Late 20s Moving to Philly Commuting to Allentown Area (Philadelphia: sales, apartment complexes)

[ARH82]

Hi All,

I will be moving home to PA to take a sales position in the Allentown area. I have family in the Philly area (Conshohocken and Phoenixville) and really want to live in or around Philadelphia.

Is it doable to commute daily to the Allentown area? I am not opposed to the commute if it is around an hour to and an hour from Allentown.

Can I live in center city and still make this commute without expecting to sit in traffic for hours?

Suggestions on where to live outside of Center City? Conshohocken seems to be popular. I want to be able to walk to shopping, bars, restaurants, dog parks. I am in my late twenties so the college bar scene does not interest me.

Are there places to rent that are NOT apartment complexes? I am interested in renting an old townhome or row home that has some city charm. NOT interested in boring generic apartment complexes.

Thanks for your help!!

[templeu]

I don't think you'll be able to make it to Allentown to Philly (vice versa) in an hour. Maybe look at an area like Lansdale.

[Angus215]

commuting from CC to allentown during rush hour would probably be 1 1/2 hrs minimum and quite possibly closer to 2 hrs (ie. sitting in traffic on 76). i don't think there's anyway you could do it. i would look in the northern suburbs, specifically at places with good access to either 476 (ft washington or lansdale exits) or 309. there aren't a lot of places that would fit your description - maybe conshohockon would be your best bet. might still be over an hour commute, though, depending on 476 traffic (and actually getting on 476).

Doylestown may be another option, but you'd be taking back roads for much of the way. Lansdale has great access to 476 and from a purely geographical perspective would be ideal, but probably isn't the type of town you're looking for (ie. with a lot of restaurants, bars, etc). North wales is a nice little town as well, also with good access to 476, but again does have not much of a downtown area.

[a75206]

Doylestown's "downtown" area is cool with bunch of local shops and restaurants.

How does Ambler sound?

Explore Classic Towns | Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia

Ambler | Classic Towns of Greater Philadelphia

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by ARH82

Hi All,

I will be moving home to PA to take a sales position in the Allentown area. I have family in the Philly area (Conshohocken and Phoenixville) and really want to live in or around Philadelphia.

Is it doable to commute daily to the Allentown area? I am not opposed to the commute if it is around an hour to and an hour from Allentown.

Can I live in center city and still make this commute without expecting to sit in traffic for hours?

Suggestions on where to live outside of Center City? Conshohocken seems to be popular. I want to be able to walk to shopping, bars, restaurants, dog parks. I am in my late twenties so the college bar scene does not interest me.

Are there places to rent that are NOT apartment complexes? I am interested in renting an old townhome or row home that has some city charm. NOT interested in boring generic apartment complexes.

Thanks for your help!!

As the other posters mentioned, Center City to Allentown would be a brutal commute. However, you said you have family in Conshy. If you would consider living in Conshy, although still long, I think that would be a doable drive since Conshy is only a few miles off the NE Ext. You would miss the 76 altogether.

[ARH82]

Wow, thanks for al the replies so quickly!

I am thinking that CC is probably out of the question for the moment.

Assuming I decided to go with Conshy, any suggestions on where to live? I did a search but really didn't find too much with respect to apartments or other buildings. As I mentioned before, I would love to find an old town home within walking distance to all the restaurants, bars, shopping in Conshy.

NOT interested in apartment complexes.

Thanks everyone!

[toobusytoday]

Did you look in Bethlehem? I mean, if you are not going to live in Philadelphia, why not live near where you work? Bethlehem is certainly as nice if not nicer then Conshohocken and your family could easily visit you, or you them. Rent would be less expensive too. We've never lived in the same town as anyone in our family so I don't quite get the appeal if it means driving two hours a day, and that's without traffic/construction/weather delays.

In Bethlehem, there are two colleges, a brand spanking new arts center, a casino, a very cool downtown with bars, restaurants and shops and year round festivals. And it would be a fifteen minute commute to Allentown - with traffic.

[ARH82]

Bethlehem looks really interesting. Anyone have any idea what the social scene is like there? Are there many young professionals in the area?

This looks exactly like what I am looking for!

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by ARH82

Bethlehem looks really interesting. Anyone have any idea what the social scene is like there? Are there many young professionals in the area?

This looks exactly like what I am looking for!

You'll want to post that question in the Lehigh Valley forum. As you can tell from the answer to your OP, not many people commute between the two places. http://www.city-data.com/forum/lehigh-valley/

[Angus215]

Originally Posted by ARH82

Bethlehem looks really interesting. Anyone have any idea what the social scene is like there? Are there many young professionals in the area?

This looks exactly like what I am looking for!

Bethlehem has a nice downtown and is the type of place it sounds like you're looking for. broad st east of main st is the main downtown area. it's a very nice, historical area.

if it were me, i'd rather live there and save the daily commute. you're only about an hr away from philly on a weekend.

i don't think the schools in bethlehem are very good, but doesn't sound like that's something you're worried about right now.