NORTHEAST PA vs.SOUTHEAST PA (Philadelphia, Reading: fit in, hair salon, home)

[Northeastcouple]

I posted this on the north east PA forum so why not this one...

Northeast.PA vs Southeast.PA lets hear it folks.....Seriously I dont want to see an online brawl or hissing match over this, just want to see peoples perspectives that live in one of the areas or know both of them well...looking for the pros and cons for a young couple with kids...schools,cost of living, and weather all fit into the equation. THANKS!!!!

[toobusytoday]

I feel that we here in the Lehigh Valley are sort of in-between both areas. Part of that is because of the media coverage. The Philadelphia tv news channels sort of cover us, but usually for tragedies or weather. The Philadelphia Inquirer is even worse. The coverage pretty much stops at the Bucks county line. But sports wise, this is still Eagles territory, especially with the Eagles having their Summer camp here at Lehigh University.

But, that's not really your question, is it? We've lived in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and now Lehigh County. Lehigh is by far my favorite but I enjoyed the others as well. Totally subjective, but we've found better friends here, there's less sprawl, less shopping opportunities (considering my desires for Costco and Trader Joe's that may seem strange, but it's true) and less traffic. I love getting to work in ten minutes. If it takes 15 minutes, it means I had to wait through the one light.

Schools may not be rated as highly as some in the Philadelphia burbs, but they are good and the kids in general are well traveled and aware of what's going on in the world. In my school district, there isn't as much competitiveness. But perhaps that's just because my kids aren't competing for the Val and Sal spots. There are alot of newcomers here which helps adults make friends as well as kids, but there are also many people that have lived here their whole life and that makes for a nice feeling of traditions. I like that this area surrounds a town with it's own history and that there is a town, not just a collection of McMansions, built for commuting to elsewhere. But, that's jmho.

[Northeastcouple]

Thanks for your input. I must check out your ara one of these days...

[tremontpa]

Well, if cost of living is an issue and you like the out oors think Schuylkill County, located in the north end of southern PA but better associated with the northeast geographicaly. The county is an hour from Harrisburg and Reading and 2.5 hours from Philadelphia. There are countless acres of public forest lands and miles of trails to hike. The schools are decent. The borough of Tremont, population 1784, boasts several parks, two community centers, seven churches, three eating establishments, a hardware store, two gas stations, a laundromat, a bank, a dentist, a YMCA, two senior centers, a community pool, several stores, a post office, a library, several organizations, a dollar store, a police force, a fire company, a nursing home, a community band, an EMS, several industries, and several hair salons/barber shops. The borough, although aged and past its prime is full of friendly people and chock full of history. visit theses websites for more details.
Tremont Borough Home Page
The Tremont Online News and Directory | Everything You Need To Know

[Northeastcouple]

Thanks for the info, will def.check those places out!!