Harrisburg vs Scranton, PA (Republic: live, moving to, train)

[talkwithmike]

Hi everyone!

I live downtown Cleveland (everything is nearby including work;no car but public trans. here is great). BUT I have a great financial opportunity coming up to go to Harrisburg or possibly Scranton.

I am single, white (doesn't matter, does it?), late 50s, friendly, pretty liberal, but vote VERY much independent.

Which place would be best for me?

Thanks.

[supertrucker212]

Harrisburg blows Scranton away in my opinion. Harrisburg has so much more going on economically. Traffic in Harrisburg can be a pain in the ass at times just to give you a heads up! Scranton is an old coal city. At one time it was booming, but economically it seems like its dwindling. Harrisburg leans conservative/ Republican. While Scranton leads way Democrat, but not far left Democrat, more like moderate Democrat, ie senator Bob Casey. Me personally I would pick Harrisburg.

PS Harrisburg is only an hour to an hour an half from Baltimore not much longer to Philly, depending on traffic

[ki0eh]

Harrisburg has rebounded much more than Scranton, although the City of Harrisburg (small part even of the area with a Harrisburg postal address) is having significant financial problems in the long view those will likely not be a big factor in the area. Scranton is a little closer driving to NYC and about the same to Phila but Hbg is also closer to Baltimore and DC and has a train to NYC that Scranton currently doesn't. Folks moving from NYC/NJ to Scranton seem to be more numerous and engender more resentment than folks moving to Harrisburg area. I know a number of ex-Ohioans in the area and they seem happy enough. Harrisburg is also a bit sunnier and warmer.

[CHIP72]

Scranton leans much more Democratic than Harrisburg but those Democrats are labor-friendly, socially conservative Democrats, not socially liberal democrats. The city of Harrisburg itself, while located in a fairly strong Republican area, is probably more liberal than Scranton is.