What Are the Safest Areas of Sharon, PA? (Pittsburgh, New Castle: houses, schools)

[SorryIMovedBack]

You're welcome. I don't know much about New Castle. My father sold insurance there, and he called it "Old Castle." hehe. I think half of the old downtown was torn down one of those urban renewal mistakes like Sharon made. Then they had a couple of huge fires that took out most of the old Victorian blocks. There are some nice houses up on the north hill. But basically people have been taking the White Flight turboprop express out of all these towns here for at least 30 years. My family isn't native to the area. My parents moved here for good jobs back when the region was still a mecca for jobs. I grew up in Sharpsville & Hermitage and I could not wait to get out. It was boring, and even back then, was an area that resisted change and resisted "outsiders," lives sexanddrugsandrock&roll, and wasn't doing enough to attract new industries that required a higher skill set. These are small-town people here, insular families who are very set in their ways. People in Shenango Valley has a lot of problems getting their kids raised and launched. And I think that's largely due to the deterioration of the towns.

[dbsteel]

Put it this way... Sharon, Mercer, Grove City, New Castle.... they are all livable and plenty safe. But they are old and have seen better days. Not a lot of entertainment options or tech jobs for a young person. If you have your mind made up on NW PA, I'd look at Pittsburgh obviously, then Erie. Erie gets worse snow though, but its bigger with more going on and you can still find relatively cheap housing.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by SorryIMovedBack

You're welcome. I don't know much about New Castle. My father sold insurance there, and he called it "Old Castle." hehe. I think half of the old downtown was torn down one of those urban renewal mistakes like Sharon made. Then they had a couple of huge fires that took out most of the old Victorian blocks. There are some nice houses up on the north hill. But basically people have been taking the White Flight turboprop express out of all these towns here for at least 30 years. My family isn't native to the area. My parents moved here for good jobs back when the region was still a mecca for jobs. I grew up in Sharpsville & Hermitage and I could not wait to get out. It was boring, and even back then, was an area that resisted change and resisted "outsiders," lives sexanddrugsandrock&roll, and wasn't doing enough to attract new industries that required a higher skill set. These are small-town people here, insular families who are very set in their ways. People in Shenango Valley has a lot of problems getting their kids raised and launched. And I think that's largely due to the deterioration of the towns.

Seriously, go shoot yourself. How can you be that miserable?

I spent some good times in Sharon, have some good friends from there. Move somewhere that makes you happy.

[Lighthead]

Originally Posted by SorryIMovedBack

You're welcome. I don't know much about New Castle. My father sold insurance there, and he called it "Old Castle." hehe. I think half of the old downtown was torn down one of those urban renewal mistakes like Sharon made. Then they had a couple of huge fires that took out most of the old Victorian blocks. There are some nice houses up on the north hill. But basically people have been taking the White Flight turboprop express out of all these towns here for at least 30 years. My family isn't native to the area. My parents moved here for good jobs back when the region was still a mecca for jobs. I grew up in Sharpsville & Hermitage and I could not wait to get out. It was boring, and even back then, was an area that resisted change and resisted "outsiders," lives sexanddrugsandrock&roll, and wasn't doing enough to attract new industries that required a higher skill set. These are small-town people here, insular families who are very set in their ways. People in Shenango Valley has a lot of problems getting their kids raised and launched. And I think that's largely due to the deterioration of the towns.

That's sad to hear. But to be honest, I and the person that I live with are willing to take boring over this crap any day. Sometimes I realize that the middle-class is disappearing everywhere, but right now we're throwing our money away on rent and are in a pretty desperate situation to say the least. Thanks for all the inside information.

[Lighthead]

Originally Posted by dbsteel

Put it this way... Sharon, Mercer, Grove City, New Castle.... they are all livable and plenty safe. But they are old and have seen better days. Not a lot of entertainment options or tech jobs for a young person. If you have your mind made up on NW PA, I'd look at Pittsburgh obviously, then Erie. Erie gets worse snow though, but its bigger with more going on and you can still find relatively cheap housing.

Thanks for the Erie tip. I don't know about Pittsburgh, though. When we last visited Pittsburgh about a year ago, the real estate agent was driving us around a suburb close to Pittsburgh. And then I look out of my window and I see somebody drinking right in front of a shop, with a chair provided for that person and everything! I couldn't believe my eyes.

We can only afford a certain amount, and the nicer suburbs of Pittsburgh are definitely not what we can afford in our situation.

[bradjl2009]

I totally understand wanting to leave California but just find it odd you'd want to live in Sharon when there are so many better options in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

I totally understand wanting to leave California but just find it odd you'd want to live in Sharon when there are so many better options in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

Yep... I wondered the same four days ago, but the OP doesn't say why they are stuck on Sharon!

[Pitt Chick]

Originally Posted by Lighthead

I don't know about Pittsburgh, though. When we last visited Pittsburgh about a year ago, the real estate agent was driving us around a suburb close to Pittsburgh. And then I look out of my window and I see somebody drinking right in front of a shop, with a chair provided for that person and everything! I couldn't believe my eyes.

Really... you never saw anyone having a drink outdoors?

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Pitt Chick

Yep... I wondered the same four days ago, but the OP doesn't say why they are stuck on Sharon!

Maybe they'd be willing to consider Armstrong County? I hear there are some nice places in the backwoods there.

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Maybe they'd be willing to consider Armstrong County? I hear there are some nice places in the backwoods there.

Yes, agree with both of you. Or North Carolina could be good too.