Considering different Pittsburgh Metro areas (Johnstown, Greensburg: low crime, neighborhoods, school districts)

[hio3791]

Hi Folks, I am the new guy here. Currently, I live and work in VA but my wife is from Pittsburgh. We very much want to relocate to be near her family. I would rather stay within my company but there are no jobs in Pittsburgh. The closest town that I can find work within my company is Fairmont, WV or Johnstown, PA.

I figured that if we moved to Washington, PA or Washington County, we would be close to her family but I would have about an hour commute to work. The commute I don't mind as much since it's no different than where we live. The advantage is the cost of living and if I get tired of my commute, I could always get a job in Pittsburgh (meaning I would have to quit with my company) but at least I would have that option.

Any advice? School district is most important to us and of course low crime, good parks, etc.

Thanks!

[BrianTH]

If you are thinking of Johnstown, something in Westmoreland County might make more sense. Depending on where her relatives are located, it could be just as convenient for her and you could have a much shorter commute.

[5stones]

For Johnstown....

washington county to Johnstown is about 2 hours. My husband did that temp for a few months.(from Peters township) Also Johnstown gets quite a bit of snow in the winter and so the drive would be longer. It's in the Laurel highlands, very pretty area but winter commute could be very bad. No major hiways run into there from directly west either. (you would have to go south then north 70-219 etc for major hiway) or take the small roads.
why not live in Johnstown? Ligonier is close and a very nice small town cloeby as well

Washington PA schools are not the best.... look into North Stabane township, Peters township etc...(but again it's more like 2 hours to Johnstown)

As for Fairmont WV...

Is also pretty far more than 2 hours (Morgantown is 2 hours from Peters township and Fairmont is futher down 79) Now this is an easier drive because it's straight hiway...but 2 hours+ would be greuling everyday.

Cheat Lake area west of Morgantown has good schools and is alot closer than Washington county PA. (it's a little expensive, but very pretty)

Waynesburg is probably the closest town in PA to Fairmont, but I know nothing of the schoolsthere...it's pretty rual.

What about Morgantown? I am sure there are some good schools in the area, with WVU
there.


Great schools is a good site reference site for schools.

I'd really look into the Johnstown area, I know people who live there and they are very happy.

[5stones]

yeah...forgot Greensburg...nice town and that will probably put you in the hour commute time frame...as long as you don't get caught behind a semi... going through the mtns.

[Bazzwell]

Greene County would be a fair bet if Fairmont was a daily run. Not a short one mind you, but at least you'd be along I-79 which also takes you back towards Pittsburgh. Waynesburg itself would probably be the best choice. Pretty much everything one needs with a fine college, a decent shopping area and a low crime rate. The rest of the county is quite rural which can be a good or bad thing, depends on you. But again, you're less than an hour from Morgantown, Washington and even Pittsburgh on a good day.

Washington County. Peters Township yes, perhaps a bit expensive though. At least you'd be close to the I-70/I-79 corridor. Probably the nicest we have to offer.

Cambria County (Johnstown). My knowledge of the schools out there is pretty much non-existent. The only advice I can give is that you may be hard pressed to find a replacement job if your current one falls to pieces. Depends on your field of course. From Johnstown proper, figure twenty minutes up to Rt 22 or down to the turnpike. Rt 30 is always a choice but much still two lane or heavy suburban traffic.

[guylocke]

Look into Murrysville? It's a westmoreland county city with a very excellent school district (Franklin Regional), easily one of the best in all of western PA.

It's roughly an hour or so from Johnstown, it's a growing suburb with a lot more potential and beautiful planned neighborhoods. Prices range from very inexpensive older neighborhoods to VERY expensive McMansions. Murrysville would be about an hour to Washington, too. It's just another option for you to consider.

If you wanted to be slightly closer to work and slightly further from Pittsburgh you could look into neighboring Export and Delmont. These towns are also served by Franklin Regional School District but aren't seeing the booming growth (or perhaps inflation?) that Murrysville is.

I imagine looking into Delmont or Export may shave an additional 10 - 20 minutes off of your daily commute to Johnstown depending on how far east you push into those towns.

You could also consider Latrobe or Ligonier, both are towns that are quite charming and a few people on this forum just love them. I am not familiar with their school districts, though.

[NOVAmtneer82]

If working in Fairmont I would probably consider the Morgantown area, namely Cheat Lake as 5stones mentioned. It has well regarded schools and has a nice suburban atmosphere that you will find more family friendly than the in-town college areas.

I have to disagree with one thing though, Peters Township isn't even close to being two hours from Morgantown. I went to school at WVU (now live in the DC area) and frequently went to Pittsburgh for sports games, cultural events, visiting friends, shopping, etc and it NEVER took me more than an hour and 15 mins to get from Morgantown to downtown Pittsburgh. I'm not much of a speeder either (most of the time lol). One of my good friends in college was from Peters Township and the drive was always around 50 minutes to just under an hour depending on the stop lights on Rt. 19.

According to Mapquest, Washington PA to Fairmont is about 65 miles and it is all interstate, you could easily do that in a little over an hour..

[5stones]

Jfronz...thanks for correcting me.

edit yes...it's been awhile since I lived in Peters...Deep creek was 2 hours.

MOrgantown was just about 1 hour....(to the exit off of 79)

sorry...

[Katiana]

I think you should ask yourselves how often do you wish to see your wife's family? If daily, live closer to Pgh and put up with the drive. If weekly or less, live close to the job and drive to the in-laws. JMO.