Where to move in PA with my criteria? (Philadelphia, Erie: home, neighborhoods)

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by cdcampo

Thank you so far everyone. I have seen people say the Lehigh Valley a few times. Are there any specific towns to specifically look in?

I always hear good things about the following:

Emmaus
Coopersburg
Saucon Valley
Forks Township
Bethlehem (Urban Environment Though)

[toobusytoday]

As a Lehigh Valley resident, I'll give you my suggestions in the form of School districts but generally any of the towns surrounding the city's of Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton are pretty nice. I live just outside of Coopersburg in Southern Lehigh Valley School District - IMHO, the best small school district. Saucon Valley (town of Hellertown) is very close to Bethlehem, also small but good. East Penn, (towns of Emmaus and Macungie and Lower Macungie) and Parkland (West Allentown, North of Allentown) are the highest regarded large school districts. I personally really like the downtown area of Emmaus and the city of Bethlehem for window shopping. I don't know the area's around Easton as well, hopefully someone else will chime in to help you with that.

[Raspberi]

I would also have to say Hershey, Hummelstown, for east of the River. For the West I would reccommend Mechanicsburg, Hampton township (nice area, low property taxes compared to our area) May actually move here myself one day.

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by Raspberi

I would also have to say Hershey, Hummelstown, for east of the River. For the West I would reccommend Mechanicsburg, Hampton township (nice area, low property taxes compared to our area) May actually move here myself one day.

I do feel the need to correct spelling to Hampden Twp http://www.hampdentownship.us/hampden.htm which is in the Cumberland Valley S.D. (There is also a HampTon Twp in PA so an outsider may be confused.)

[cdcampo]

I was just in the Lehigh Valley forum about crime running rampant there? Is that true because based on the suggestions I was given I thought this was a nice place to have a family and be safe. Reading this thread made me second guess looking there.

[GoPhils]

How exactly do you plan on buying a $300K house with the salaries of a teacher's assistant and property manager without a college degree? The salaries in PA (especially somewhere other than Philly or Pittsburgh) will probably not be what they are in LI, although you could probably get the same size house you have in LI for about $200K in PA.

[cdcampo]

Originally Posted by GoPhils

How exactly do you plan on buying a $300K house with the salaries of a teacher's assistant and property manager without a college degree? The salaries in PA (especially somewhere other than Philly or Pittsburgh) will probably not be what they are in LI, although you could probably get the same size house you have in LI for about $200K in PA.

we have actually both found jobs that would suit us just as much as our long island jobs already in several areas

[toobusytoday]

Crime is a problem in certain parts of Allentown and Bethlehem. And I would guess about any city in the United States....

[Gracie2001]

Chester County or Lancaster County in SE PA are beautiful. Homes are within your price range with good schools and the Amtrak train to NY. Downingtown has some homes that are in the $300K range with a GREAT school district. And a couple of property management companies to boot. Further west is Thorndale/Coatesville (the town - not good! - the area, nice!) and then into beautiful Lancaster County where you can buy new construction for $300K. These two places are east of Harrisburg.

[no1mom]

bethlehem, allentown, bushkill, is just to name a few. please keep in mind when your thinking of purchasing >$300K house that the wages in PA are much lower and it may be hard for you to balance. I have seen this happen a lot with people from NY. Do your research on the market if your looking in lehigh valley area or Monroe county. I think they see the NY people coming. half the houses in that area are way over priced and if your not going to commute to NY it might be hard to maintain on PA salary lol. Good Luck!