Best, So-So and Worst Towns in PA (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: best town, low crime)

[miragenine]

We would like to relocate to PA. What would be the best town which is also reasonably affordable? And what would be the ultimate worst and areas to stay way away from?

Thanks!

[Dee Dee]

Stay away from the pocono's

[TLA]

stay away from the Lake Erie (NW Pennsylvania) area. Horrible winters and usually summers and the job market here is horrible. We are actually relocating to the south due to these and other issues. There is also been a lot of trouble up here with Meth labs. Hope this helps.

[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!!

[bamboosmom]

It depends on which part of the Poconos Dee Dee means. MONROE COUNTY IS TOO CROWDED AND TOO MANY DEVELOPMENTS AND NOT SO GOOD STUFF GOING ON THERE. Now an hour north of there is very very nice....

[michgirl]

Stay away from Chambersburg ..I don't know who set up the town but finding things is horrendous. I also find the people there to be very ignorant and rude.

[christina0001]

Pennsylvania's an awfully big state you know!
I think the Gettysburg area is nice. Bucks county is gorgeous, a lot to do, and commutable to Philly and even possibly NYC, but by PA standards it is expensive.
We visited Pittsburgh for the first time last month and I thought it was the coolest city, hidden in the mountains.

[JHanksJGR]

I'm around the Gettysburg area, I think it's a great place :-) There are a lot of things to do (besides the historic stuff, Ski Liberty is 15 minutes away)..the snow isn't horrible - we only got about 2 good snows this past winter...

[wiz]

Miragenine,I happen to be from the coudersport and portallegany area.It's not a bad place to grow up.I've lived here for 37 yrs and have a 14 yr old daughter.The only bad thing is you might die from boredom.lol As far as the jobs in coudy,adelphia was doin great things ther but with all the stuff goin on with the regises their furture is unsure.I'm sure the current issues with stocks and the war in irag have alot to do with the economy in general everywhere.Olean, N.Y. is also close by with alot of factory's and such.I think the school system here is great in most of the schools around.My daughter is in 8th grade with a gpa of 98.3605 .(sry had to brag abit)hope this helps some and if any questions feel free to email me. wiz

[heatam]

In my opinion, having lived in Philadelphia since birth, up until a year ago, therefore 32 years, that is one of the worst places to live. High crime, high taxes, high home prices, horrible public schools (and I am in the education field, so it is a shame I have to say that). I used to vacation up in the Hollidaysburg, Ducansville area. More of a small town feel, land for your houses, cheaper housing, low crime-it is a slower pace, but healthier. Might not be as many job openings, but I don't know your situation.