Best Place to move (Reading, Scranton: transplants, low crime, neighborhoods)

[kimmymommy]

Help

We are an African American family looking to relocate from the south to PA. We are looking to be closer within 3 hours of NY/NJ and are interested in a counties/cities that are racially diverse with reasonable rent. We are also interested in finding out if any of these areas have newer housing/stores/growth. At least 1 chain restaraunt within driving distance i.e. Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, etc., activities for teens and/or kids i.e. skating, movies, etc. and shopping. Oh and last but not least a SUPER Walmart within 10 - 15 minutes driving distance. Okay I know this is a tall order! LOL

Any input would help.

BTW some of the areas we considered were perhaps Lancaster (not sure which towns), Reading, Northhampton??

Thanks

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by kimmymommy

Help

We are an African American family looking to relocate from the south to PA. We are looking to be closer within 3 hours of NY/NJ and are interested in a counties/cities that are racially diverse with reasonable rent. We are also interested in finding out if any of these areas have newer housing/stores/growth. At least 1 chain restaraunt within driving distance i.e. Red Lobster, TGI Fridays, etc., activities for teens and/or kids i.e. skating, movies, etc. and shopping. Oh and last but not least a SUPER Walmart within 10 - 15 minutes driving distance. Okay I know this is a tall order! LOL

Any input would help.

BTW some of the areas we considered were perhaps Lancaster (not sure which towns), Reading, Northhampton??

Thanks

I would highly recommend Harrisburg's "east shore" suburbs like Susquehanna, Lower Paxton, Swatara and Middletown. All are very diverse with reasonable housing costs and lots of family-friendly activities. You are just not going to find much diversity (especially of African-Americans) in Lancaster.

[Rtom45]

Another possibility would be the Lehigh Valley, I see Northampton was mentioned, but maybe a better location is the city of Bethlehem.

[John From Scranton]

Or you can try the Pocono's. Its about a 2 hour drive to the city from there.

[kimmymommy]

I am just curious why anyone would suggest the Poconos as everyone knows the crime in the Poconos is awful. Just because we are African American does not mean we want to live in crime ridden neighborhoods. I thought this thread was a helpful one. I am not looking for stereotypical accomodations.

We are looking for a safe, diverse area with LOW CRIME. Is there a part of PA that transplants move too. Perhaps we would be more comfortable with other people that relocate here.

[pcity]

Originally Posted by kimmymommy

I am just curious why anyone would suggest the Poconos as everyone knows the crime in the Poconos is awful. Just because we are African American does not mean we want to live in crime ridden neighborhoods. I thought this thread was a helpful one. I am not looking for stereotypical accomodations.

That's a rather stereotypical statement itself, assuming that all of the Poconos has bad crime. There are still some very nice areas there.

[kimmymommy]

Well please forgive me for my ignorance regarding the Poconos however, my opinion about the Poconos has actually come from this site. Noone ever has anything nice to say about it. Thread after thread everyone says it is awful, don't move there, it's crime ridden, there are gang problems and they say it is all because of the AA and Hispanic people that have relocated from NY and NJ.

Perhaps my opinion has been swayed by what I thought to be reliable sources of PA residents that are from the area.

[kimmymommy]

Geez John.....I guess now I understand why you would direct me to the Poconos. Interestingly enough I am not your stereotypical AA person. I can only assume that you are a typical Caucasian with stereotypical/racist beliefs.

What can I say....at least I know not to use this board as an avenue for fair relocation information.

Trust me after living in Atlanta....there is no amount of racism that would deter us from moving anywhere in the US. I just choose to live in areas that have more than one dynamic. Sorry you were not able to put us in "da hood". I happen to be an educated AA just like OBAMA.

Have a nice day!

[John From Scranton]

Originally Posted by kimmymommy

Geez John.....I guess now I understand why you would direct me to the Poconos. Interestingly enough I am not your stereotypical AA person. I can only assume that you are a typical Caucasian with stereotypical/racist beliefs.

What can I say....at least I know not to use this board as an avenue for fair relocation information.

Trust me after living in Atlanta....there is no amount of racism that would deter us from moving anywhere in the US. I just choose to live in areas that have more than one dynamic. Sorry you were not able to put us in "da hood". I happen to be an educated AA just like OBAMA.

Have a nice day!

He will be the down fall of the USA!! You watch and see!

[kimmymommy]

Well I cannot and will not argue with you. This is the reason I posted my orginal message in the first place. I am not an AA from the hood, my parents were educated, saw to it that I was and I am doing the same with my children. We choose not to live in any neighborhood that is one particular race up to and including black.

My reason for replying to John from Scranton the way I did is that his initial suggestion to go to the Poconos was not his way of giving advice. Thread after thread he bashes the Poconos.....just take a look around this site. Therefore, he suggested I move there for one reason which is "I'm black". I wish the world would wake up and see that nobody fits a specific mold. There are ignorant blacks, latinos and caucasians.

I was hoping that this site was a place that would give fair relocation information based on my desires.