Moving to PA (Lancaster/Reading/York/Harrisburg) (Carlisle, Chambersburg: rental, crime rates) - Pennsylvania - City-Data Forum

Atlaskish · 01-09-2010, 01:03 AM

Me and my wife are moving to eastern PA. We have locked down on the following area of the state. Debating between Lancaster/Reading/York/Harrisburgh. I'm assuming that each area might have something a little better or worse than the other. Anyone living in these areas or knowledgeable about them that can give decent comparrisons on the overall living environments. Thanks ahead of time on any responses.

paposse · 01-09-2010, 06:01 PM

You don't say where you are moving from,but I will tell you about the Reading area as I have lived here for 54 years. I consider Reading and surrounding Berks county as mostly urban.....that means traffic issues at drive times and high crime rates in the city. Having said that,some of the things we offer are first class minor league Baseball,Hockey,and Indoor Football. Great Concerts....Outstanding Parks and Recreational Areas....Mountains to the north....and some pretty darn nice people!

Good Luck on your move !!

Atlaskish · 01-09-2010, 07:19 PM

We are moving from cheyenne WY which we both hate. She is originaly from Middletown/Barryville NY. and I from Annapolis MD.

ki0eh · 01-13-2010, 07:14 AM

Seems like Harrisburg area is more open to outsiders than Lancaster - the state government; companies such as Rite Aid, Harsco, and Hershey; the Penn State medical school in Hershey; the War College in Carlisle, and logistics bases in New Cumberland and Mechanicsburg; and the trucking industry; all create a greater exchange of population in greater Harrisburg than in Lancaster.

York County, especially the southern areas, is being overrun with folks who move up from Maryland.

PA is very compartmentalized, somewhat reflecting the heritage of "little boxes" of local government. You can turn a corner and seeming move back 50 or 100 years. This variation occurs on a sub-zip code geographic level. If you narrow your choices a little further then read carefully the postings in the appropriate city for further guidance. There's a lot of info on here.

winkstheguineapirate · 01-13-2010, 12:07 PM

I live in York currently, although I'm originally from the Reading area. I loved growing up in Berks County. Although there definitely can be urban areas, I lived in a VERY rural area and enjoyed being able to drive half an hour to "civilization". In terms of York, I live downtown, and it's a mixed bag. Very strange development patterns--a gorgeous, high-income block can be followed by one that is a bit ghetto. Wonderful library system, and decent people.

danwxman · 01-13-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winkstheguineapirate

I live in York currently, although I'm originally from the Reading area. I loved growing up in Berks County. Although there definitely can be urban areas, I lived in a VERY rural area and enjoyed being able to drive half an hour to "civilization". In terms of York, I live downtown, and it's a mixed bag. Very strange development patterns--a gorgeous, high-income block can be followed by one that is a bit ghetto. Wonderful library system, and decent people.

This is true of a lot of cities in PA. One block is beautiful, the next block is a disaster.

mdmw · 01-16-2010, 03:51 AM

I will have to 3rd what others have said about the odd mix of blocks. Being born and raised in York, that is something that has always been in my lifetime, and truth be told, in some parts of the city, the "bad" blocks are becoming more numerous.

That being said- as to the OP, it depends what you want out of your area.

Harrisburg has a larger city feel, and has the traffic to prove it. It has a booming nightlife and entertainment is abound. Government and hospital jobs up that way. York tries to be a bigger city, and is getting there, but not sure if that is a good thing or not. However, I do like the proximity to other places in York, it's a hub, and has a history of such, in particular the manufacturing aspects. Still is to some degree. That being said, manufacturing jobs are dying everywhere, and York is no exception. Lancaster has the Amish charm so to speak, and that is more rural life out that way, in particular once you get out past Lancaster tward Philly.

I'd put Lancaster and York on the same scale with size and culture, however different. York is in the midst of a revitilzation effort, and there are alot of new night clubs, restaraunts, entertainment facilities. I don't agree a 100 percent with it, as the money could of been better spent elsewhere, but you have what you have.

All the areas are of a rich history, if you are into that. Harrisburg and York, having some in thier own right, but also being short drives to Gettysburg, and not much further to Chambersburg (where I currently reside). So rich bases in the Civil and Revolutionary Wars.

Colleges are aboud in the area, and really depends, again, what you are looking for. York College, HACC, Millersville, Dickenson, just to start off with. All have there own focal points.

It really is what you want, and then decide from there. Truth be told, rural York and Lancaster county, in my opinion would be the cheapest to live in. All three areas are withing short distances of one another, so if you choose one, it does'nt put the other two out of play.

Reading I cannot comment on, as I think I've been there once.

Atlaskish · 02-25-2010, 07:58 AM

Thanks for all your posts to this thread. I think me and my wife have came up to a decision. We are locking down on moving to York. There is a college that seems to meet our interests there and Baltimore is close enough to head to for some night life on the weekends. Also york seeems to have better rental listings in regards to our two dogs we have with us.

Thanks again for all your inputs!

PAblackbear · 02-25-2010, 03:59 PM

why do you hate Cheyenne?

teachbeach · 02-25-2010, 05:36 PM

I've lived here (York) for 21 years, and have found it to be fine. Housing dollar is fantastic, taxes are reasonable. Great health care and less than an hour from Harrisburg (good night life there too) and Baltimore, Lancaster and even Gettysburg. There are plenty of parks, restaurants, shopping, theatres, festivals & fairs, parades. Choice of either Harrisburg or Baltimore airport, train in Lancaster can get you to NJ or NYC and back in a day. Just lots of conveniences, good schools, the 3 colleges (Penn State, HACC and York College) with Millersville, Franklin& Marshall, Dickinson and Elizabethtown in a hour radius it's a good central location. The suburbs of York are nice, the city has many good parts and points, and then some tough areas as well.