Where to live? Danville, Bloomsburg? (Scranton, Williamsport: crime rate, home, buying)

[bliven]

I am looking to relocate in the Danville, Bloomsburg area for approximately two years. Can anyone recommend the most ideal place to purchase a home (fixer-upper is good) that will likely resale in a couple of years? Would like to find a family-friendly area -- good schools, safe, clean. Also interested in shopping, theater, as well as outdoor activity. Thanks!

[ScranBarre]

Danville and Bloomsburg are both very pleasant, family-friendly towns with many conveniences. Bloomsburg is a bit "rowdier", as it is home to a major state university, so keep that in mind. (The crime rate is still very low, but think back to your college-aged years and if you'd honestly want to live near loud music, drunk jocks peeing everywhere, etc.) Personally, I think Danville is a better bet because it sits in the shadow of Geisinger Hospital, one of the most elite medical centers in the state (outside of Philly) and is a bit closer to Williamsport (regional hub with chain stores, an airport, cultural amenities, minor-league baseball, etc.), and Lewisburg (quaint town with tree-lined streets, thriving Main Street, frequent festivals, etc.) Bloomsburg is a bit more flood-prone than Danville too (The town is still cleaning up from last month's major flooding).

I'm just saying that if it were up to me, I'd invest in Danville before buying in Bloomsburg; It's just a bit more peaceful and a bit more convenient to urban essentials. I'm not sure about the public school system in the area though---You'll have to consult someone else for that one. ;o) Outdoor recreation is plentiful in the area, with boating and fishing on an artificial lake just downstream in Sunbury, annual rodeos in nearby Benton, and great hiking in wonderful state parks (Not much skiing in the area though; The Scranton area has more opportunities for winter fun).