Best, So-So and Worst Towns in PA (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: property taxes, home)

[yogagirl54]

My great-grandmother lived in Centralia and when I was young (in the late '50's, early 60's) we would visit and play on the piles of coal that where everywhere. It really is strange driving through there and seeing what it has become.

[yogagirl54]

UGH-Catasauqua-We moved here 22 years ago for the supposedly great school system. What a huge mistake. Filled with elitist people with not too much to show for it. Life in a small town and not much more than a slummy suburb of Allentown. You have to know the secret handshake!

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Time2Moov

Let me know when you find a nice town in PA, doubt you will! Aside from a select few, I think Pennsylvanians are the worst people in the country. They're anti-social, rude, can't drive, and have the worst food I have ever tasted. I could write for hours recounting bad experiences with people in this state. The word "neighborly" is not in their creed. They also seem to be no smarter than a box of rocks. I cannot tell you how many times I've nodded my head in agreement talking to someone that was mentally unarmed, just to avoid pointing out their stupidity.

It's a shame that you've had such a bad social experience here. Yeah, many PA natives act aloof to newcomers -- even if you come from another part of the state -- but I honestly think that's true for natives of any state. However, I would never go as far as to say that characterizes the majority of PA'ns, let alone the make us "the worst in the country." Having been raised in MontCo myself, I've always found this area to be a place of strong community with plenty of friendly interactions -- even with people new to the area. Especially in an region as active and vibrant as Southeastern PA, you'd honestly have to have been living under a rock to not be satisfied with the social activity. From a strong presence of church life and tons of community organzations, I don't know how you would have come to that conclusion simply unless you did not try.
As far as intelligence, I don't know how one could characterize PA as less smart than any other state. Again, especially in SE PA, our area of the state has some of the highest graduation rates and college degree holders in the country. The whole driving and food comments, I believe, are relative to each state.

Originally Posted by Time2Moov

We moved down here 7 years ago to get away from NY cost of living. Well, since it appears to have followed us, we're headed back. The difference is marginal now (Montgomery County vs. Long Island). It's a little more in LI, but definitely worth it. I'm sorry, but to live here it would have to be like "Wyoming cheap". If you compare salary to housing down here, the ratio is now worse in PA. Buh-bye!

That's because MontCo, and the rest of the Delaware Valley for that matter, is becoming overrun by sprawl -- which naturally brings a higher cost of living. You're correct that the cost of living here used to be lower, but it's the same effect of every growing metropolitan area (higher taxes, inflation, etc.). If you really wanted to escape the high NY cost of living, suburban Philly really is not the best place to have settled. Again, it's a shame that this area did not suit you, but hopefully you find what you're looking for in the future.

[MB2]

I have read some of the VERY aggressive postings...wow!!
I live here in Fl, coming from NEPA, originally from Germany.
Here are a couple of things....
When I moved to NEPA, yes, they are welcoming and friendly people. But, you have to EARN the trust of the people there. They are down to earth, no nonsense people, and don't do the red carpet thing for you....lol. So, that person bashing the people from PA as stupid and "god knows what", better take a long look into the mirror, because maybe THAT person didn't "get it".
I have met NYers, and people from NJ. And, I live among them now here in FL!!! HELP!!!!!
They ARE arrogant!! They really think they are "oh so educated" (yeah...ok ), well mannered and "good drivers" ???
LOL x10!!!!
(With few exceptions, of course!)
I've met plenty of them in PA as well, and had several choice words for them, with the most popular being" if you don't like it, what the hell are you doing here? Go back where you came from, because with your attitute you will only fit into one place...NY!!!!"
And driving habits from NY'ers? I'm from Germany.....don't get me started....lol.
It just amazes me, that people drive like they won the drivers license in the lottery....lol.
Yes, it's true, people from NY and NJ do move to PA because of the cost of living. But, it's a different kind of LIVING! People here in NEPA actually LIVE!!! They do take the time to enjoy life and everything else. Yes, that's why I have nothing bad to say about PA and the people there....I do, however, have plenty of bad things to say about people from the big cities in the neighboring states, and the attitutes they come with.
Thank god, this is a free country after all, and people can move to where ever they desire...So, go ahead, and go back where you came from ($400.000 dollar home and up), living on top of each other, air quality off the chart, traffic gallore,being isolated in a big city, not knowing your next door neighbor, be rude and ignorant towards others...and do what you do best, bash people from PA, because they are not as rude and ignorant like you.

[stevo6]

One thing that has struck me in my short time on this forum is that one sees a lot of statements like "it is/isn't expensive" or "it is/isn't safe" or "it is/isn't nice" without any frame of reference. To people used to the NY metro area or say, the west coast, a lot of PA is going to seem old, tired, and ugly. To folks from NY state, the rust belt, or the south, it will probably seem just fine.
Relative to the rest of the country, its a safe and inexpensive state to live in. Even Phila., among large cities, is inexpensive. Pittsburgh even more so. The mid sized and small towns elsewhere are inexpensive to live in when compared to those in NJ, with the eastern counties from Bucks on south as the exception. Education runs the gamut, but as you might expect, the quality of the schools have a direct relationship to the median income- success begets success. I don't know Coudersport, but if its like Lock Haven, or Williamsport, what you'll find is an aging population and a shrinking tax base. These towns were built up by the lumber barons and then left to fend for themselves after the big trees were cut. The NEPA towns from Scranton down to Hazleton down to Pottsville were similarly built up by the coal barons who imported "down and out" miners from Poland and Wales to mine the hills, and yes Centralia and even the hills between Wilkes-Barre and Mountaintop are still smoking from on-going mine fires. 'Not very visually appealing, these towns. You have similar towns in the S.W. around Pittsburgh including Butler, Monongehela, Elizabeth, Brownsville where soft coal was mined, and then steel was produced. 'Lots of industrial towns like that, now just scraping by, or worse. If your going to enjoy these places, you are either more interested in the natural environment, which is typically gorgeous, or you have a kind of academic interest in the history. In NWPA, from New Castle on up to Meadville and to Erie you have more agricultural lands- no smoke! You'll probably find a larger number of appealing AND affordable communities up that way, but there is little industry and few jobs.
Not many PA towns can get by on looks. Sometimes there are anomalies where for some reason things are different. Jim Thorpe in NEPA, Wellsboro in NCPA, Carlilse in SCPA, Franklin in NWPA, are all towns that appeal visually. I can't tell you anything else about them. Of-course, there are bedroom communities around Pittsburgh and Phila that are beautiful, and Bucks County is right out of a calendar. You get what you pay for.

[elkangel2u]

Originally Posted by Time2Moov

Let me know when you find a nice town in PA, doubt you will! Aside from a select few, I think Pennsylvanians are the worst people in the country. They're anti-social, rude, can't drive, and have the worst food I have ever tasted. I could write for hours recounting bad experiences with people in this state. The word "neighborly" is not in their creed. They also seem to be no smarter than a box of rocks. I cannot tell you how many times I've nodded my head in agreement talking to someone that was mentally unarmed, just to avoid pointing out their stupidity.

We moved down here 7 years ago to get away from NY cost of living. Well, since it appears to have followed us, we're headed back. The difference is marginal now (Montgomery County vs. Long Island). It's a little more in LI, but definitely worth it. I'm sorry, but to live here it would have to be like "Wyoming cheap". If you compare salary to housing down here, the ratio is now worse in PA. Buh-bye!

Just had to point out that this is what is referred to as the "NEW YORK ATTITUDE" I have heard this many times in my life, that "Better than Thou" attitude from these people who think they know everything! now if all those transplant New Yorkers would take the lead of this one how much better Pa will be !!

[crystalet]

Originally Posted by miragenine

Thanks Dee Dee and TLA for your information. Its good to know. But are places like Coudersport, Westfield, Covington and Port Allegany around where you're telling us to stay away from? Does the snow get real bad, I mean real, real bad? And are these areas like Coudersport etc., are they the ones with the meth lab problems or do we have ourselves all turned around in the wrong direction?

Whatever you guys can help us with we'd be really thankful! But one more question about these areas if you don't mind, but we saw houses for like 15 thousand and 30-35 thousand dollars in the Sullivan County area. Would this be a nice area or one to also stay away from?

Thx!!

These towns are all very small and you tend to get more snow here. Coudersport doesn't have much opportunity but is close knit and nice to raise kids but there isn't much convenience. . Westfield is even smaller and its a poorer community. If your in nursing then the hospital here has oportunities. There aren't any meth labs that I know about. Erie is a couple hours away.

[blueflax]

Hi, Just wanted to say thank you for all your postings. They've been a hoot! I currently live in Elko, NV and am planning to move to Pennsylvannia.
These have given me a lot to think about. Does anyone own horses? Are they allowed in town limits, or is each town? county? burrogh different? Most people think of Las Vegas and hot weather when they think of NV but I live up in the North Part, we get -30 degrees in the winter and over 100 in the summer. Most people are friendly here because everyone usually came from someplace else. The main jobs are the gold mines and the casinos or businesses that support them. These run 24 hrs...so restaurants, gas stations and bars and a lot of other places (Walmart, K-Mart, grocery stores) are open 24 hrs to cater to their customers. I've never been further east than visiting Ohio. It seems places are very, very close together. Do you have good roads. My big city experience was Las Vegas, even though there are a lot of people and traffick they have lots of roads and freeway to get around. Thanks for jawing with me.

[PamelaEvan]

Narberth is the best area. But it's expensive.

Second to that is the merion/wynnewood/bala cynwyd area.

[sealerpal]

Steer clear of Allegheny county. The reasons are endless. Just visit and you will find a reason not to live there within a day or so. Anywhere considered "The Pittsburgh Area" should be avoided. The region is dying faster than ever.