Lancaster or Allentown/Bethlehem

[Anonymous]

Not a Lancaster guru like some others on this thread, but I was up there on a Saturday a few months ago and the downtown area around the central market was pretty hopping.

[Anonymous]

There was a comment on a different thread pointing out that small towns can have lovely historic neighborhoods, but all the money (and good schools that follow the money) is really in the new suburban developments or "estate home" developments on the outskirts. I can vouch for this with the towns I'm familiar with. It's sad, but that's what the small town people with money do want - new houses and new schools. Oh well. That's why you find a pattern of a nicely spruced up main street with a few eateries/same-same boutiques and a few blocks of restored houses, usually the 2-3 nicer streets, and then the rest of the older parts are cheap apartments carved out of old houses and rather rundown. I can see how living in such a town can get tired rather quickly.

There may be some exceptions. What about Elizabethtown?

[Anonymous]

What about Emmaus?

[Anonymous]

I'm also from midway between Allentown and Lancaster and don't know as much about them as I should but would choose Lancaster over Allentown. I know more people who live in the former, although my college roommate is a real estate agent in Bethlehem/Easton area and posts some nice stuff.

I'll throw out another town that I haven't seen listed: Phoenixville. The Main Street is a ton of restaurants, and there are community festivals a few times a year. Schools are decent.


https://www.redfin.com/PA/Phoenixville/222-Franklin-Ave-19460/home/38431847

If bump up a bit:
https://www.redfin.com/PA/Phoenixville/621-Vanderslice-St-19460/home/38304612



Also, definite no to Lansdowne. My parent and relatives are from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as someone whose inlaws are there, the Allentown area is awful. Lots of tract housing, lots of big box stores, nothing but chain restaurants and really bad quasi ethnic/attempted upscale dining as far as the eye can see. Not a whole lot in the way of parks or public recreation. Healthcare facilities are numerous and high-quality, but that draws a lot of retirees who aren't interested in funding schools. It is not a high-demand area. My husband's parents owned their house for 15 years and saw just $50,000 worth of appreciation.

The closer proximity to NYC is... not a plus. You're too far to go into the city easily (even Philly is an all-day affair). But the significantly lower prices attract all the NJ people who can't afford NJ. And they mix with the folks who take off from school and work on the first day of deer hunting. But if you think Disney hotel dining rooms are "elegant" and really love driving everywhere, you'll thrive.

Look into Lansdale instead.

Sorry, meant to suggest Lansdowne. Got my SEPTA stations mixed up.

Lansdowne? Wow. Delco AF. Lansdowne is the real deal!!

If you want urban walkable rowhouses (and “twins”) Delco is your place. It is also the place where gentrification goes to die. Whether that is a plus or a minus, you can decide for yourself whilst enjoying Delco fine dining, aka a hoagie on the trash can over at the fancy Wawa.

Delco born/raised entering the chat! I'm going on 20 years here in DC and I miss Delco more each year. We should have engineered a move when our kids were younger.

I think there are parts of Wallingford-Swarthmore School District and Lower Merion (thinking Narberth) which are more affordable. I also think Haverford has some affordable areas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm also from midway between Allentown and Lancaster and don't know as much about them as I should but would choose Lancaster over Allentown. I know more people who live in the former, although my college roommate is a real estate agent in Bethlehem/Easton area and posts some nice stuff.

I'll throw out another town that I haven't seen listed: Phoenixville. The Main Street is a ton of restaurants, and there are community festivals a few times a year. Schools are decent.


https://www.redfin.com/PA/Phoenixville/222-Franklin-Ave-19460/home/38431847

If bump up a bit:
https://www.redfin.com/PA/Phoenixville/621-Vanderslice-St-19460/home/38304612



Also, definite no to Lansdowne. My parent and relatives are from there.

Does Lansdowne feed into Academy Park HS? Little girl was shot at a football game there not too long ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about more of a small town with a historic center, like Boyertown, Kutztown, Collegeville?

+1

Also, look at Lititz, outside of Lancaster.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/pennsylvania/unique-town-pa/