The fastest commute from PA to NYC? (Philadelphia, Scranton: transplants, townhouse)

[Wise_Mover]

Im looking to move to PA from Bergen County, NJ (Yippee!) and have narrowed it down to three counties. Lehigh, Monroe, & Pike Counties--in that order.

Can anyone please let me know which townships are the best to live in regards to those particular areas and how long is the typical drive to NY--in traffic and out.

Also, if you have a location in PA that would be closer but not overly pricey, you can let me know about that too!

My house hunting range will stretch up to $300,000. ($250,000 Max is what we're striving for)

Thanks!

[KevinE]

With the price of fuel continuing to rise such a commute seems shortsighted.

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by KevinE

With the price of fuel continuing to rise such a commute seems shortsighted.

I saw on the news that one station near me is now at $3.91/gallon. We are expected to hit $4/gallon some time next week. This is pure madness. How people can still justify driving daily from PA to NYC is mind-boggling, yet tens of thousands of folks in my area do just that. Heaven forbid Governor Rendell made an attempt at attracting some DECENT career opportunities to our Commonwealth besides distribution centers.

[bluecountry]

I actually was curious

1) How come Pike County is included in the NY metro census...and not Monroe?
-Will this change next go around?

2) Is Pike and Monroe rural, suburban, or both?
-Is it undergoing mild or intensive developement?
-Do you think the gas prices will stunt?

3) Overall...in Pike and Monroe counties...are people more interested and affiliated with the New York area as opposed to Philly or PA?

4) Do you get NY, Philly, or both TV stations?

5) What is the alligance with sports teams?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

I actually was curious

1) How come Pike County is included in the NY metro census...and not Monroe?
-Will this change next go around?

Pike County is relatively near Newburgh, NY via I-84 and was included in its metropolitan area recently. Newburgh, NY is part of the larger metropolitan area of New York City, so Pike County kind of got annexed through association with Newburgh. Monroe County may very well also be annexed by 2020 since well over 10,000 people in that county now commute to the New York City area daily for work with more moving in each year. The new commuter rail line between Scranton and NYC can't come soon enough for most of us. Oddly enough Warren County, NJ isn't included in Greater NYC, nor is the Lehigh Valley for that matter, even though many residents in both areas are becoming increasingly aligned with NYC's sphere of influence.

2) Is Pike and Monroe rural, suburban, or both?
-Is it undergoing mild or intensive developement?
-Do you think the gas prices will stunt?

Pike County is generally rural and Monroe County is increasingly suburban with a few rural pockets left. Growth was extreme in the few years following 9/11 as many families re-evaluated their lives and wanted to flee the city, but it has now cooled in recent years. If gas prices continue to rise to $5/gallon as many analysts are now projecting, growth here will be stunted since there are very few quality employers in the Poconos. The only saving grace will be that commuter rail line from Scranton to NYC, but even then the train will be a very lengthy commute.

3) Overall...in Pike and Monroe counties...are people more interested and affiliated with the New York area as opposed to Philly or PA?

People in Pike and Monroe Counties are overwhelmingly aligned towards New York City and Northern New Jersey. The Stroudsburgs are now an extension of the North Jersey sprawl. Many folks in the Poconos thumb their noses at Scranton because they think it's some sort of backwater town, even though it's the hub of a metropolitan area of over 550,000.

4) Do you get NY, Philly, or both TV stations?

Pike County is officially part of the NYC media market, but from what I understand they can still pick up Scranton stations. Nobody in these counties, to my knowledge, are in the Philadelphia television market.

5) What is the alligance with sports teams?

Now that the NY Yankees have their AAA team in Scranton we've been seeing many more Poconos folks coming on up to see them. I'd gander that the Poconos are mostly Yankees fans with a slight edge in football towards the Eagles.

[bluecountry]

Thanks...I don't understand.

1) Why is Pike and Monroe county undergoing sprawl and so much a part of having commuters?
-These counties are out in the mountains far from New York.

2) Has the rural character been lost?
-Why hasn't PA done more to keep?

3) How come the Eagles are more favored in football if this area is more alligned with New York area?

[W-B proud]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

Thanks...I don't understand.

1) Why is Pike and Monroe county undergoing sprawl and so much a part of having commuters?
-These counties are out in the mountains far from New York.

2) Has the rural character been lost?
-Why hasn't PA done more to keep?

3) How come the Eagles are more favored in football if this area is more alligned with New York area?

answer to question # 1.: New Jersey taxes are astronomical, so many by-pass New Jersey all together, and move right over the border into Pa. That part of Pa. is also more rural then Nj. so alot of people move here for that reason (they can live in the country, and still be an hour and a half away from Manhattan). Answer to #2: Yes, as more and more people move into the area it is starting to lose it's rural character, it's becoming a far out extension of the NYC metro area, many commute by bus every day into the city to work and commute back at night (God bless them, I don't know how they do it!). Pa. has been losing population for decades and the tax revenue that goes with it, so the state encourages this influx of new transplants. Answer #3: While many are Giants fans, this is still Eastern Pa. and there are many Eagles fans including myself. Not all new transplants are from NYC, alot are from the Philly area also.

[CHIP72]

Pennsylvania as a whole has not been losing population, but the old anthracite coal areas HAVE been losing population for a number of years, mainly because many people are old and dying off.

The closest location to NYC that is in Pennsylvania is the Portland, PA area, which is in Northampton County (where Easton is located; it is directly south of Monroe County). It is very close to the Delaware Water Gap and has easy access to I-80 via US 46 in Columbia, NJ.

As for sports allegiances, there are many Yankees fans not only because of the NYC area transplants, but also because back in the 1950's and 1960's, Yankees games were carried on SWB area TV and radio. Don't get the impression there aren't Phillies fans, because there are a large number of them too. With football, the Fox station in northeastern PA carries all the Eagles games (by rule); when there is no Eagles conflict, that station (Channel 56) will carry the Giants. Like the Yankees, the Giants also are relatively popular among the older, native population in NEPA (for similar reasons as noted above).

[kinghaas]

Easton, Pennsylvania is a good commute to NYC. Easton borders NJ. You can take the bus (there are park and rides in Easton and Easton area) and I-78 is a straight shot to the Holland tunnel. The actual road distance from Easton to NYC is 67 miles and the commute times can vary depending on what time you leave and if there is an accident on I-78. It has taken me anywhere from 50 minutes (I have a lead foot) to exit the Holland tunnel into NYC to two hours with traffic.
As mentioned in another reply, Portland is also lose a good area and access to NYC would be via I-80. air miles Portland may be closer, but I always thought I-80 had a lot of curves and turns which would add to the road mileage.
I live in the easton area. Housing is affordable. In the city itself there are a whole range of prices, from a crappy All In The Family style duplex or row home from 100k to townhome at 175k and single family homes at 225k and up. Subusrbs of Easton 9Palmer and forks Township) would add a few minutes to your commute. the housing areas are much better but you pay in price (usually starting at 225k but usually in the 300's.

[gzjht1]

You could consider Bucks County. It's an easy drive to NJ Transit in Trenton and then train into NYC. With the market down, you can even find a townhouse in your price range in Lower Makefield/Yardley/Langhorne areas.