Relocating from Michigan to Sunbury, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg, State College: crime, house, safe area)

[MUKUL11]

Hey Everyone,
I have an opportunity to move to Sunbury with my wife and son (18yrs) to take a job in Harrisburg. I was just wondering if anyone could give me some general information about the area. What the weather is like, is it a safe area, what the community is like, what good colleges are in the nearby area, job opportunities, recreational and fun places in the area etc...

Looking forward to your replies.

Thanks.

[Dawne]

Personally, I would choose a community other than Sunbury. Your commute to Harrisburg will be easier from the other side of the river (down Route 15). It sounds like you don't have to worry about schools. Nearby colleges include the expensive private ones - Bucknell in Lewisburg and Susquehanna in Selinsgrove - as well as less expensive state universities, such as Bloomsburg in Bloomsburg and Penn College of Technology in Williamsport.

The weather is probably milder than what you're used to in Michigan. We get cold in the winter, but seldom down to 0 degrees, and we get some snow but usually less than a foot at a time. We have rainy springs and summers that tend to get dry enough to cause water restrictions. It's usually humid here during all seasons, which can get bone chlling in the winter and stifling in the summer.

Job opportunities right around here aren't the best. You're better off commuting to Harrisburg, as it sounds like you intend to do. There are good cultural events available because of the universities, lots of shopping, several good hospitals, and more and more restaurants coming to the area.

Recreation can include anything from hiking in nearby state parks, hunting there, fishing, and boating on the Susquehanna River, which is dammed during the summer to create Lake Augusta. There are several marinas for pontoon boats and other water craft.

As far as safety, it's safer here than in the big cities, although as I said, I'd choose Selinsgrove or Lewisburg over Sunbury, for safety reasons and for property value reasons. My son's girlfriend moved here about a year ago from Michigan, a tiny town called West Branch, and her mom thinks Selinsgrove is huge. I think it's just right and that Sunbury is too big. It all depends on where you're coming from and what you're used to.

Good luck, keep us posted, and let us know if you have any more questions.

[PATRAIN]

Any Reason It Has To Be Sunbury?

[susquehannock]

Why would you want to live in a third-world, drug and crime infested cesspool?

Take Dawne's advice.

[CHIP72]

If you are working in Harrisburg, why would you want to live 1 hour away?

Selinsgrove is probably a better bet if you want to live that far north of Harrisburg. If you want to live in a small town that is closer to Harrisburg, both Millersburg and Duncannon are decent though not great alternatives.

[R.J. MacReady]

I bought and owned a house in Sunbury for six years that I sold two years ago. I lived in a decent part of the town and did enjoy my time there. I was lucky to find a nice small starter home tucked away without much noise. I never wanted to buy a house in Sunbury but it was too nice to pass up when I saw it. I'm much happier in Selinsgrove though. I would pick Selinsgrove, Lewisburg, Winfield, Shamokin Dam, and parts of Norhumberland before Sunbury. I'll probably be moving out of this area in about ten months. Loving to move to State College, Harrisburg, or out of state. But for the area I'm content in Selingrove.

[p.a.gal]

While I've never lived in Sunbury, my mother grew up there, my grandparents lived there, some cousins, aunts and uncles are still there... and I visit regularly. I have to echo the other posters--why? Why choose an economically depressed town with largely decrepit housing and not-so-hot schools an hour from your job when you will have plenty of affordable choices far closer to Harrisburg. I'm a Penn Stater--both growing up and while in college, I heard the nickname "Scumbury" used. That being said, I also think plenty of nice folks live in and around the town (including my own family), but not too many people choose to move there.

[joeb880]

Sunbury has made great strides the past few years. The results aren't apparent yet, but they soon will be. Sunbury is at the beginning of an exciting time. The town is going to go through major changes, and alot of people work very hard everyday to try and make this happen. There are very nice properties in Sunbury, you'll payless in home cost and taxes. Sunbury also has the best fire and police protection. Good Luck.

[FightinPhils]

I agree with CHIP72, if you want a smaller rural town that's a little bit of distance from Harrisburg, I would look into Millersburg. An ex-girlfriend of mine in back when I was in college lived in that area, and I remember Millersburg as a nice little town on the river with a main street with a bunch of little shops and a gazebo. Nice town, and the cost-of-living seemed reasonable. The area's probably a little bit on the rednecky side, but that seemed to be changing as a lot of people from the Harrisburg area seemed to be moving there at the time. This was more than 10 years ago that I was last in the area, so I'm not sure if much has changed since then.

[armynse]

I have lived in Sunbury since 1993 and after Delaware County this is heaven. While there are problems here as any other third class city. It is much safer than many other towns. Many blue collar down to earth people that tell it like it is no holds barred. I have had car breakdowns and folks have always come to my assistance. Something that never happened in Delaware County.
If you want to help with getting rid of problems Volunteer as in any community.