Thoughts on Bushkill? (Hazleton, Somerset, Stroudsburg: renting, homes, job market)

[saralee]

You've all heard it before ... would like to move from Jersey, currently live (renting) in Somerset County. Cannot afford to purchase a home here.

I am engaged, four children (19, 18, 12, 8) between us. Fiancee drives trucks. I work for a private school in sales.

Familiar with the Poconos but not intimately. Was looking at homes in Bushkill, between Milford and Stroudsburg. Would you guys consider that to be a "rough" area? Forgot to add, Pine Ridge is one of the communities we looked at.

We are an mixed race family, looking for a place where we'll feel comfortable and can find employment. Also looking for good schools, specifically for the younger two kids.

Would like to stay near Jersey, because of family, but a three hour's drive is not a big deal ... as long as fiancee can find work.

Any thoughts? Comments?

Thanks!

[christina0001]

I have visited Bushkill a handful of times. It is very pretty. My concern would be the job market, not much going on there outside of the tourism industry. Commuting to NJ may be possible. Truck drivers are needed everywhere so your fiancee would probably be fine.

[saralee]

Christina,

Thanks for the input.

We are also looking at NC (Charlotte area). Would love to stay closer to home, but employment has to be available to us.

This is a tough decision.

SL

[loose cannon]

Bushkill is a nice town. So is Milford but it has a high homosexual population with a secret club in the wods. Please consider that since you have kids.

[robrose]

I have a similar dilemma but live in ny state. Where is bushkill?

[christina0001]

lmao @ loose cannon How do you know about this "secret club?" I lived there, have family and friends there now but never heard of a "secret club." lmao!!!

[christina0001]

robrose: Bushkill is on Rt. 209, off of the Delaware River, just south of Dingmans Ferry, north of Stroudsburg. There are lovely state parks there.

[sunseeker]

I grew up and currently live in the Poconos. My husband is from Bergen county. I'm familiar with much of Eastern Pa and NJ. Saralee, I wish you good luck. The Poconos has many good and many not so good things to offer. The Poconos as you know has terrific access to multiple interstates, which should be good for your fiancee. Roadway employs many people in the area. I think they are in Stroudsburg somewhere. Further westward toward Hazleton or Mt Pocono may have more convenient interstate access for him. 209 can get really backed up with traffic. I've been to Bushkill, but am not terribly familiar with it. What school district is it? You should be able to find housing is several areas that is significantly cheaper than what your used to in NJ. I 'm sorry to say, you will most likely encounter significantly more racism in the Poconos, than you do in Jersey. Some will be blatantly offensive, others will just be ignorant, and others will be polite to your face and not so polite behind your back. You will find more diversity in Monroe county than Pike and Wayne county. The closer to nj the more diversity. I can't help you with Pine Ridge. I don't know anything about it.
Best of Luck

[Bengrey]

I was in Bushkill two years ago in December visiting a relative. I did not have a cellular phone signal the whole time. My relative said that is pretty typical for all major carriers there, except Verizon might have a signal at spots.

[sunseeker]

Bengrey is absolutely right. I know of no one who gets cell phone reception in the town where I live.