Move from DC to central PA for job

[Anonymous]

I was just in Pa this weekend. It's so charming and sooo much cheaper. I would do it in a heartbeat.

[Anonymous]

Where is the job? The Lehigh Valley is large and I can advise you better with more specifics. Southern Lehigh is a popular are/school district with more upscale shopping and proximity to stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you certainly get a lot for your money.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1062-Newgate-Dr_Allentown_PA_18103_M30265-83188?ex=PA604196869

OP here -- this is what appeals to me honestly. The commute would be sub 30 minutes and we could live in a house like this. DH we live in a dumpy house that cost close to a million dollars in order to have a decent commute, and the commute is still annoying and stressful some days. Also I am not sold on raising kids in DH. The teens in our neighborhood seem overly tutored and a ton of prep and pressure for college which is not the environment we grew up in. We are both from midwest and lived in Chicago before DC. I think I would be ok with small town life, but the suggestion to go visit for a week is a good one. I don't know the area at all.

I'm the PP who posted the link. I've spent A LOT of time in quasi-rural parts of PA, as I have two kids who play travel hockey. That said, that has probably negatively skewed my perspective of the area due to the people I've encountered that way and the places we seem to get stuck (including Allentown). I'm not fond of PA in general as a result, and I would definitely urge you to spend some time checking it out. But if you're from the Midwest, there are probably aspects that will appeal to you that I definitely disliked. (Like being out in nowhere, or feeling that way). I'm from a large city outside the US, so small town or rural Americana are not for me.

That part of PA that you are looking in is better than central (Hershey, York, Altoona) which have no redeeming qualities I've ever found. Run down, poor, high drug use, everything people like to think of WV.

hershey is a lot different from york and altoona. in fact i think hershey is way better to live in than allentown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been to Allentown? I'd spend a weekend there and see if you like it. My inlaws are from this area (45 min away from Allentown, but central PA) and I can't see myself living there at all. High poverty, lots of opioid drug abuse and I don't like the city services (lack of sidewalks, lack of infrastructure, no parks, libraries are bad). The pp mentioned insular and that's correct. There's also little to do at night other than bars and chain restaurants. I'm not someone who needs high class city life, but nice, clean suburbs are my jam. Pittsburgh is very nice though!

There's an orchestra, art museum, theater productions through the colleges and local theaters, nature/hiking, arty movie houses, minor league sports...you may have to work harder to find activities but they exist. It's mostly suburban and stuff is more spread out.

[Anonymous]

If you wanted a more DC suburb feel (not that you do) you'd need to go to Bucks County PA. It has money from NY, Philly and Princeton so it feels rural but not rust belt struggling like the other parts of PA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you certainly get a lot for your money.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1062-Newgate-Dr_Allentown_PA_18103_M30265-83188?ex=PA604196869

OP here -- this is what appeals to me honestly. The commute would be sub 30 minutes and we could live in a house like this. DH we live in a dumpy house that cost close to a million dollars in order to have a decent commute, and the commute is still annoying and stressful some days. Also I am not sold on raising kids in DH. The teens in our neighborhood seem overly tutored and a ton of prep and pressure for college which is not the environment we grew up in. We are both from midwest and lived in Chicago before DC. I think I would be ok with small town life, but the suggestion to go visit for a week is a good one. I don't know the area at all.

There's a lot of snobbery and misunderstanding on this thread. I think a weeklong visit is a good idea, but overall, based on what you've told us, I think you would like it. Bethlehem seems like it's getting much better culturally, and Philly is just an hour away, NYC probably 90 minutes to 2 hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from that area (generally - closer to Phil though). I think you need to think about what you want. What do you do for a living? Unless it's healthcare, you aren't guaranteed a job in that area. So do you want to not work - bc that is a real possibility?

Also, I think it's right to view this as the last offer for a while. If he goes there and doesn't like it, it's not like he can just try to lateral to a big firm or boutique in Philadelphia bc that won't work with a 1 hr+ commute. Nor are there tons of other in house options to be had. So if you guys go there and don't adjust to the area/he doesn't like the job -- you need to consider that you're moving again. (For that reason -- I would NOT buy a house immediately -- things do not sell in that area like they do here, you can easily be stuck with a house on the market for years -- even given this hot economy).

Finally consider that that area is pretty insular. Everyone I went to HS with pretty much still lives there or within 40 min of where we grew up. So do all their extended families. That means their priority is for their kids to play with their cousin's kids on the weekends etc., extended family get togethers etc. It can be hard to move to places like that knowing no one. That being said, you could luck out. You could end up in a neighborhood or school classroom or sports team (if there are kids) that want to include the new family.

Unless the job is with Vanguard (which I don't think it is bc that's not as far west in Pa.), I would think long and hard about the mobility/exit options from that type of job. (I mention Vanguard bc a job there is super marketable in the financial services space in any number of other east coast areas should you leave.)

OP, I would think about what this poster is saying. I live in an area like this where everyone grew up here and will die here. Very tough to career network and people already have their friends.

[Anonymous]

You should definitely spend time in the area before deciding to move--maybe two visits if you can manage it. My inlaws live near Allentown and you couldn't pay me to move there. Dull small towns, long cold winters, no thanks. That said, I just went to Philly and liked it a lot more than I expected so at least that's an option you'd have for weekend trips.

If you're looking for a small town feel where everyone's more interested in the high school football game than what's happening in politics, then maybe it's a better fit. My relatives moved from Philly to a small town near Allentown and they've lived there happily almost 20 years. Their kids have grown up in the same house pretty much all their lives and they've put down deep roots in the area, so I don't think it was a bad move for them. Different strokes for different folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been to Allentown? I'd spend a weekend there and see if you like it. My inlaws are from this area (45 min away from Allentown, but central PA) and I can't see myself living there at all. High poverty, lots of opioid drug abuse and I don't like the city services (lack of sidewalks, lack of infrastructure, no parks, libraries are bad). The pp mentioned insular and that's correct. There's also little to do at night other than bars and chain restaurants. I'm not someone who needs high class city life, but nice, clean suburbs are my jam. Pittsburgh is very nice though!

+1. I don't know Allentown, but my sister lives in a university town in rural-ish PA and I ... would not move there.

[Anonymous]

http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/693633.page

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm from that area (generally - closer to Phil though). I think you need to think about what you want. What do you do for a living? Unless it's healthcare, you aren't guaranteed a job in that area. So do you want to not work - bc that is a real possibility?

Also, I think it's right to view this as the last offer for a while. If he goes there and doesn't like it, it's not like he can just try to lateral to a big firm or boutique in Philadelphia bc that won't work with a 1 hr+ commute. Nor are there tons of other in house options to be had. So if you guys go there and don't adjust to the area/he doesn't like the job -- you need to consider that you're moving again. (For that reason -- I would NOT buy a house immediately -- things do not sell in that area like they do here, you can easily be stuck with a house on the market for years -- even given this hot economy).

Finally consider that that area is pretty insular. Everyone I went to HS with pretty much still lives there or within 40 min of where we grew up. So do all their extended families. That means their priority is for their kids to play with their cousin's kids on the weekends etc., extended family get togethers etc. It can be hard to move to places like that knowing no one. That being said, you could luck out. You could end up in a neighborhood or school classroom or sports team (if there are kids) that want to include the new family.

Unless the job is with Vanguard (which I don't think it is bc that's not as far west in Pa.), I would think long and hard about the mobility/exit options from that type of job. (I mention Vanguard bc a job there is super marketable in the financial services space in any number of other east coast areas should you leave.)

OP, I would think about what this poster is saying. I live in an area like this where everyone grew up here and will die here. Very tough to career network and people already have their friends.

I'm the PP you're quoting -- one more thought. Whenever these threads come up people here are quick to say -- oh DC/Nova is soooooo awful, I'd go in a heartbeat bc you can get a huge mansion plus you're ONLY 1 hr from Philadelphia and 2 hrs from NYC so NBD. Reality is -- these people have never lived in such places. You need to consider whether you can be happy in the Allentown vicinity day to day. Chances are you'll go to Philadelphia and NYC somewhere between 1-6x/yr depending on your interests. Yet you have to spend every weeknight and weekend in the Allentown area. You need to figure out whether you think you can find a community there; whether you can find a job/do some serious networking there (if you want); or if it all seems a bit "settled" and insular. Bc the reality is if you're unhappy 51.5 weeks/yr, it will not matter one bit that you went to Philadelphia 2 months ago to see the orchestra and took in a long weekend in NYC at Christmas. What will matter then is that it feels like you go to work, come home and sit home alone because it feels like everyone in the world has their grandkids or cousin's kids or whoever visiting every weekend so they aren't up for seeing you.

And BTW you're moving to an area that's fairly provincial. Not truly provincial like say Williamsport -- but still the kind of area where if you say -- Mike & I had a great weekend, went to Philly to see the orchestra, some (not all) neighbors will recoil in horror that you went into the city. These are people who never go and don't understand why anyone wants anything to do with the city bc it's just so awful. Except the sports fans, they're ok going to Eagles games because it's highway driving, you exit the highway, park at the stadium, watch game, and come right back; no actual venturing into the city to eat at local restaurants or walk around a market bc it is soooooo dangerous bc you know . . . [black people live in the city . . . .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the PP you're quoting -- one more thought. Whenever these threads come up people here are quick to say -- oh DC/Nova is soooooo awful, I'd go in a heartbeat bc you can get a huge mansion plus you're ONLY 1 hr from Philadelphia and 2 hrs from NYC so NBD. Reality is -- these people have never lived in such places. You need to consider whether you can be happy in the Allentown vicinity day to day. Chances are you'll go to Philadelphia and NYC somewhere between 1-6x/yr depending on your interests. Yet you have to spend every weeknight and weekend in the Allentown area. You need to figure out whether you think you can find a community there; whether you can find a job/do some serious networking there (if you want); or if it all seems a bit "settled" and insular. Bc the reality is if you're unhappy 51.5 weeks/yr, it will not matter one bit that you went to Philadelphia 2 months ago to see the orchestra and took in a long weekend in NYC at Christmas. What will matter then is that it feels like you go to work, come home and sit home alone because it feels like everyone in the world has their grandkids or cousin's kids or whoever visiting every weekend so they aren't up for seeing you.

And BTW you're moving to an area that's fairly provincial. Not truly provincial like say Williamsport -- but still the kind of area where if you say -- Mike & I had a great weekend, went to Philly to see the orchestra, some (not all) neighbors will recoil in horror that you went into the city. These are people who never go and don't understand why anyone wants anything to do with the city bc it's just so awful. Except the sports fans, they're ok going to Eagles games because it's highway driving, you exit the highway, park at the stadium, watch game, and come right back; no actual venturing into the city to eat at local restaurants or walk around a market bc it is soooooo dangerous bc you know . . . [black people live in the city . . . .

Omg this. I grew up a little over an hour west of Philly and this is so accurate. Before I could drive myself there with friends, I think my family went to Philly exactly twice. In 16 years. And the casual racism all around is hard to swallow. Recent trips home for holidays have brought me face to face with lots and lots of Trump supporters. The posters talking about the insular nature of these areas are right on the money. The vast majority of the people I grew up with still live within 30 minutes of their childhood homes.

Yes, cost of living is very low, but so are salaries. So do your homework on that first. I’m not saying it’s impossible to have a nice life in places like this, but coming from DC this will be major culture shock. Proceed with caution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/693633.page

This thread is full of people who left and wish they could come back.

[Anonymous]

I went to college in Allentown and have several friends still living in the area. I would absolutely move back. Would probably aim to move to Bethlehem. It’s a very cute town.

Don’t recommend the commute but i will also add there are many in the area that commute to Philly or even NYC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you certainly get a lot for your money.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1062-Newgate-Dr_Allentown_PA_18103_M30265-83188?ex=PA604196869

OP here -- this is what appeals to me honestly. The commute would be sub 30 minutes and we could live in a house like this. DH we live in a dumpy house that cost close to a million dollars in order to have a decent commute, and the commute is still annoying and stressful some days. Also I am not sold on raising kids in DH. The teens in our neighborhood seem overly tutored and a ton of prep and pressure for college which is not the environment we grew up in. We are both from midwest and lived in Chicago before DC. I think I would be ok with small town life, but the suggestion to go visit for a week is a good one. I don't know the area at all.

I'm the PP who posted the link. I've spent A LOT of time in quasi-rural parts of PA, as I have two kids who play travel hockey. That said, that has probably negatively skewed my perspective of the area due to the people I've encountered that way and the places we seem to get stuck (including Allentown). I'm not fond of PA in general as a result, and I would definitely urge you to spend some time checking it out. But if you're from the Midwest, there are probably aspects that will appeal to you that I definitely disliked. (Like being out in nowhere, or feeling that way). I'm from a large city outside the US, so small town or rural Americana are not for me.

That part of PA that you are looking in is better than central (Hershey, York, Altoona) which have no redeeming qualities I've ever found. Run down, poor, high drug use, everything people like to think of WV.

hershey is a lot different from york and altoona. in fact i think hershey is way better to live in than allentown.

+1