if you have school aged kids you will make friends quicker. I have a DD with severe allergies and we cannot do daycare, even at this point public school is in question. So our social circle is still in NY with old friends and family.

I still recommend pike to others. The housing here is very cheap and the taxes are very bearable. You will still have access to NYC if you want to visit old friends, but this area is still pretty quiet. The school district is very good. There are a lot of lakes and plenty of parks to go hiking in.

I would recommend Hawley, Milford and even Greenville NY as nice places to raise a family. Greenville has very good access to shopping and healthcare while still being a very quiet, safe rural town. Minisink Valley schools are very good. Hawley is a nice quiet little town too and they have a zoo and a lake up there as well.

And BTW - if your daughter looks like Halley Berry you might want to keep a baseball bat at your front door to drive off the boys . Country boys have eyes too you know. Being a mixed race family should not be an issue until you get out into some of the really small towns in NE PA where people might talk behind your back and make jerks out of themselves.