Looking for progressive, outdoorsy (mountains), diverse town/small City preferably near eastern pa

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by SeanOD

Thanks for all the great advice. I actually started looking into the Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg area as well. Any thoughts?

Both are more culturally diverse than people may know or realize. Same with Easton: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...a,US/PST045218

That area of PA is known for attracting a wide range of people from NYC. I'm not sure about things to do in the Stroudsburgs, but Easton has the Crayola Experience: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6911...6!9m2!1b1!2i37 and a couple of other museums.

Stroudsburg appears to have the best schools out of the 3.

In regards to the Harrisburg suggestion, if you don't mind a suburban area that allows for quick access into the city, the Central Dauphin and Susquehanna Township school districts are solid options that are quite culturally diverse.

Another community in that metro that comes to mind that has walk ability and solid schools is Carlisle. While not a culturally diverse as the others mentioned, its mayor is black and there is still a pretty visible degree of diversity there.

[coddington72]

Absolutely agree about Ithaca. 10 waterfalls, too. Summer and winter public swimming pools - longest Finger Lake.

[Pullenaway]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

Both are more culturally diverse than people may know or realize. Same with Easton: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fa...a,US/PST045218

That area of PA is known for attracting a wide range of people from NYC. I'm not sure about things to do in the Stroudsburgs, but Easton has the Crayola Experience: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.6911...6!9m2!1b1!2i37 and a couple of other museums.

Stroudsburg appears to have the best schools out of the 3.

In regards to the Harrisburg suggestion, if you don't mind a suburban area that allows for quick access into the city, the Central Dauphin and Susquehanna Township school districts are solid options that are quite culturally diverse.

Another community in that metro that comes to mind that has walk ability and solid schools is Carlisle. While not a culturally diverse as the others mentioned, its mayor is black and there is still a pretty visible degree of diversity there.

Can you illuminate a little bit on your comment regarding Susquehanna Township schools? Looking at the PA report card for that district doesn't seem to match up with your comment. Am I missing something? Any insights are greatly appreciated!

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by Pullenaway

Can you illuminate a little bit on your comment regarding Susquehanna Township schools? Looking at the PA report card for that district doesn't seem to match up with your comment. Am I missing something? Any insights are greatly appreciated!

Things may have changed, but it has usually been a solid SD(not the best, but not the worst either). It is a generally middle class community and some that can, may go with a private school like Bishop McDevitt.

[ckhthankgod]

Originally Posted by coddington72

Absolutely agree about Ithaca. 10 waterfalls, too. Summer and winter public swimming pools - longest Finger Lake.

Yes, not has only has the outdoor amenities, but its mayor and school superintendent are black and the city is about 17% Asian(has had black and Asian police chiefs in the past, a woman mayor, oldest church in the city is an AME Zion church). It has generally good and diverse schools as well. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Cornell is there, along with Ithaca College(it’s president is a Dominican woman) and TC3 community college also in the area.

It also has a Science Center.

Bigger cities aren’t too far away (Syracuse-an hour and Rochester-about an hour and a half/45 minutes).