What can you tell me about the Hamburg area? (Allentown: house, salary)

[lialleycat]

I visited the Hamburg area over the winter to go to Cabelas and the to Bernville to see the Christmas lights. I liked what I saw of the area and keep thinking about it. It was also very do-able as a day trip from where I live now and where my family lives and will be staying at least for a while.

Are there jobs in the area? It's hard to tell from Careerbuilder.com what town the jobs are in. Sometimes they just list the county. It's so frustrating! Do a lot of people commute elsewhere for employment, like to Reading? If so, where to and about how long is the commute? Though I've done the hour and a half commute, I'd really like to stay around or under 30-40 minutes for a commute. Ideally I'd love to work as an executive assistant or an office manager for a environmental or educational facility, but can go outside that focus and be an office manager/Exec. Asst. anywhere. If anyone knows, what is a good salary for an experienced (5-7 years) office manager/exec asst? For an experienced EA, the salary starts in the mid to upper 40's where I am now. When I worked in non-profit, OM started in the upper 30's. I know it's not going to be that high, but I'm sure I'm also not going to be paying 7000/year in taxes for a small starter house on .21 acres like I am here.

My dream is to one day have a little homestead with animals - a few chickens, maybe a goat and some mini horses. Is this a normal occurance in the area? I did see a few horse farms when we were driving round, so I'm hoping so!

[lialleycat]

Anyone?

[Christine Martinez]

Hi Lialleycat, I use to live below reading and travel their to work. Not a bad drive. Bernville isn't that far but it also depends on how far into the town you go. As far as jobs, check out monster.com and the reading eagle. You could also try the hospital in bernville.
Good Lucl

[Icy Tea]

I 78 can be a nightmare and is very risky in bad weather. Truckers are always hitting cars, overturning, jacknifing and whatnot even in good weather. The roads also get pretty treacherous in ice and snow so don't plan on using it for an easy commute. Old route 22 isn't too bad for local commutes, unless traffic gets detoured from I 78. Route 61 is not quite as bad as 1 78 but is above average in fatalities and accidents.
Route 22 is pretty bad as far as congestion and gets alot of traffic between Reading and Allentown. Commutes aren't the best anywhere around there, but many do it for the lower housing costs and quieter country life.

[lialleycat]

Thanks, Icy Tea. I'd be coming from Long Island, so I'm used to killer traffic. The lower housing costs and quiet country life are bid draws for me.

[lialleycat]

Originally Posted by Christine Martinez

Hi Lialleycat, I use to live below reading and travel their to work. Not a bad drive. Bernville isn't that far but it also depends on how far into the town you go. As far as jobs, check out monster.com and the reading eagle. You could also try the hospital in bernville.
Good Lucl

I'll try the Reading Eagle. Been browsing Monster, Careerbuilder and SimplyHired with no luck thus far. Thanks!

[JohnZ963]

There aren't too many professional jobs in the Hamburg vicinity, to be honest. It's more of a retail or blue collar job area, and even those aren't exactly plentiful right now.

If you live in the Hamburg area, Reading or the Lehigh Valley would be a reasonable commute. Lehigh Valley is the probably the best commute traffic-wise, in my experience it moves along at speed limit + pretty much all day unless there is an accident. I've only been on 222 to Reading around rush hour a few times, and it didn't really slow down until you get around the city. Route 61 can be a mess though.

I don't know where you live now, but if it's NJ, NY, Philly, etc. the salaries are likely to be considerably lower in the area you are looking at.

[lialleycat]

^^^^ John, I'm coming from Long Island so I am expecting a lower salary. I'm also expecting much lower housing costs, taxes, and stress by moving. I've owned my own home on the island for 8 years now, so though it's lower than it was a few years ago, its still worth twice what I paid for it. With a size able down payment on a lower priced house, I can happily live better on a lower salary in PA than I ever will here.

Thanks for the advice on the traffic. I'll keep looking for jobs in those areas. Long Island traffic is horrible at rush hour. It's a long skinny island with a city at the end. Everyone is going the same way at the same time.