Allentown, Harrisburg or Lancaster (Reading, Bethlehem: low crime, safe neighborhoods, private school)

[familymom]

Please tell me which area would be safest and which would be considered the worst? Also which area do you enjoy visiting most?

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by familymom

Please tell me which area would be safest and which would be considered the worst? Also which area do you enjoy visiting most?

Out of those three I'd say that Lancaster is probably the safest, but Harrisburg seems to have been undergoing the most revitalization as of late. If you're looking for a city of about that size that is much more desirable, then why not consider Bethlehem?

[wowbaby]

SB you read my mind! Bethlehem has a great downtown and a nice suburb area. much safer then allentown and a little more "hip" then lancaster.

[nocturnal rooster]

They are all pretty bad, but the crime in Harrisburg is INSANE. Lancaster would be your best bet, and even then, try to see if you can find something out in the suburbs

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by familymom

Please tell me which area would be safest and which would be considered the worst? Also which area do you enjoy visiting most?

The Harrisburg suburbs are a great place to raise a family. Very safe (definetely safer then the Lancaster suburbs, at least...been hearing about a lot of robberies lately there). Very family oriented with good schools (Cumberland Valley, West Shore, Central Dauphin, Camp Hill, Mechanicsburg Area, Susquehanna)

[toobusytoday]

familymom, I agree with wowbaby and ScranBarre, Allentown is not the LV small city you want to choose - Bethlehem is. Allentown and Bethlehem do run together but the crime in A-town is decidedly worse then Bethlehem. As I've said before, you're not going to find too many posters that have lived in all three places to compare objectively. Of course, each of us is going to say that the city we know best is the one you should choose. I love the Lehigh Valley area, it's just right for our family.

[familymom]

Well I would not live in any of these cities except on the outside suburbs. I would just like to be close to a larger city.

[familymom]

Also what suburbs of Bethlehem would give me good schools and safe neighborhoods? Private school really is not an option for us.

[Icy Tea]

Allentown has a new ballpark and is closer to NY. Lancaster has a great surrounding county and some pretty nice attractions besides the amish tourist places and is closer to DC. Harrisburg is close to Hershey for attractions but has a great natural history musuem.
Sports: Allentown, Tie: Harrisburg, Lancaster
Shopping: Lancaster, Allentown, Harrisburg
Location: Allentown, Lancaster, Harrisburg
Crime: Harrisburg Lancaster, Allentown. But none are that great. But the suburbs are all good.

Seriously consider Reading. Not the city which is as bad as Allentown for crime, but the suburbs. Low crime, a great location, sports, attractions, at least on a level with any of the others, except Lancaster. And its in the center of all three areas.

[familymom]

We did drive by Reading and saw the distant skyline and did notice a mall near it. What area would you suggest? Also is Reading safer than the others and does it have more to offer? Never been there and for some reason I have done no research on the suburbs around it. Keep in mind schools and a good community down town area are what are tops on my list. Thanks