Lancaster - yes or no? (Philadelphia, Harrisburg: middle-class, for sale by owner, real estate)

[jeb412]

amsm, I'm originally from suburban Phila., now living in northeastern PA, where my husband is from. We've lived in the Lehigh Valley area (we both liked it there), and the Chambersburg, PA area (a little too rural for us). We've moved quite a few times as we were finishing up our education and training. We're only about 1 1/2 hours from Lititz/Manheim. We may be headed down this weekend to take a look around. We're drawn to the area because of the good schools, lifestyle, location, accessibility to Phila., family, (I have family in Chester and Berks counties), etc. We just want a nice place to raise our kids, where they can get a decent education (not unlike most parents.) We moved to NE PA 6 yrs. ago, and since then, the school system has really deteriorated. We're looking for a change, and a place that we'll stay put, hopefully until our kids are through school (they're only in elem., and one not even in school yet). bboy36win and coben majere thanks for the optimistic posts. We are looking to become part of a communtity. I'm hoping this might be the place for us.

[lititzman2003]

I've lived in Lititz for over three years after spending most of my life in Philly and everything has been great expect for the attitudes of our neighbors. We're in our 40's and no longer have children. I have experienced people walking past us without even raising their heads to look at us, act like they didn't hear us after we said "hello" and sophomoric behavior that goes beyond anything you could have been a part of in a high school hallway. I originally thought this nonsense only existed in our development but found it was pervelant in our parish as well. People can almost sense where a person is from and then throw up the walls if that person isn't a Lancaster County native.

If anyone is thinking of moving here after doing the tourist thing, please consider my advice: spend another weekend walking through the towns and making as much contact with the people as possible. Watch a parade or attend a church service. Ignore the shopping malls. If you see a house for sale in a town that you like try striking up a conversation with the neighbors and try to get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

[blauskies]

Originally Posted by lititzman2003

I've lived in Lititz for over three years after spending most of my life in Philly and everything has been great expect for the attitudes of our neighbors. We're in our 40's and no longer have children. I have experienced people walking past us without even raising their heads to look at us, act like they didn't hear us after we said "hello" and sophomoric behavior that goes beyond anything you could have been a part of in a high school hallway. I originally thought this nonsense only existed in our development but found it was pervelant in our parish as well. People can almost sense where a person is from and then throw up the walls if that person isn't a Lancaster County native.

If anyone is thinking of moving here after doing the tourist thing, please consider my advice: spend another weekend walking through the towns and making as much contact with the people as possible. Watch a parade or attend a church service. Ignore the shopping malls. If you see a house for sale in a town that you like try striking up a conversation with the neighbors and try to get a feel for what it would be like to live there.

Your exactly, right..even if your a PA native and from another area or city in the state, local yokels will treat you like an outsider. The mentality is strange and hard to accept. I lived in York for a few years and experienced this first hand.

[Oldiebutgoodie26]

I lived in Ephrata (recently) for a couple of years, and now I am in Lancaster city. The locals are NOT open to outsiders. They simply aren't. Lots of reasons why, but, they are not a friendly lot. This piece of information may or may not bother you. I do not have an overwhelming need to hang out with my neighbors (which is good, b/c they are not into that), but it might bother you. You will find people around here very, very chilly. It's a combination of many things (ethnic, cultural), but it is here. You either deal with it, or move to a friendlier place. I have found rude, aloof, cold, stand-offish people here, and I've lived other places. Again, you learn how to cope.

The public schools are good. The shopping is great. You have access to major cities and highways. Baltimore, DC, Philly, NYC, the Jersey shore, are all close. Lots of things to do. Fairly safe area. AMTRAK and Greyhound will spirit you away. Probably cheaper than around Philly. There are many reasons to come live in Lancaster. Personally, I miss the city atmosphere I had in DC/Baltimore- and I've kinda had it with the "You must be from somewhere else" attitude. You may find this to be heaven on earth. My experience has been that this was an OK place to visit- not where I want to live. Please also note, I'm a teacher with no classroom, so, job-wise, this area is not great- but that's me, not you.

[amsm196]

Thanks again for the info! Well It looks like the Lancaster County locals will just have to deal with all the outsiders who are moving into Lancaster County, for those who are moving there for sure, you will make friends, if some locals are childish and have no manners then ignore them, their loss not ours. I'm happy to say that living 26 years on Long Island NY the people were very nice, open and warm, on the downside was the cost of living. But again, its the locals who have to wake up, because they seem to have some serious issue's. Likley insecure.

But with all the outsiders moving in i would think its only a matter of time before that cold feeling changes.

Thanks -----T

[PAFOREVER]

Hi all I came upon this site while trying to find info on the town I just moved to in Lancaster County. I have lived in the county for about 5 years now and just moved to Maytown in October. I am originally from a Philadelphia suburb. I have lived in a few different towns in Lancaster County (Millersville, Lancaster, Mount Joy and now Maytown). I have always found the people to be very nice from day one. You have some who are not friendly to anyone "outsider" or born and raised.
I have friends here who were born and raised and others who like me have moved here in the last five years or so. I honestly have not found the people to be snobby. I have heard many people say that they find the locals unfriendly towards outsiders but in my own opinion I don't think so, I've never had a problem.

As far as the schools go I would stay out of the city at all costs. When we were house hunting for our first home we didn't have much of a budget but though the houses were very inexpensive there was no way I was going to send my kids to SDL. For more info on schools in the area (or any other) check www.greatschool.net.

As for job market, if you don't mind a commute there is a decent amount of well paying jobs out there. If you want local you may not like the pay much. My husband commutes to Harrisburg where the market is a lot better.

Overall I think there is a great amount of things to do in the area (fairs, zoos, museums, shopping, parks, etc.) and though I sometimes miss the "excitement" of Philly...I would not raise my kids anywhere else than Lancaster County.

Thanks for listening to my opinion!!!

[AliasSpiff]

I have lived in Lancaster for the last 3 years, and I love it... however, my social life is quite lacking. It is a beautiful area, with lots of promise, a bit of crime, mostly stuff that happens anywhere else... I live in Lancaster City, and am quite enamoured of the old houses here, while others think that these "row" homes are trashy ghetto places... and, while some are, the vast majority are not... it is all in where you look. I do live on the West End, close to your School Lane HIlls, and while the School thing is not an issue for me, I would not have my children go to SDL, if I still live here when that does become an issue. I am all about diversity, and all that, but...not when there are more 14 yr old kids in HS that are knocked up and can't speak English. Call me what you will, but I have issues with that.

But, good luck with the hunt...
AManda

[meandb]

Is it possible that the locals just choose not to "see" people whom they assume are just tourists, who are interested in their countryside and quaint markets but not in them? Are they tired of being a tourist area (aside from those who make a living from it)? ---- It reminds me of homecoming weekend when I was in college - all these folks would show up with their kids and baby strollers for a weekend, and we students felt invaded, like enough already, go home.
Do they resent the traffic or feel exploited - like, leave us alone, "we just want to live here without folks taking pictures"? I know, the beauty and location has helped them prosper too, but still...

[hank27]

My wife and I moved to School Lane Hills 3 yrs ago with our two children. We wouldn't live anywhere else in Lancaster. Living here is ideal for our jobs and our commute is great compared to everyone else's coming in from the outer suburbs. We haven't addressed the city school issue yet, but my wife works with doctors who went to those schools and whose kids go to those schools and they tell us the paranoia from the "white-flight"ers is greatly exaggerated. The suburban schools have just as many drug problems but they probably don't have a daycare for student's babies

As for the locals and their attitudes, we've only encountered that in outer areas (especially Lititz). Around SLH the people are very friendly and always say hello when we pass them during our walks. Two out of three of our neighbors are very friendly to us. They don't come over for dinner or ask to help them clean their gutters or anything but I'd hate that if they did. How does a "local" know that you aren't a "local" too? Maybe it's just that they don't talk to people they don't know? I don't either - beyond "hello".

In our 3 yrs here we haven't seen anything in Lancaster that is as nice as SLH, but then we aren't into cookie-cutter suburbia and the shopping outlets so to each their own I guess

[NYC Girl 67]

I am also from Long Island and moved here after 9/11. The people are just cold, its weird really, once they hear your accent they become put off. It takes alot to adjust here. I can tell you to stay FAR away from the Penn Manor school districts. REDNECK CENTRAL. There is no racial diversity here in most of Lancaster county. As a matter of fact the KKK is here. Most of the cold people you meet, who are nice to your face wear sheets on the weekend.

Look being a NY'er I will tell it like it is. If someone would have helped me I would have stayed home. Food is awful. Restrauants close too early. Up until last year they had corporal punishments on the school books! You should have seen us at the school for that one. We did manage to have them remove it from the district by way of the Education law center. We are viewed as "problem" parents because we advocate for our children. They feel that children should be seen and not heard. Our motto "Question Authority". The staff at the Penn Manor school district are way to young and have a chip on their shoulders. I mean really to be brought in to a meeting because my 17 yr old son was staring at his 22 yr old teacher as she bent down with her thong hanging out! I mean really. We have kids teaching kids. Don't look for the Admistration to help, they just sit there and watch you explain and don't comment. Useless.

If I did not have kids I would say you could come and adjust. The Hempfield school district would be the only one I would recommend. And they have a drug problem. Good luck