young water resources engineer (Pittsburgh, Erie: crime rate, homes, public schools)

[susangibbs]

wondering about any opportunity in Northwest PA? I am not sure what opportunities might exist, but ten years of working in WATER resources in CA...have a family and wondering if PA, home of some relatives might be a better spot to raise them? Thoughts?

[rhondee]

There are many job opportunities in water resources and groundwater/envoronmental management that are tied with the Marcellus Shale gas industry all around Pennsylvania. Not sure if this is something that is totally different than what you are actually looking for.

The area around Lake Erie is nice although it is the snowbelt and gets lots of it! Aside from winters being on the harsh side, summers are generally sunny and comfortable. Welch's concord grape belt follows the area around the eastern side of the lake from Pennsylvania into New York State and is very large.
If you like the outdoors there are plenty of activities. Presque Isle State Park along the lake is nice. Pennsylvania is generally a very affordable state with some great housing values ( compared to some other spots in the country.)
Harborcreek is a nice area and has some beautiful homes. Edinboro is another town outside of Erie that is a college town ( Edinboro Univ.) that I really like.

Other small towns in and around northwest PA have been in a steady decline for a number of years with population loss and some tend to be more run down than others.

I've never lived there so I don't have any current insider info that I can share as far as public schools, crime rate or areas to watch out for,etc.

[ki0eh]

There has been a good bit of opportunity with water-related permitting in northeast, northcentral, northwest, southwest PA due to the shale drilling. Central/eastern PA has a level of permitting SRBC Home Page that western/northwestern PA doesn't have. The usual online job sites should give you some idea, look at Pittsburgh, Williamsport, Scranton, Altoona, State College, Erie areas first.

[gg]

Go on Craigslist.

Water Quality Tech Advisor Needed (http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/csr/2219155263.html - broken link)

[Katarina Witt]

OP, only you can decide if PA is a better place to raise a family than CA. Obviously, there are lots of people raising families in CA. Use your "due diligence" and research thorougly.