sayre PA (finger lakes) versus atlantic county NJ (Ithaca, Marcellus: apartments, to rent)

[lukeman]

hi, I have been offered jobs in these two places. They are both great places I am sure. I know far more about NJ, have been to Brigantine in the summer, but do not have any experience with year round living. The PA, NY lakes are beautiful. I love the thought of being there for autumn. People seem to discourage sayre because it is "in middle of no where, depressing"

I am single, 50, no kids. I am trying to settle somewhere in the country (not much family anywhere, 2 good college friends in NJ...but I can see they anyway) in an area which has nature opportunities, but probably would like to live in a walkable town, cottage type house...just me and dog.

I was running for a Denver/Boulder job, but lost that opportunity...

I do not care about schools, have enough income, non the less, would prefer PA tax to NY or NJ


leaning toward Atlantic City area, but just not sure....wish it were denver....thought I wanted to move back east....but after here temporarily, I do not really miss it anymore.

I need to make a home for myself, one place where I can live the rest of my life.

Thank you for your help

Sharon

[ckhthankgod]

So, if you take the Sayre position, are you looking for a town in NY to live in? If so, I would move this to the General portion of the NY forum.

[Wells5]

You'll like the NJ coast better than Sayre. With the closing of some AC casinos, there are plenty of apartments available. NJ beaches are the best in the northeast. Good places to exercise your dog.

If you're looking for sandy beaches on the Finger Lakes, you won't find many.

The housing stock in the "Valley" (Sayre, Athens, Waverly, South Waverly) tends to be old and closely spaced and expensive to rent due to the Marcellus Shale influx of gas field workers.

[ki0eh]

Bradford County around Sayre has the dry gas that's now glutted, so drilling has declined for now. If you are looking to purchase a house in one of "The Valley" towns, prices have settled back down, as the gas people who were going to move in pretty much already have. If by "cottage type" house you are looking at smaller and older perhaps with some character The Valley has those in spades, almost all detached singles so if it doesn't have a fenced yard for a dog you could probably put one in (check municipal rules of course). WATCH FOR FLOOD ZONES along the two rivers and various creeks. There is nothing exciting about "The Valley" but it could be an opportunity to save your commuting money and upsize your vacations and retirement, while still close enough to Ithaca to treat yourself to dinner out.