Help with PA (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown: low crime, how much, safe area)

[ashamc9]

Hi. I'm thinking about moving to PA from NY and I wanted to find out about areas to live there. I'm looking for a suburban area that is ethnically diverse, a safe area that is also affordable but not to close to heavy city life but not a small town either. An area with a good school district also. I really appreciate some help with this. Thanks so much.

[Love2Golf09]

Originally Posted by ashamc9

Hi. I'm thinking about moving to PA from NY and I wanted to find out about areas to live there. I'm looking for a suburban area that is ethnically diverse, a safe area that is also affordable but not to close to heavy city life but not a small town either. An area with a good school district also. I really appreciate some help with this. Thanks so much.

I don't know of any magical place that has all of those things. The big problem is the ethnically diverse thing. Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia and the city of Allentown, is very, very white. There isn't much racial diversity, however there is diversity amongst the white people. It isn't uncommon to see neighborhoods that are italian, irish, and lots of eastern european influence too. There are tons of beautiful orthodox churches all through PA.

There are tons of nice, cheap places with school schools in the Lehigh Valley,like Emmaus or Macugnie. Lebanon and Lancaster are also nice places. These places aren't very diverse though. PA is still very segregated, so you're not going to find a suburb where whites, blacks, hispanics, and asians all live next to each other, there is little crime, and the schools are great. That's a fairytale. The closest thing to that would probably be State College. But, other than a college town, most of the nice areas of PA are 95%-98% white...or you could buy a bulletproof vest, move into the city of allentown or philadelphia and enjoy the diversity.

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by Love2Golf09

I don't know of any magical place that has all of those things. The big problem is the ethnically diverse thing. Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia and the city of Allentown, is very, very white. There isn't much racial diversity, however there is diversity amongst the white people. It isn't uncommon to see neighborhoods that are italian, irish, and lots of eastern european influence too. There are tons of beautiful orthodox churches all through PA.

There are tons of nice, cheap places with school schools in the Lehigh Valley,like Emmaus or Macugnie. Lebanon and Lancaster are also nice places. These places aren't very diverse though. PA is still very segregated, so you're not going to find a suburb where whites, blacks, hispanics, and asians all live next to each other, there is little crime, and the schools are great. That's a fairytale. The closest thing to that would probably be State College. But, other than a college town, most of the nice areas of PA are 95%-98% white...or you could buy a bulletproof vest, move into the city of allentown or philadelphia and enjoy the diversity.

A few good points and a few bad ones.

You don't need a bulletproof vest in Allentown or Philly, just stay out of trouble. There are lots of great neighborhoods in Philly. I can't say the same about Allentown but there are good areas there too I'm sure. Lancaster and Lebanon are actually very diverse cities, but the suburban areas of each county are very white. Harrisburg's east shore suburbs are diverse (Susquehanna, Lower Paxton, Penbrook) and affordable, you may want to keep that in mind. I'd go so far as to say they are probably the most affordable diverse suburbs in the state with a low crime rate.

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by Love2Golf09

I don't know of any magical place that has all of those things. The big problem is the ethnically diverse thing. Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia and the city of Allentown, is very, very white. There isn't much racial diversity, however there is diversity amongst the white people. It isn't uncommon to see neighborhoods that are italian, irish, and lots of eastern european influence too. There are tons of beautiful orthodox churches all through PA.

There are tons of nice, cheap places with school schools in the Lehigh Valley,like Emmaus or Macugnie. Lebanon and Lancaster are also nice places. These places aren't very diverse though. PA is still very segregated, so you're not going to find a suburb where whites, blacks, hispanics, and asians all live next to each other, there is little crime, and the schools are great. That's a fairytale. The closest thing to that would probably be State College. But, other than a college town, most of the nice areas of PA are 95%-98% white...or you could buy a bulletproof vest, move into the city of allentown or philadelphia and enjoy the diversity.

While this may be true in the vast majority of the Central/Western state, many suburban communities in the Eastern part of the state are increasingly diverse. The "fairy tale" you describe is certainly not unheard of in areas outside of Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, and the Harrisburg area.

[ashamc9]

Does anyone have any info on Levittown?

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by Love2Golf09

The big problem is the ethnically diverse thing. Pennsylvania, outside of Philadelphia and the city of Allentown, is very, very white.

No doubt all the folks of African, Asian, Indian etc. descent who live in and around places like Johnstown, Pittsburgh, Erie, Sharon, etc. would be curious as to where you get your information.

[thesixth]

Levittown is a decent area...older housing from the 50's, near to Phila and Trenton. Fairly diverse. Would say the school district is a bit weaker though.

[Love2Golf09]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

No doubt all the folks of African, Asian, Indian etc. descent who live in and around places like Johnstown, Pittsburgh, Erie, Sharon, etc. would be curious as to where you get your information.

Actually I am from sw PA and still have family there. I get my info from facts. The facts are that Pittsburgh is a very white city, and the suburbs are well over 95% white. Get outside of Allegheny County and it is similar. If you don't believe me, visit Butler, Westmoreland, Fayette, and Washington Counties and let me know how much diversity is there. Get some info about the HUGE asian and indian populations in Johnstown, Sharon, and Erie please. Or, does less than 1% asian count as diverse now?

[Reddie]

I moved to Pennsylvania from Maryland and HATE IT! I thought it would be more progressive but it' not. Many of the people here a prejudice (live in Drums,PA outside of Hazleton) and work in the Poconos. The families in the Poconos work in New York/New Jersey and their children suffer. I am also looking for a place in Pennsylvania that will offer a walkable community with diversity but "out of luck"

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by Reddie

I moved to Pennsylvania from Maryland and HATE IT! I thought it would be more progressive but it' not. Many of the people here a prejudice (live in Drums,PA outside of Hazleton) and work in the Poconos. The families in the Poconos work in New York/New Jersey and their children suffer. I am also looking for a place in Pennsylvania that will offer a walkable community with diversity but "out of luck"

There are many places in PA that have walkable communities with more embrace of diversity than suburbs of Hazleton. Some not even too far from you, such as Williamsport, Bloomsburg, and Lewisburg. Not to mention parts of the Allentown and Philadelphia areas, depending on what you seek.