Meant to add, we drove through Lancaster too (I hate highways) but we didn't go through the business district. The burb part of Lancaster we were in was gorgeous.

I would also recommend looking at Easton. It has a college, a fairly decent one in town, and looks walkable. (Haven't been but we were going to stay at the hotel downtown this summer, but we rerouted and ended up driving the whole distance in a day.)

I'm from Philly originally and don't know as much as I should about the places outside of it, but on this road trip we did spend a fair amount of time driving on local roads in the outer-ring philly burbs before we cut into NJ at New Hope. Doylestown is a good suggestion.

On the way back we drove through the middle of Allentown and it was indeed looking pretty rough. I am of the generation whose parents wanted to gentrify a these walkable old historic places (from west Philly) and I have to say a lot of it looks just as bad if not worse than it did then.

You might want to consider Wilmington, also. It actually looks better.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What about Reading? There's been an active effort to revitalize the downtown for many years now, and it's much nicer than it was a couple decades ago.

Closer to Philly, look at Media. Very cute walkable downtown.

Reading has one of the highest levels of concentrated poverty in the country, something like 36%. It used to be the worst in the country.

You do not want to move to Reading proper. Local government is a disaster, school system is worse than any in the DMV and there is no end in sight.

West Reading and Wyomissing is actually really nice. My cousins live there and like it a lot. The big negative in my mind is the lack of diversity.

I would move there before Lancaster.
https://www.redfin.com/PA/Wyomissing/942-Franklin-St-19610/home/38861461
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/23-S-Park-Rd-Reading-PA-19610/2068931553_zpid/
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/101-S-Park-Rd-Wyomissing-PA-19610/8941627_zpid/

We have relatives who live near Lancaster. I don't think these small cities in PA have a ton of yuppies living there for the urban experience like in DC; the largest growing population in many of them are immigrants priced out of the NYC/tri-state region.

The better educated people running the small businesses are more likely to live in the traditionally suburban areas outside the cities, and they do have a pretty good life, certainly one that's less expensive and stressful than living in the DC areas. And the schools are probably just as good if not better than those in Arlington.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

Classic DCUM. Either some place is Jackson Hole or a s hole. Never change, you elitist snobs.

I mean, my family lives in the Lehigh Valley. I don't care where people live but OP is asking for opinions. Lancaster is run-of-the-mill small town America. Some old Times article about food and a Redfin rating that's significantly lower than Centreville doesn't change that. Lancaster being a pretty average area has nothing to do with elitism.

By the way, YOU can call a *hole of some sort. But I didn't.

I don't know Lancaster well but don't think this is fair. I know several people who regularly go to Lancaster for weekends (I'm in Philly) because of the Americna Music theater (?) and the food scene there. I am not saying move there but it does seem to be gaining energy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

Classic DCUM. Either some place is Jackson Hole or a s hole. Never change, you elitist snobs.

I mean, my family lives in the Lehigh Valley. I don't care where people live but OP is asking for opinions. Lancaster is run-of-the-mill small town America. Some old Times article about food and a Redfin rating that's significantly lower than Centreville doesn't change that. Lancaster being a pretty average area has nothing to do with elitism.

By the way, YOU can call a *hole of some sort. But I didn't.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

Classic DCUM. Either some place is Jackson Hole or a s hole. Never change, you elitist snobs.

Anonymous wrote:Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

No one's missing anything. Lancaster is Lancaster. It's a small town with no business community to speak of, but with a core long-term population, some retirees and a small College community.

It's not the next Jackson or Park City.

People live there just fine, but it's nothing special and has typical problems associated with old city decay.

Much easier to get a barn raised in Lancaster than in Bethlehem.

Can someone tell me more about the neighborhood where OP posted in the northwest part of Lancaster. I’ve seen it referred to as College Hill or Chestnut Hill. You don’t usually see rough neighborhoods with homes like this so I’m taking the Lancaster detractors’ advice with a grain of salt. The design choices on the second home are pretty high end for a $300,000 home.

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/351-N-West-End-Ave-17603/home/130684428

https://www.redfin.com/PA/Lancaster/423-Nevin-St-17603/home/131612731

Redfin is saying Lancaster is a hot market and that Times article seems pretty high on it. What are people missing?

When PPs are calling Bethlehem and Lancaster rough are you comparing it to similar neighborhoods in DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia where you can get rowhomes for $200,000 that are in the condition that OP posted?

Calling Bethlehem rough is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen on this board.

If you’re open to central Pa, Hershey and State College may also work for you.

Anonymous wrote:What about Reading? There's been an active effort to revitalize the downtown for many years now, and it's much nicer than it was a couple decades ago.

Closer to Philly, look at Media. Very cute walkable downtown.

Reading has one of the highest levels of concentrated poverty in the country, something like 36%. It used to be the worst in the country.

What about Reading? There's been an active effort to revitalize the downtown for many years now, and it's much nicer than it was a couple decades ago.

Closer to Philly, look at Media. Very cute walkable downtown.

I’m the PP. Check out New Hope too.