Moving to Hershey or Harrisburg

[Raena77]

Originally Posted by danwxman

Not everyone is excited by chain stores, gas stations and farms.

Hershey DOES have a lot going for it, however. Great schools, growing economy and it's a perfect place to raise a family. But for singles? Not really. I think you are going to be depressed if you live anywhere but Harrisburg. There are no hip suburbs with any sort of singles scene, it's pretty much all family oriented outside of the downtown/midtown thing. That's not saying there aren't single people in the suburbs...they are just probably hanging out in the city at night and on the weekends.

Very true...My friends for yrs went to Philly for fun or New York.

[CHIP72]

Originally Posted by tb3

I thought that the commute was only about 20 min. Some of the things that I would like to be close to are gyms/health clubs, cultural events and night life. I also travel quite a bit, so being closer to the airport and train station is a consideration.
Do you think that I can have all those things in Hershey?

I'd be willing to bet Hershey has gyms/health clubs and some cultural events that would fit what you are looking for. It will be thin on night life, but for a town its size I'm pretty sure it isn't bad. Harrisburg will have more of those things but not a lot more of those things (except night life). Hershey is about the same distance from the airport as Harrisburg and though it doesn't have a train station, it isn't far from Middletown, which does have a train station.

You also said safety was a high priority for you. Hershey is much safer than Harrisburg. Harrisburg has a number of safe areas, but many of the areas you'd probably be most interested in (like areas between the river, 3rd Street, Forster Street, and Maclay Street) aren't that far from rougher, more marginal areas.

Really, it depends on what matters most to you. If night life is most important criterion, you should look at Harrisburg first and foremost. If safety is the most important criterion, look at the towns I mentioned previously - Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, and Middletown. Hershey, while it has a bit of a corporate feel (understandably so), is probably the nicest of those towns, with Hummelstown ranking second. Middletown is best for proximity to the airport and a train station.

[ki0eh]

Hershey itself basically has no night life and no shopping besides grocery stores, banks, and a small outlet mall. Shakey's bar was shut down as a "problem bar" by the PLCB - if they applied that standard statewide probably 90% of the liquor licensees would lose it.

This would be the cultural attraction: Hershey Theatre - Located in Hershey, PA From this point Whitaker Center is 12 miles away.

Some locally owned stores in adjacent Hummelstown Borough (some of these used to be in Hershey's Briarcrest Square) but the box stores and malls are on the east side of postal Harrisburg in Swatara and Lower Paxton Townships, off three exits of I-83. These box areas are about 8 to 15 miles out depending on what you call Hershey and which location you're going to.

Elizabethtown Amtrak station has better service (more trains stop) and more (free) parking than Middletown.

Hershey (Derry Township, including also many points with a Hummelstown postal address), and Lower Dauphin (most other Hummelstown postal locations, and actually also the Union Deposit village with a Hershey postal address) are considered more highly rated school districts than the others. LD is considerably more spread out, but if you live in Hummelstown Borough (a small portion of the area with a Hummelstown postal address) the schools are pretty close in and now have new sidewalks out to the middle and high school. Hershey has a centralized school campus adjacent to the old patch town where the prices sought for modest though generally well-built homes are higher than elsewhere in the township.

Crime in Hershey, Hummelstown, Palmyra, is pretty minimal. There is some racial/ethnic diversity among professionals (mostly associated with Penn State Hershey - Home ) but a minority underclass is absent.

[pman]

It's nice to be able to walk to the train station as well, IMO

[BackToTheCityMouse]

I don't think the OP mentioned anything about needing to consider schools?

Harrisburg has nightlife, but really little else going for it. For any kind of shopping, you will need to drive in and out of the city. I am pretty sure you can find a place to work out downtown, since Harrisburg's cultural focus is being a hangout for young adults.

I'm a single female also. I considered moving to Harrisburg, but decided against it after talking with women who tried it but didn't like it due to safety and crime issues. One had her car stolen the first week she lived downtown. She got it back -- she walked the blocks near her home, found the car, and then called the cops. Not for me, thanks

Central PA is still oriented toward the concept that people live in one area, and then drive 10-20 miles to shop for groceries, furniture, clothing or whatever else in an area that matches their lifestyle demographic based on stuff like age and race. When I purchased my condo, I got discount coupons for chain store locations on the other side of the river from suburban Harrisburg where I live -- a longer drive in terms of both miles and time, and so less convenient and less green, than shopping at the locations nearer to my subdivision. At least I could recycle the junk mail!

At this point, I don't know of any area close to Hershey that has safety, nice shopping, nightlife/dining, and proximity to public transportation. Hershey is safe, but it is boring and conservative. I wouldn't want to live in an area where it is easier to find a store with chewing tobacco in the grocery checkout line than a sushi bar.

[pman]

broad street market in harrisburg isn't a bad place to shop

[giffordrogers]

Originally Posted by Raena77

People from the city always say that. Actually Hershey is great. I live only and hour away from it. Lots of build up going on there..such as stores and local convient stores. Also more and more job oppertunties. I know its spelled wrong. lol But really go for Hershey.

I live in Hershey, if you like to eat decent food you'll be out of options after day one, DON'T MOVE HERE! Try Harrisburg, or if you don't mind driving, Lancaster. There is absolutely nothing in Hershey for someone who doesn't have kids or an unhealthy obsession with chocolate...

[tb3]

I am leaning towards Harrisburg right now. What are some of the nice areas of the city to live in? I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions once I get closer to moving.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by tb3

I am leaning towards Harrisburg right now. What are some of the nice areas of the city to live in? I'm sure I'll have a lot more questions once I get closer to moving.

Midtown, downtown and shipoke are the most popular city neighborhoods. Lots of shops and restaurants to walk to.