Does my idea of a perfect town exist? (Lancaster, Harrisburg: middle-class, real estate)

[xiuxiu]

I am moving to the Harrisburg/Hershey area, from Seattle, in approximately six months. I initially thought I would settle in the Middletown/Hummelstown/Hershey area. On a recent visit I observed that this area is a little more conservative than I originally thought. I think I would feel most comfortable in a city with a population of at least 15,000, with some ethnic diversity and excellent schools. I also appreciate towns with a quaint downtown area that have a variety of dining choices and locally owned shops. Of the three towns mentioned above, Hershey is the one I like most, but would like some other options to consider. I hear good things about Camp Hill, but I've heard it is also very conservative. Is this just a trait of Central PA that I need to accept?Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[BackToTheCityMouse]

I am originally from west/central New Jersey, but moved to central PA in 1990. Right now I live in an east shore suburb of Harrisburg.

I've never lived in any of these downtowns, but am familiar with them thru my business (I am an antiques dealer). Of the three, I would rate Harrisburg as the closest to what you are looking for, with Hummelstown in the middle, and Hershey as most conservative. (Hershey has a diverse group of residents because of the need for skilled professionals at the medical center. Also Hershey may seem appealing in its eateries and stores because it is a tourist town. But in my opinion that is a facade for doing business with outsiders, not the real culture of the area.) Middletown...I just would not ever consider living there.

I don't know if this will be helpful for you or not, but when I am exploring an area as a possible new home I like to look at local real estate listings that show photos of furnished interiors. I'm not a trendy snob, so I am not looking for pricey decor. What I am looking for is some diversity of color and style away from the local favorite country look with lots of clutter, but little color except blue, white and brown. Also, decks on anything other than a vacation home are for me a very bad sign Balconies and patios are good

[firefightermom]

Just curious...what's wrong with a a deck?

[ScranBarre]

Yeah! We have a deck, and we're your typical upper-middle-class left-leaning suburban family.

[BackToTheCityMouse]

I meant no offense to people who enjoy having a deck. It's just a visual thing that I find totally unappealing.

I remember decks as a feature on casual vacation home plans from the mid 20th century, and I think in the right setting they can be a great feature. But for me a wooden deck really has to be on a building that doesn't have synthetic siding. The building has to have a compatible design, too. I've seen contemporary decks hanging off the backs of Victorian era and early 1900s homes. No. Just. No. In my opinion, of course.

[xiuxiu]

Just curious...why would you never consider Middletown? I have friends that live there. I admit the downtown area is not real appealing, but I have heard the school district is excellent. I like the size of Harrisburg, but haven't really explored it much. I was told that the education system in Harrisburg has improved, but still not great.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by xiuxiu

Just curious...why would you never consider Middletown?

I'd be curious on that one too. Middletown is not a bad to place to live.

OP; did you ever check into Elizabethtown,PA ? E-town is a nice safe clean community that offers easy I-283 access to Harrisburg or Lancaster (20 minutes to each).
It would also be cheaper than Hershey.

Lancaster and Dauphin Counties offer so many excellent communities to live in that it would be hard to pinpoint it down to just one. Good Luck on your search.

[serpent_of_old]

Originally Posted by xiuxiu

I am moving to the Harrisburg/Hershey area, from Seattle, in approximately six months. I initially thought I would settle in the Middletown/Hummelstown/Hershey area. On a recent visit I observed that this area is a little more conservative than I originally thought. I think I would feel most comfortable in a city with a population of at least 15,000, with some ethnic diversity and excellent schools. I also appreciate towns with a quaint downtown area that have a variety of dining choices and locally owned shops. Of the three towns mentioned above, Hershey is the one I like most, but would like some other options to consider. I hear good things about Camp Hill, but I've heard it is also very conservative. Is this just a trait of Central PA that I need to accept?Any suggestions would be appreciated.

basicly, your harrisburg experience describes anywhere in PA that is 60+ miles outside of philadelphia. some PA people may be offended by that, but its the truth and they are in denial for self-preservation.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by xiuxiu

Just curious...why would you never consider Middletown? I have friends that live there. I admit the downtown area is not real appealing, but I have heard the school district is excellent. I like the size of Harrisburg, but haven't really explored it much. I was told that the education system in Harrisburg has improved, but still not great.

Harrisburg city is as liberal and welcoming as it gets, thus you would probably like it the best. I would also look into Hummelstown and Camp Hill. All of Harrisburg's suburbs are traditionally conservative, but turning into more "swing" burbs lately as more people move in from liberal East coast metros. Others like to bash the Harrisburg area (and south central PA in general) as conservative hinterland full of racists and xenophobes, when it's just not true. The area is conservative overall....but that is changing. Dauphin county (which contains Harrisburg) went for a Democrat (Obama) for the first time ever. And nearby counties saw huge gains for Democrats.

Harrisburg's schools are by some rankings considered the worst in the state...but it is possible to get a good education there. There is a mini baby boom in gentrified Midtown Harrisburg, and some parents are sending their kids to city schools. Most opt for private, however.

[xiuxiu]

Thanks to everyone for their comments and suggestions. I recently started looking into Carlisle and Mechanicsburg. So far they both seem more appealing than the areas I was originally looking at in Dauphin County. BTW, I am employed in the insurance industry as a Claims Adjuster handling in-house property claims. I also have extensive experience in liability/bodily injury claims. Any suggestions on which are the better insurance companies to work for in PA and which ones to avoid?