Thinking of moving to So. PA from MD (Harrisburg, York: houses, neighborhood)

[phillygirl]

We are thinking about moving to the York County area (maybe Stewartstown or New Freedom) because the prices of houses in Maryland have skyrocketed out of control. However, we live in Columbia, MD where everything is 5 minutes away (Target, grocery stores, schools, pools, mall, etc.) and I am concerned that the area is very remote (I don't have any idea if this is true, I'm just wondering) and my other concern is the lack of racial diversity. I am Korean and my husband is Caucasian and we have a little girl that we very much want growing up in a diverse area. If anyone can tell me their thoughts or experiences with life in Stewartstown or surrounding areas that would really be great!

[mmagoogie]

My husband works in York now (runs the Firstone there so he's constantly dealing with the public) and from what's he been complaining about lately is the lack of cultural tolerance. We live in Harrisburg and send our son to a very diverse private school. My husband is Italian/German and I'm French/Puerto Rican so we enjoy the diversity. I mentioned about relocating to York because of his job and his exact words were.."No way!". lol

I do like Harrisburg (a half hr drive from York) but then again I'm originally from NYC and need everything close by. I like being able to take my son and two dogs down to the Susquehanna River Walk and city island, shopping is abundant, and the activities such as Arts Festival etc. can be alot of fun. Downside is the public schools are pretty bad, taxes are high, and like any city there's crime.

York is a decent sized city which is why I mentioned to my hubby about relocating there but he's pretty adamant about staying in Harrisburg. I worked in Columbia MD about two years ago and I think you would probably be happier living in one of the suburbs of Harrisburg like Penbrook or Colonial Park. They have the Columbia MD feel to them and they're not right in the city but within a short drive to everything. Prices are also much cheaper.

[openless]

Hello, my name is Dan and i live in Harrisburg, which is about 85 miles north of Baltimore, about an hour and a half with no traffic jams. My father traveled to Timonium pretty often, about once a month for 15 years. I will tell you Around York city there is tons of traffic, congestion is pretty bad and there is constantly construction. One thing you will find if you do not already know is that there is ALWAYS construction and the quality of the roads is very, very poor. they build something and 8 years later, it is broken, then they spend the next 3 or 4 years repairing it. they have done some major work in the past 5 - 10 years on a lot of the areas. routes 322 and 283 are almost completely re-done. There is a very large population of people who live in southern york county and work in the greater baltimore area. Really, in new fredom or shrewsbury you'd probably only be 25 - 40 minutes from baltimore. I live in Linglestown which is about 12 miles northeast of harrisburg, and I know a guy who works 4 12 hour days m,t,w,t down in baltimore, he drives there with 3 other people. Rabbit Transit, york's bus line has just recently opened a transit line to baltimore city. Shrewsbury has a lot of rutters and turkey hill convience store. It is kind of rural and more conservitive, there are definatly some redneck ish people there. my wife is from indonesia and we live in a somewhat diverse neighborhood. Most people get along with her, some people are ignorant or whatever, but anywhere in life you have to deal with stupid people. In york city that is pretty common, mixed race and interracial relationships. my friend is Guamaniam (chimorro) and white, their whole family grew up in the york area and their dad worked in fort meade.

the housing in the area is probably cheaper, but there are not too many jobs, im sure you'd bhave to travel to find something. I wouldnt worry about that, a lot of towns in pennsylvania are filled with older retiried citizens. Most are pretty nice once you get to know them. I doubt you'd encounter any type of racism or problems like that, but it's definaly less diverse that washington DC or baltimore. York City has a mixed population of white, black, cuban, puerto rican and vietnamese people. Here in Harrisburg we have 3 korean churches, a korean restraunt and a korean grocery store. Dozens of mom and pop shops and cleaners are korean here. Jampong, Kalbi Gui, pagolgi, bimbim bab, kimchee, etc. There have been here in our community for decades and many are fully integrated. Realy my one friend in school was korean, i can only remember 'kum sum ham nee duh" something like that. You wont have a major culture shock, but be prepared to have some knuckleheads act stupid. The area is rural, and there isnt too much to do. It's a very slower pace of life Im sure than metro Baltimore. thanks hope i helped, ~Dan~ openless@aol.com

[openless]

did you move yet?

[sharris]

Stewartstown is a smaller area and less city like then you may be used to living. lots of farms and open space. you may want to look more into Hanover Pa or west York area. There are many places places to shop, dine, and entertain your self with there. As well these locations are close to MD and or Harrisburg. Good luck. Happy to talk in more detail about the PA / Md area with you.