Is PA depressing? (Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, Springfield: minimum wage, living, moving to)

[mach]

I did not read all the post but YES, Western PA is very depressing. I never seen so many people on SS in my life. Most of these people work like farmers and still get ss.I grow up near Indiana PA I lived in MD for 7 years. I decided to move back to PA big mistake. I"m a license electrician and I could not find work for over 7 months that didn't pay over $14/hr I hear eastern PA is nice. any way i'm leaving PA for good. Currently in SC interviewing. The school are good in PA.

[Lookingforasafehome]

Or maybe social factors or income, but its not the state, there are bad pockets in all places, move to a place you like, and that thing bout getting drunk and pregant, looking for smokes and reproducing a generation like that again, is EVERYWHERE and if you do not like that, change your life, go to school, give your child a better chance in life, encourge them to read and write, take time to tutor them if they need help with schoolwork, teach them that they have a chance at a good life, and teach them to not be depressed if you are, your children can have a better life, if u teach them that they are worth the extra time, that you make priorities and then follow them...some people grow up in homes where they are told to work for min wage, not go to school, marry and hook up with losers, but guess what? YOU can use your brain to do better and you will if you want too.

[trlstreet]

There are depressing areas anywhere. I personally find some of the coal regions of north central Pa depressing, along w/ some of areas in Fayette Co. I live in York County. Sure, the city is a bit depressing, but there are plenty of beautiful areas around here. PA has an abundance of natural resources and parks. Take for instance Pittsburgh. As an outdoorsman, I could walk from my home in downtown Pittsburgh to a trail, bike trail, or river in five minutes. Not many other large cities can say that.

Any place is what you make it. I have found many other states I've visited (NY, Ohio, NJ, GA, Ilinois, Indiana) to have areas much more depressing than anything I've ever seen in PA.

[ghog69]

As my wife and I are looking to move out of state, I would say yes but with clarification. It is not just PA but the NE in general. I am from S. NJ, been here about 10 years. My wife was born in PA.

IMHO the NE has alot of negative, selfish people with a lazy attitude. This is not to say ALL of them. There are many nice, hard-working forks here, but I have traveled around the US and it is definitely a 'trend' in the NE. There are other reasons for us leaving like cost of living and jobs, but the negativity is a big factor for me.

Oh well, there is no one place anywhere in the world that will make everyone happy, so it really is up to each person to decide.

[imright]

it is not the greatest place, but it is not the worst place either. I think that the North East area is what you make it, sort of.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by carolinajack

it can be depressing but not all of it. Philly area is depressing in the suburbs and in the inner city areas that are really poor and dangerous but in Center City Philadelphia and chestnut hill area is not depressing but rather really nice.

Also go up I-95 to New Hope, Pa and other rivertowns which are really nice with shopping and cool arts and restaurants.

Could you clarify what percentage of the Philly suburbs you think are depressing?

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by PlainJane

Pennsylvania is actually one of the most beautiful states in the country. Lush foliage, huge hardwood trees and flanked by two large cities. If you choose to live near Philadelphia, which is probably preferable, you have an hours drive to the beaches of the Atlantic ocean. That same drive time will take you into the Pocono mountains. Suburban Philadelphia is full of rolling hills and pretty neighborhoods.

Good post. I've done the cross country trip a few times and I've come to realize how special of a landscape we have here in Pennsylvania.Its a shining jewel. I' not that familiar with the western part of the state but I loved what I saw and loved Pittsburghs beautiful skyline and downtown. The eastern side of the state is fabulous. Center City Philly is one of the most vibrant city scenes in the USA, the Philly suburbs for the most part are off the charts. If you want a treat spend a day exploring West Chester, Valley Forge,Berwyn,Great Valley,New Hope and end up cruising through and having lunch or dinner in the main line neighborhoods of Villanova, Gladwyne or Bryn Mawr.

I'll never refuse a chance to take a ride up the northeast extension and take in the beauty of the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. Or cruise out to the beautiful countryside of Lancaster,York,Ephrata,Gettsyburg, Chadds Ford,Kennet Square, Elverson,

[Travel'r]

Can't say the whole state's depressing -- and Spring is soooo worth waiting for! I find the winters actually go rather quickly, really (<---coming from somebody who appreciated the chronic heat & sunshine living in S. Florida, too), but I may be crazy in that regard, I guess

[quote=rainrock;436007 the Philly suburbs for the most part are off the charts. If you want a treat spend a day exploring West Chester, Valley Forge,Berwyn,Great Valley,New Hope and end up cruising through and having lunch or dinner in the main line neighborhoods of Villanova, Gladwyne or Bryn Mawr.[/QUOTE]

Now we're talkin'! Lovely to both live and work in these areas!
Haven't been in Great Valley, but trust it's right on par? (pun intended :>). Heaven in these suburbs for golfers, too!

[beenaround]

I still visit Altoona every once in a while, and for a short time, lived in Washington County, near Pittsburgh. I am mostly familiar with southwestern PA, and yes, parts are depressing. You have to remember that a good chunk of PA is in Appalachia. But there great suburban areas that are modern and clean with great amounts of shopping (Logan Township near Altoona, Robinson Township, Monroeville, Greensburg-Hempfield Township all near Pittsburgh). Also, people are generally friendy (but lots of a-holes though..sorry, just my experience) and the hills and mountains are beautiful, especially when the colors change.

[wallstreet1986]

Philly suburbs are nice housing is too expensive so I'm not moving back for quite a while or til post law degree.

You need 120-150k just for a four bedroom house on an acre in a decent schooldistrict (well this is more than you get in a chicago suburb and the suburbs are prettier) but the job opps are less in Philly than in Chicago.

SE PA is the best part of PA you'll feel like in Southern England with the country estates in Brandywine and Radnor Hunt and the Main Line. If the estates weren't 4 million dollars a piece and so high in comparison to incomes (as they weren't quite so 20 years ago) it would be nice to work hard and eventually buy one. Now that's mostly out of reach for even a doctor or lawyer oh well.