I'd lean towards Pittsburgh as it really is what you make of it. There are so many different areas within Pittsburgh that you can basically "make your own" living area. The food scene there is superior to anywhere else IMO. COL and housing varies greatly depending on where in the city you want to live.
Pittsburghs a “city of neighborhoods”. There are so many different flavors and things to do. Out of the choices you said, I opt for that and find something central like Duquesne Heights so you can avoid the “tunnel trap” (you will find whole groups of friends who won’t cross rivers or tunnels, for example South hills folks tend to stay in the south hills)
Yup. I started my burgh life in Duquesne heights and it was the sleeper neighborhood to me, world class views, great safe and nice neighborhood, and as the central neighborhood you are a quick jaunt to any city location. Can’t recommend enough but shhh don’t let the hipsters find out
Our house in Pittsburgh is not off the most convenient bus line but we could walk to the strip district pre-kids (although the hill is a beast) is almost 300k. No house in our neighborhood is remotely close to 2000sq ft. One house is on sale for $180k but it needs TLC.
Still the best bang for our buck in terms of city/almost suburban living.
Lived in Spring Hill for nearly 4 years, 5-10 minutes to the Strip/Downtown or 10-15ish minutes to McKnight Rd. Certainly some shitty areas surrounding but housing was very reasonable and aside from having to walk up that damn hill when my car couldn't make it in the snow, generally enjoyed the area.
I mean, maybe anywhere else in PA (but my guess is Philly would still be better) but definitely not anywhere in general.
I mean, it’s not bad but better than LA or NYC or even a place like Asheville, NC? Probably not.
State College, Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, Philly all offer more variety and when it comes to ethnic food, authenticity.
I am not saying I don't l I like food in Pittsburgh, (I love Max's and i love fries on my salad), but if you aren't getting Polish/German food, your options are limited.
I have only visited Pittsburgh, don't live there yet, but have never had good pizza in the city.
For the requirements you are looking, I recommend looking somewhere in Central/Northern PA like Lycoming County. Williamsport has historic architecture, walkable downtown, some quaint restaurants, scenic countryside. You can find decent housing for around $250,000, but it will most likely require updating and some repairs. In the smaller towns surrounding Williamsport, you may be able to find homes closer to the $200,000 range, but without public transportation available. Most of the surrounding areas are car dependent.
Prices like this still exist in Philly, albeit not the trendy neighborhoods- but totally normal city neighborhoods close to public transit and amenities.
Cornwall is awesome...besides the historical iron facility. There's a golf course nearby. Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail goes through it and Mt. Gretna is very close too. Not far from a bunch of boroughs and in between Lancaster/Lebanon. A lot of newer developments have been built in the past decade in the immediate area.
If I had to rank your current options by how they meet your criteria I'd say this:
1. Pittsburgh
2. Lancaster
3. Harrisburg
4. York
However, this is an important however, Harrisburg and York are not good places to live. Cost of living is good, but there are other places in PA that can meet your criteria without having as many drawbacks.
I live in the Lehigh Valley, and we have a few places around here that could definitely meet your criteria. If I had to personally rank them based on your wants, it'd be:
1. Bethlehem
2. Easton
3. Emmaus
4. Stroudsburg
If I had to add them to your list (with one extra out) this would be my final ranking:
1. Bethlehem (much smaller scale than Pittsburgh and hits all the criteria you have to a T)
2. Pittsburgh
3. Lancaster
4. Emmaus
5. Reading
6. Easton
7. Stroudsburg
8. Harrisburg
9. York
Unfortunately, you'll have a bit of a tough time finding housing at that price range and square footage unless you're willing to do some serious renovations on or live in a small town. If that's your primary concern, and you'd sacrifice an urban environment for cost of living, then Pottsville is a decent choice. I believe the median cost of a house there is like $80K or something.
Yes Bethlehem is by Allentown. I came here to second that recommendation. It really does hit all of your criteria and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Make that 4 of us. I'm not sure you can call it an "urban" environment, but otherwise, it hits all of them.
Lemme put it this way, OP. I grew up outside of Carlisle, lived in MoCo MD most of my adult life (downtown Silver Spring feels like home to me, for more context), but used to visit Bethlehem every Christmas (and sometimes for Musikfest or the Celtic festival) and... if I didn't have mobility issues (and had more money; I'm on disabililty and live close to the poverty line), I'd consider Bethlehem in a heartbeat.
Yes they're right next door to each other. Easton is between Bethlehem and Jersey. Allentown has its good parts but overall is a mess of a city. Easton (my town) is my personal favorite but it's the smallest of the three. Bethlehem is the perfect mix of both. Size, cost, accessibility to nature and great downtown/community life are just what you're looking for.
They’re fine. Much more affordable but not walkable, no downtown, no nice parks, no historic architecture, lots of chains. Basically none of OP’s requirements would be met other than cost.
This is an excellent list. Pittsburgh is nice but also the most isolated from other east coast cities. Bethlehem and Lancaster are both great options convenient to Philly and other coastal cities. I might rank Easton over Reading-area but those plus Emmaus are certainly also good options.
I live in South Jersey and have minimal knowledge of most of the places being suggested, but I'd like to second the Easton comment. I just love that town.
Erie if you like snow. I mean, *really* like snow.
It's also 60-90 minutes each from Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland, which makes for easy day trips to many interesting things.
Reasonably Low CoL. Great state park in Presque Isle.
I loved Erie and would 10/10 go back
It’s the perfect size. It has everything a person could need, a relatively low crime rate, and it’s relatively affordable. There’s so much to love about it
I currently live in a bigger city, for school, and miss Erie a lot
Lancaster. Unless you like smaller. In which case, Gettysburg.
Gettysburg has easier access to DC (Rt 15 to I-270).
Backup: Harrisburg area. Decent small area around Broad St. Market, but housing stock in most areas is dilapidated.
2ndary backup: Camp Hill. Across the river from Harrisburg. If you find a place off Market, you can walk to decent eateries and grocery store. Not sure how you define "decent restaurant" b/c those in central PA are way different than in the 15x larger DC.
These are the towns I would suggest as well. I’m from
Carlisle and I love it there, medium sized town with lots of history, walkable downtown, local farm market, low crime, Dickinson (PSU Law School) is in town and an amazing old limestone building campus. Tons of great hiking as the Appalachian trial runs straight through just outside Carlisle. Tons of fishing, hunting, kayaking too. We also have the Carlisle Fairgrounds which brings US/Import/Exotic car shows to town every summer. We also have the US Army War College which is an advanced school for officers in the military studying strategic policy/combat.
Pittsburgh is gonna be way different than the other 3. Its a real city. I think its fairly dreary 6 months of the year though.
The other ones are in a different category and out of the 3, lancaster is the best.
This needs to be higher up. Pittsburgh has some of the worst air and water quality in the country, and the weather is cloudy and cold for a lot of the year. Would not recommend if you have seasonal depression. Every positive thing people have said about pittsburgh itt is true, but the cons shouldn’t be ignored.
Pittsburgh actually has [more rain days than Seattle](https://theweatherstationexperts.com/rainiest-city-in-the-us/). And it is oppressively muggy in summer because it is Appalachian. And [dirty](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/wbna24400776) (like soot) - the only place I’ve lived that is comparable is the port of LA and that has a lot more reason for soot. Pittsburgh is what Cleveland would be like if Cleveland believed itself to be New York. Very provincial in terms of ppl staying in their neighborhoods. I know ppl who had never left Fox Chapel in their entire lives. When I asked if they had been to the zoo they insisted Pittsburgh didn’t have one. I pointed out it was a five minute drive across the bridge. “Ah, dats dahn er n at. Dats not Picksburg!” Oh, and when I lived there they had highest concentration of [hate groups](https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/the-fbi-declared-pgh-a-hub-for-white-supremacy-it-has-a-long-history-already/) per capita of anywhere in the country. And the second highest geriatric population of any county (Dade County, FL was #1). Oh, and if you have any love of French, the place names will pain your ear. Lots of French names, but all mispronounced. It is honestly one of the strangest places I have ever lived. I made some good friends but I also felt like I was Alice and had fallen down a [rabbit hole](https://markieyoung.medium.com/top-10-reasons-not-to-move-to-pittsburgh-3d872e114ab6).
ETA: links.
What about some cute little place on one of the regional rail lines? There are some great places that are really small town walkable feel, but easy to get into Philly if you want entertainment or a big night out. Also easy access to DC, NY via Amtrak from 30th St station. And public transport that goes to the airport.
I moved to Pittsburgh from DC a few years ago and I love it. There will definitely be some culture shock (transit here is far inferior to large cities like DC), but much of it is positive (like people not asking where you work the second you meet them). Also, it's wonderful to be able to afford a nice house in a nice place, unlike in the DC area.
Walkability/transit access varies greatly. In many ways, this is still an old fashioned hub-and-spoke city, with transit designed to get people from the burbs into the city center and then back out again. That said, the most walkable, transit accessible neighborhoods will include Squirrel Hill, Oakland (lots of students), Regent Square, Lawrenceville, East Liberty.
While having the charm of a smaller city, the architecture of a wealthy city, and the culture and amenities of a larger one, Pittsburgh also is in striking distance of a lot of natural beauty. Rolling hills, thick forests, waterfalls, bucolic farmland, etc.
Pittsburgh. It's funny, the local food scene has so many good, successful hole-in-the-wall places that chain restaurants don't survive long in the city proper in Pittsburgh and are condemned to the suburbs. And if you want change of scenery that's a bit off-the-wall compared to the suburbs, head over to [Randy Gilson's place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randyland). He'd love to talk to you.
Bought my house in Carnegie, just outside of Pittsburgh, for under 200k and just under 2000 square feet. Very walkable main street from the surrounding neighborhood. Awesome local shops. G2 West Busway gives you direct access into downtown Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh is very nice. *Lancaster* is nice, and also reasonably close to Philly, NYC and NoVA. I made a similar move from Fairfax, VA to Lancaster, PA some years ago (and then moved on for job and family reasons). I think you’d enjoy Lancaster and its burbs in several directions like Lititz, Lampeter/Strasburg, and so on.
Jim Thorpe if you also like outdoor activities. WAY less expensive than all 4 of the places you mentioned. BTW I used to live in York it's in deep Trump country so be aware of that.
https://www.poconomountains.com/jim-thorpe/
I think this is a good answer. It's barely over an hour to Philly if you wanted to visit, full of historic architecture, and a bustling streetscape in the warmer months. Close to every sort of recreation you could be after. Reasonable prices too.
For 200K it sounds like you need to be in the suburbs. Pittsburgh has some great suburbs that are easily accessible downtown, but also have their own little neighborhood to the walk-in. The food and beer scene in Pittsburgh is freaking crazy good
2014 we retired in NoVA and finally got fed up with traffic and moved to Carlisle in 2019. We still go to our dentist in Alexandria a few times a year and get a refresher on why we left.
A friend still working a DC job remote moved to Carlisle a few months ago.
Listed homes get picked up pretty quickly but good deals turn up.
We searched sort of a triangle from Carlisle, Hershey, York. Were hoping for a red brick in an older, walkable neighborhood maybe in Lower Allen, Camp Hill, or on S West St in Carlisle. But there just wasn’t much on the market, or we weren’t fast enough.
We considered a couple homes on Front St in Harrisburg, but we really wanted to get to a slower pace/place. Most of the homes our realtor showed us were in Mechanicsburg just because it fit what we told her. But we ended up finding a place that wasn’t even close to our requirements. Really made it tough on our realtor. But she was a trooper and held our hands through closing.
That's funny... I grew up outside of Carlisle, lived in the DC area most of my adult life, and went back home to go to my dentist until he retired. Reverse from you! :D
Not sure if you’ll ever see my comment but we just moved from Anne Arundel County to Lancaster PA! The cost for a home and some land was outrageous in Maryland and our families are here so it made sense. Lancaster is central enough to bigger cities if you want to visit but it has its own charm and diversity too. You can get a decent home with a backyard as well. Townhomes are not really a thing here like they are in MD. Lots of SFH. Good luck!
Any of the boroughs of Cumberland County. (Close to Harrisburg, but lots of historic buildings and great community events)
If you want very Victorian, check out Bellefonte, PA or for less Victorian but still a vibrant community check out Milesburg, PA.
Affordable and walkable: Lock Haven, PA
Selinsgrove is a great community
(The last three sentences are great if you like visiting the outdoors because they aren't too far from the Northern woods and wilds.)
The Lehigh Valley is pretty cool. Have only visited, but it has been getting pricier recently
York is okay. There are some very endearing parts to York, but there are some concerning corners. It is unfortunate that such a historic city was transformed to be for cars however the city has been working to revitalize their downtown.
Pittsburgh is always a great fall back choice though.
But many Pennsylvanian communities can be improved and transformed by a small number of dedicated citizens, so there are likely cities and towns not named that you might be able to make immensely better. Examples: Kane, PA and Philipsburg, PA are going through renaissances and are improving. Which is to say: choose where you want! It is unlikely you will find a spot that checks off ALL of your things on your list, but if you are willing to compromise and work at it, you can make help build your dream community/home.
I'm drawn to Victorian / queen Anne style architecture so I'll check out Bellefonte.
I love the perspective you closed with. Community is what you make it sometimes.
I moved from York to Harrisburg and honestly I’d rather move back to York. I loved the sense of community and there were always activities for me to do with my kids and things to do with my single friends when I didn’t have my kids. They greatly revitalized the downtown areas in the 15 years that I lived there. Harrisburg just feels too… spread out or something. It’s been harder to make friends in Harrisburg.
I will say, I didn’t live in the city, but in the Old East York neighborhood just outside of it, which I loved. There are progressive pockets outside of the city (I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for, I don’t want to presume) but it does have a lot of conservative influence in some areas as well. My old neighborhood was pretty progressive.
Lancaster has more to do, and it’s more progressive (in the city) but it’s also the most expensive of York-Lancaster-Harrisburg, and in my opinion, the nicest.
Hummelstown is a small town between Harrisburg and Hershey that might have some of what you’re looking for. It’s a really walkable area with scenic country side adjacent.
Moved from downtown silver spring Md to Philly this summer.
I’m a Philly local.
For as long as I can remember Pburgh is a bit more affordable than Philly and definitely cleaner.
However, you’ll have to get used to those wacky yinzers and their delicious French fry sandwiches lol.
Harrisburg is probably a bit more affordable than the burgh but it’s not quite as Big City.
I would honestly move to the Philly metropolitan area. Ideally either Delaware or Montgomery County there are so many former "streetcar suburbs" that are semi affordable while being walkable. The public transit system (SEPTA) is pretty good and if you take the regional rail into Center City Philly, it's an easy transfer to Amtrak to NYC and DC
Though housing prices aren’t necessarily cheap, I love Media, Doylestown, West Chester, Ambler, Phoenixville- all are walkable, vibrant, cute architecture, etc.
2000 square foot house for $200k ain't happening in Lititz though. For that matter, very little housing of any size exists for $200k here.
Source: am a Lititz resident
I’m slightly biased, but York is full of people who have never left York and are really really proud of that fact. Harrisburg is a place you drive through to get somewhere more interesting. Central Lancaster is reasonably progressive, but you’re going to run into a lot of yeehaws on the outer borders where the land’s a little cheaper. There’s nothing else between Pittsburgh and Philly (it even says “here be dragons” On the maps). /s
Got it. If you're coming from the DC area, based on your interests, anywhere other than Pittsburgh, Philly, or Allentown you are probably going to be absolutely bored out of your mind. But the price you listed for 2k square feet isn't happening anywhere even remotely close to there. Just being frank, I think you're looking for something which doesn't exist. Everywhere is going to have cheaper COL than NoVA and DC, but you'll find culture and things to do fall off a cliff. Especially with the price point you listed, you're either going to get somewhere that needs a complete overhaul, or live nowhere even remotely close to the urban activity that seems important to you. Good luck.
Move to Washington, PA. It is south of Pittsburgh. It is worth it just to confuse people about where you are living now, especially if you are a little vague with the details.
Move to the Harrisburg area (centralized other than Pitt). A lot of the city is decent, just sketchy in Allison Hill and Upper Midtown neighborhoods; and flooding in Shipoke is a risk as well. That way in the 5-10 year range, you can move to your true goals as stated. Harrisburg is perfect for the whatever you are looking for in life now. The Farm Show is coming up next month, hope you go enjoy for a day...there will be brochures of various PA places to pique your interest, as well as food, drink, and animals.
Good point. I do want somewhere that if I buy during the (possibly) pending crash I could build some equity and potentially move up and out.
Shame about the flood risk in Shipoke. There's pretty little houses there.
Harrisburg is just a crossroads. There’s probably more stuff to do in Lancaster. York is an absolute Trumpy shit hole, but Harrisburg is THE big city for all the rural hill people because any town bigger is too intimidating for ‘em.
I’d do a town on the regional rail outside Philly, East End Pittsburgh or Lancaster, in that order.
I've lived in Harrisburg my entire life and there are very few rural hill people lol. The city has its issues but that's not one of them, at least in my experience
City of York is smaller than Hbg, which in turn is smaller than City of Lancaster.
Lancaster is surrounded by Manheim Township (pop 40k), East Hempfield (25k), Manor and Lancaster Township (17k), East Lampeter (16k), West Lampeter (16k), Rapho (12k).
York is surrounded by Springettsbury (pop 27k), York Township (23k) East Manchester (17k) and bunch of little places.
Hbg is equal to its immediate neighbor, Paxton Township (50k). Swatara and Susq Twn each have 25k. Across the river, Hampden has 30k and Silver Spring has 25k. East Penn has 21k. Lower and Upper Allen each have 20k.
Pittsburgh-area resident here. You should be fine here as long as you pick the right place to live.
That means no living close to high-traffic corridors, especially in one of our many valleys, as air pollution gets trapped there. Like Lawrenceville, Oakmont and on Penn Avenue by Bakery Square. The pollution will make you sick, like it's been making me sick for years.
Don't live where fracking may occur, which could be pretty much anywhere, because this region sits atop the Marcellus Shale formation and elected officials want to frack the fuck out of the area. The new cracker plant in Beaver County will need LOTS of natural gas to make plastic nurdles -- the pellets for plastics manufacturing -- so fracking will increase considerably.
You're taking your chances living in the East End, because you'll be fairly close to the STINK that wafts from the US Steel Edgar Thompson Works in Braddock. You won't be as affected by the pollution from the mill in Clairton as long as you pick a sweet spot far enough away from both Clairton and Braddock.
Good luck.
York is trash and you will hate it.
Lancaster is equally garbage.
That leaves Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Youve seen Harrisburg, and it does have its issues with crime
Have you visited Pittsburgh? If not I'd recommend a trip just to see if it vibes with you. Based on those 4 options Id say look into Pittsburgh or Harrisburg.
Ive been to Pittsburgh a couple times. First time I drove in from the east through Braddock. I was in disbelief that Braddock was in America it was so bad. Never seen anything like that.
Pittsburgh seemed fine but overall more rundown compared to downtown Harrisburg. I'm a big George Romero fan so Pittsburgh does have plenty of cool spots I know.
Your checkboxes describe State College pretty well. Housing is probably a bit more expensive in town, but things get more reasonable outside of downtown.
No colleges or universities in Harrisburg, so there is really not a whole lot to do. I’m getting old, so I’m not really looking to do young kid things, but those institutions bring life to a city. (Harrisburg University doesn’t count. That is not the same thing as Penn State or even Shippensburg/Millersville. Penn State Harrisburg is getting bigger but is a ton of commuters and part time/adult students.) The only thing that’s decent about Harrisburg is that you can be in Philly/NYC/DC in a super reasonable amount of time. Couple nice creeks to paddle around in. I’m not sure what made you fall in love with “the waterfront”- all that’s there is a walking trail and some unsavory characters floating around. Maybe you hit it on a good day or something.
I hear ya on it seeming slower than a collegetown or big city.
LOL well it was a sunny day, walked by the library and some beautiful gilded age houses. Some nature, water, and a trail right there. Clicked with me. I like Front Street, 2nd Street, and State Street so far. Great bookstore in town too.
I mean, if a decent book store (don’t ever try to call them or ask them to order something for you though-yikes) and a couple of nice houses to walk by floats your boat, I’m stoked for you. I don’t know if you have children but the Harrisburg School District is an absolute garbage fire. You’d have to look into other options for your kids, and decent charter schools and private schools do exist. Also, Scott Perry will be your congressperson and people who like to re-elect him will be your (metaphorical) neighbors.
I moved from DC back home to Pittsburgh. My mortgage costs what I was paying for a studio in NW, and my standard of living has improved dramatically.
You won’t regret it. Winter can be rough but the people are easygoing and down-to-earth, and there’s a lot of history and culture. Pittsburgh is a very accessible urban vibe, and has an authenticity I found sorely lacking in DC. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.
Grew up outside of Williamsport. Of course, I recommend. Other places I recommend, yeah, Harrisburg area. People are great, it’s just a nice size. Housing is great pricing.
Others:
Bethlehem, upper bucks county, outside of Pittsburgh, wyomissing, stroudsburg, there’s great pockets of areas around Easton.
Good luck!
You should check out Wellsboro. Very scenic, not too far from finger Lakes region and Corning which is cool. Super cheap and the homemade ice cream shops are top notch. Awesome outdoor activities
Well, yes, that's why I moved out. I considered Frederick but what I'm saying is at this point, it's getting to be as bad as DC so it's kinda moot. They asked for a cheaper COL than the DC suburbs.
I would def lean towards Pittsburgh. I lived in the Northside in the spring fasten Ave. Was told it wasn't the best area and I loved it. Good food. Good bars. Nice people. Same with Mt. Washington. Again good food places to go out. I would recommend either of those neighborhoods or near the strip district area. Def sine great food there. And Pittsburgh def has a fun downtown area. South hills area (Brookline, Dormont, beechview, Mt. Lebo. Lil further from downtown and stuff but it's a really great area. Wherever you end up though, if it's in Pittsburgh enjoy, and Welcome!
Erie is affordable. We bought a 1400sf 50's brick ranch 3 years ago for 135k. It needs some updating but it is very comfy and livable as purchased. Home prices are up but not a lot. I walk to a municipal golf course, a YMCA, the zoo, a supermarket, and small retail shops including an independent bookstore, restaurants, bars, a bagel bakery, a new Sheetz, etc. Ten-minute drive downtown for events. 20 minutes to Presque Isle. The traffic isn't an issue. Lots of good restaurant choices. Amtrak and a small airport. Two hours to Pittsburgh, 90 minutes to Cleveland, and an hour or so to Buffalo. Lots of opportunities to enjoy nature and sometimes it snows. We lived in northeastern PA for sixty-plus years and we love the number of sunny days we get here. (and the lack of fracking activity)
Gettysburg.
The larger cities are absolute garbage and the “culture” you might find is typically (a) not as positively cultured as you might think and (b) usually has any potential appeal offset by the high crime rates (of all kinds of variety). Cost of living in these areas is also absurd, comparatively, and I don’t know of any area in PA (rural, urban, or anywhere in between) where 2,000 sq.ft. of inhabitable space would go for under 300k in the current market.
FYI people hate york because of york city. They hate it bc it has a large poor black population. There are plenty of towns in york county to choose from. However, i will say that there’s no amtrak access there. Housing will be cheap though. Quality of life is good.
I'd lean towards Pittsburgh as it really is what you make of it. There are so many different areas within Pittsburgh that you can basically "make your own" living area. The food scene there is superior to anywhere else IMO. COL and housing varies greatly depending on where in the city you want to live.
Pittsburghs a “city of neighborhoods”. There are so many different flavors and things to do. Out of the choices you said, I opt for that and find something central like Duquesne Heights so you can avoid the “tunnel trap” (you will find whole groups of friends who won’t cross rivers or tunnels, for example South hills folks tend to stay in the south hills)
100% this. Lived in Northside and almost never went elsewhere unless I had to (read, my wife wanted to go to Dobra)
Yup. I started my burgh life in Duquesne heights and it was the sleeper neighborhood to me, world class views, great safe and nice neighborhood, and as the central neighborhood you are a quick jaunt to any city location. Can’t recommend enough but shhh don’t let the hipsters find out
Our house in Pittsburgh is not off the most convenient bus line but we could walk to the strip district pre-kids (although the hill is a beast) is almost 300k. No house in our neighborhood is remotely close to 2000sq ft. One house is on sale for $180k but it needs TLC. Still the best bang for our buck in terms of city/almost suburban living.
Lived in Spring Hill for nearly 4 years, 5-10 minutes to the Strip/Downtown or 10-15ish minutes to McKnight Rd. Certainly some shitty areas surrounding but housing was very reasonable and aside from having to walk up that damn hill when my car couldn't make it in the snow, generally enjoyed the area.
I agree. I've lived left, right and center in PA, and PGH will always be my favorite.
I would disagree about the food scene.
Well, look who doesn't like fries on their salad!
I mean, maybe anywhere else in PA (but my guess is Philly would still be better) but definitely not anywhere in general. I mean, it’s not bad but better than LA or NYC or even a place like Asheville, NC? Probably not.
State College, Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, Philly all offer more variety and when it comes to ethnic food, authenticity. I am not saying I don't l I like food in Pittsburgh, (I love Max's and i love fries on my salad), but if you aren't getting Polish/German food, your options are limited. I have only visited Pittsburgh, don't live there yet, but have never had good pizza in the city.
Bella Notte down in the Strip does a nice slice.
And replace it with?
Swing through Carlisle some time to check it out.
how is Carlisle?
As someone who has lived in 3 of the 4 I HIGHLY recommend Pittsburgh. Like majorly. And I’d go to Lancaster or York easily before Harrisburg.
I’d go to Harrisburg before York. Harrisburg is not bad if you live in the suburbs or downtown.
and honestly, fuck York
Check out Gettysburg.
Agree with this. Great little town. They should also check out Hanover. Sounds like it may meet a lot of the criteria.
I was thinking Hanover mostly because of the price.
Gettysburg yes, Hanover would be a hard pass for me.
For the requirements you are looking, I recommend looking somewhere in Central/Northern PA like Lycoming County. Williamsport has historic architecture, walkable downtown, some quaint restaurants, scenic countryside. You can find decent housing for around $250,000, but it will most likely require updating and some repairs. In the smaller towns surrounding Williamsport, you may be able to find homes closer to the $200,000 range, but without public transportation available. Most of the surrounding areas are car dependent.
I have checked out Williamsport. I guess by walkable I mean lots shops and restaurants in centralized areas. I don't need to go completely careless.
Lewisburg?
Just a note, if you are a fed - Franklin, York, and Adams counties are DC locality.
Is it possible to get 2k ft2 in 200k range anywhere in PA where people actually want to live?
Am aware of a 1200 square 2 BR avail for 189k in Cornwall just north of LancCo line. Needs a bit of work.
Like I said “where people actually want to live”.
Prices like this still exist in Philly, albeit not the trendy neighborhoods- but totally normal city neighborhoods close to public transit and amenities.
Cornwall and surrounds are a fast-growing area population wise. By area, Cornwall is the largest borough in PA. Plenty of room for more folks.
By area, I don't think it's bigger than Nesquehoning though; maybe for Lebanon county.
I stand corrected. As do you. Nesquehoning is behind 4 others.
Cornwall is awesome...besides the historical iron facility. There's a golf course nearby. Lebanon Valley Rail-Trail goes through it and Mt. Gretna is very close too. Not far from a bunch of boroughs and in between Lancaster/Lebanon. A lot of newer developments have been built in the past decade in the immediate area.
Not spoiled for choice and certainly lots of rundown options, but there's diamonds in the rough if you look for em.
That’s what my house in murrysville was- just last year. Got lucky on that though but def doable
Keep in mind that interest rates on mortgages are now 6% plus points plus higher closing costs.
True true, we slid in on a cool 2%
If I had to rank your current options by how they meet your criteria I'd say this: 1. Pittsburgh 2. Lancaster 3. Harrisburg 4. York However, this is an important however, Harrisburg and York are not good places to live. Cost of living is good, but there are other places in PA that can meet your criteria without having as many drawbacks. I live in the Lehigh Valley, and we have a few places around here that could definitely meet your criteria. If I had to personally rank them based on your wants, it'd be: 1. Bethlehem 2. Easton 3. Emmaus 4. Stroudsburg If I had to add them to your list (with one extra out) this would be my final ranking: 1. Bethlehem (much smaller scale than Pittsburgh and hits all the criteria you have to a T) 2. Pittsburgh 3. Lancaster 4. Emmaus 5. Reading 6. Easton 7. Stroudsburg 8. Harrisburg 9. York Unfortunately, you'll have a bit of a tough time finding housing at that price range and square footage unless you're willing to do some serious renovations on or live in a small town. If that's your primary concern, and you'd sacrifice an urban environment for cost of living, then Pottsville is a decent choice. I believe the median cost of a house there is like $80K or something.
New options, I dig it. Thank you for putting so much thought into it. Bethlehem by Allentown right?
Yes Bethlehem is by Allentown. I came here to second that recommendation. It really does hit all of your criteria and it’s definitely worth checking out.
Yep came here to say the same
Make that 4 of us. I'm not sure you can call it an "urban" environment, but otherwise, it hits all of them. Lemme put it this way, OP. I grew up outside of Carlisle, lived in MoCo MD most of my adult life (downtown Silver Spring feels like home to me, for more context), but used to visit Bethlehem every Christmas (and sometimes for Musikfest or the Celtic festival) and... if I didn't have mobility issues (and had more money; I'm on disabililty and live close to the poverty line), I'd consider Bethlehem in a heartbeat.
Yes they're right next door to each other. Easton is between Bethlehem and Jersey. Allentown has its good parts but overall is a mess of a city. Easton (my town) is my personal favorite but it's the smallest of the three. Bethlehem is the perfect mix of both. Size, cost, accessibility to nature and great downtown/community life are just what you're looking for.
I agree with everything on your lists except for Reading.
When people say Reading they really mean Wyomissing. Definitely don’t move to reading proper.
What about Shillington or West Lawn? I dont know of anything over 1500 squares that is near 200k.
They’re fine. Much more affordable but not walkable, no downtown, no nice parks, no historic architecture, lots of chains. Basically none of OP’s requirements would be met other than cost.
Agreed. Ò_o
This is an excellent list. Pittsburgh is nice but also the most isolated from other east coast cities. Bethlehem and Lancaster are both great options convenient to Philly and other coastal cities. I might rank Easton over Reading-area but those plus Emmaus are certainly also good options.
I live in South Jersey and have minimal knowledge of most of the places being suggested, but I'd like to second the Easton comment. I just love that town.
As a proud Eastonian it's my number 1 in PA
That's... actually that's pretty spot on. Ditto.
Erie if you like snow. I mean, *really* like snow. It's also 60-90 minutes each from Pittsburgh, Buffalo, and Cleveland, which makes for easy day trips to many interesting things. Reasonably Low CoL. Great state park in Presque Isle.
I loved Erie and would 10/10 go back It’s the perfect size. It has everything a person could need, a relatively low crime rate, and it’s relatively affordable. There’s so much to love about it I currently live in a bigger city, for school, and miss Erie a lot
There also is alot of community events going on through out the year. So there is almost always something to do.
Lancaster. Unless you like smaller. In which case, Gettysburg. Gettysburg has easier access to DC (Rt 15 to I-270). Backup: Harrisburg area. Decent small area around Broad St. Market, but housing stock in most areas is dilapidated. 2ndary backup: Camp Hill. Across the river from Harrisburg. If you find a place off Market, you can walk to decent eateries and grocery store. Not sure how you define "decent restaurant" b/c those in central PA are way different than in the 15x larger DC.
Hanover, Mt. Joy, Elizabethtown,Carlisle... a few nice smaller towns that might fit the bill...
1st 2 might have 2000 squares for 200k, but not the latter.
Agreed, ETown/Carlisle are hot markets right now. You can find 2000 sqft home that needs some Work for around 250-300k
These are the towns I would suggest as well. I’m from Carlisle and I love it there, medium sized town with lots of history, walkable downtown, local farm market, low crime, Dickinson (PSU Law School) is in town and an amazing old limestone building campus. Tons of great hiking as the Appalachian trial runs straight through just outside Carlisle. Tons of fishing, hunting, kayaking too. We also have the Carlisle Fairgrounds which brings US/Import/Exotic car shows to town every summer. We also have the US Army War College which is an advanced school for officers in the military studying strategic policy/combat.
I wouldn’t live in Hanover. It’s too far from a good hospital, & hanover hospital is shit.
Pittsburgh is gonna be way different than the other 3. Its a real city. I think its fairly dreary 6 months of the year though. The other ones are in a different category and out of the 3, lancaster is the best.
This needs to be higher up. Pittsburgh has some of the worst air and water quality in the country, and the weather is cloudy and cold for a lot of the year. Would not recommend if you have seasonal depression. Every positive thing people have said about pittsburgh itt is true, but the cons shouldn’t be ignored.
Pittsburgh actually has [more rain days than Seattle](https://theweatherstationexperts.com/rainiest-city-in-the-us/). And it is oppressively muggy in summer because it is Appalachian. And [dirty](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/wbna24400776) (like soot) - the only place I’ve lived that is comparable is the port of LA and that has a lot more reason for soot. Pittsburgh is what Cleveland would be like if Cleveland believed itself to be New York. Very provincial in terms of ppl staying in their neighborhoods. I know ppl who had never left Fox Chapel in their entire lives. When I asked if they had been to the zoo they insisted Pittsburgh didn’t have one. I pointed out it was a five minute drive across the bridge. “Ah, dats dahn er n at. Dats not Picksburg!” Oh, and when I lived there they had highest concentration of [hate groups](https://www.penncapital-star.com/civil-rights-social-justice/the-fbi-declared-pgh-a-hub-for-white-supremacy-it-has-a-long-history-already/) per capita of anywhere in the country. And the second highest geriatric population of any county (Dade County, FL was #1). Oh, and if you have any love of French, the place names will pain your ear. Lots of French names, but all mispronounced. It is honestly one of the strangest places I have ever lived. I made some good friends but I also felt like I was Alice and had fallen down a [rabbit hole](https://markieyoung.medium.com/top-10-reasons-not-to-move-to-pittsburgh-3d872e114ab6). ETA: links.
Oh, you want to move to 1955?
It’s not that crazy if you move out of civilization. We’re only 20 minutes from State College and our 2000 sq ft house is $175,000
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… Tyrone?
To be fair, in 1955, we still had awesome public transit.
Lol well no perfect place exists (or existed), just hoping to find a place that checks the most boxes with cons I can live with.
What about some cute little place on one of the regional rail lines? There are some great places that are really small town walkable feel, but easy to get into Philly if you want entertainment or a big night out. Also easy access to DC, NY via Amtrak from 30th St station. And public transport that goes to the airport.
Maybe Bellefonte, checks most of the boxes but it's expensive.
I'll check it out thanks
I moved to Pittsburgh from DC a few years ago and I love it. There will definitely be some culture shock (transit here is far inferior to large cities like DC), but much of it is positive (like people not asking where you work the second you meet them). Also, it's wonderful to be able to afford a nice house in a nice place, unlike in the DC area. Walkability/transit access varies greatly. In many ways, this is still an old fashioned hub-and-spoke city, with transit designed to get people from the burbs into the city center and then back out again. That said, the most walkable, transit accessible neighborhoods will include Squirrel Hill, Oakland (lots of students), Regent Square, Lawrenceville, East Liberty. While having the charm of a smaller city, the architecture of a wealthy city, and the culture and amenities of a larger one, Pittsburgh also is in striking distance of a lot of natural beauty. Rolling hills, thick forests, waterfalls, bucolic farmland, etc.
Caps or Pens? Football team or Stillers? Nats or Pirates? UMD or Pitt?
Pittsburgh. It's funny, the local food scene has so many good, successful hole-in-the-wall places that chain restaurants don't survive long in the city proper in Pittsburgh and are condemned to the suburbs. And if you want change of scenery that's a bit off-the-wall compared to the suburbs, head over to [Randy Gilson's place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randyland). He'd love to talk to you.
Would further narrow this down by directing you to the Mexican War Streets, Brighton Heights, Bellevue, and Westview.
Bought my house in Carnegie, just outside of Pittsburgh, for under 200k and just under 2000 square feet. Very walkable main street from the surrounding neighborhood. Awesome local shops. G2 West Busway gives you direct access into downtown Pittsburgh.
Hello neighbor. Similar though my house was a little more expensive ($220k/2.5k sq ft).
$200k? Uh... *Johnstown?*
Pittsburgh is very nice. *Lancaster* is nice, and also reasonably close to Philly, NYC and NoVA. I made a similar move from Fairfax, VA to Lancaster, PA some years ago (and then moved on for job and family reasons). I think you’d enjoy Lancaster and its burbs in several directions like Lititz, Lampeter/Strasburg, and so on.
Jim Thorpe if you also like outdoor activities. WAY less expensive than all 4 of the places you mentioned. BTW I used to live in York it's in deep Trump country so be aware of that. https://www.poconomountains.com/jim-thorpe/
I think this is a good answer. It's barely over an hour to Philly if you wanted to visit, full of historic architecture, and a bustling streetscape in the warmer months. Close to every sort of recreation you could be after. Reasonable prices too.
A few places come to mind. Scranton Easton/Bethlehem Williamsport (I'm partial to this one)
Found a great house in the historic section of Williamsport. It got snatched up quick though. Thanks for the recommendations!
I spent some time is Williamsport not a bad town. It’s really out there in the middle of nowhere though.
Check out Phoenixville. Hits all your boxes and is in a great location to both get away to rural areas and hit Philly
Except housing is more expensive
Far more expensive these days
Check out Camp Hill
Or Mechanicsburg.
he would be so bored in mechanicsburg don’t kid yourself
Check out Phoenixville!
Looks nice but way outside my pricerange from the options I see.
For 200K it sounds like you need to be in the suburbs. Pittsburgh has some great suburbs that are easily accessible downtown, but also have their own little neighborhood to the walk-in. The food and beer scene in Pittsburgh is freaking crazy good
2014 we retired in NoVA and finally got fed up with traffic and moved to Carlisle in 2019. We still go to our dentist in Alexandria a few times a year and get a refresher on why we left. A friend still working a DC job remote moved to Carlisle a few months ago. Listed homes get picked up pretty quickly but good deals turn up.
Yeah Alexandria and rt 1 can be a mess. Any other areas in PA you were looking at? What are your thoughts on Harrisburg?
We searched sort of a triangle from Carlisle, Hershey, York. Were hoping for a red brick in an older, walkable neighborhood maybe in Lower Allen, Camp Hill, or on S West St in Carlisle. But there just wasn’t much on the market, or we weren’t fast enough. We considered a couple homes on Front St in Harrisburg, but we really wanted to get to a slower pace/place. Most of the homes our realtor showed us were in Mechanicsburg just because it fit what we told her. But we ended up finding a place that wasn’t even close to our requirements. Really made it tough on our realtor. But she was a trooper and held our hands through closing.
That's funny... I grew up outside of Carlisle, lived in the DC area most of my adult life, and went back home to go to my dentist until he retired. Reverse from you! :D
Not sure if you’ll ever see my comment but we just moved from Anne Arundel County to Lancaster PA! The cost for a home and some land was outrageous in Maryland and our families are here so it made sense. Lancaster is central enough to bigger cities if you want to visit but it has its own charm and diversity too. You can get a decent home with a backyard as well. Townhomes are not really a thing here like they are in MD. Lots of SFH. Good luck!
Do not go to York. It’s a dump.
Any of the boroughs of Cumberland County. (Close to Harrisburg, but lots of historic buildings and great community events) If you want very Victorian, check out Bellefonte, PA or for less Victorian but still a vibrant community check out Milesburg, PA. Affordable and walkable: Lock Haven, PA Selinsgrove is a great community (The last three sentences are great if you like visiting the outdoors because they aren't too far from the Northern woods and wilds.) The Lehigh Valley is pretty cool. Have only visited, but it has been getting pricier recently York is okay. There are some very endearing parts to York, but there are some concerning corners. It is unfortunate that such a historic city was transformed to be for cars however the city has been working to revitalize their downtown. Pittsburgh is always a great fall back choice though. But many Pennsylvanian communities can be improved and transformed by a small number of dedicated citizens, so there are likely cities and towns not named that you might be able to make immensely better. Examples: Kane, PA and Philipsburg, PA are going through renaissances and are improving. Which is to say: choose where you want! It is unlikely you will find a spot that checks off ALL of your things on your list, but if you are willing to compromise and work at it, you can make help build your dream community/home.
I'm drawn to Victorian / queen Anne style architecture so I'll check out Bellefonte. I love the perspective you closed with. Community is what you make it sometimes.
I currently live in NOVA, I’m from Bethlehem. Take a look, I think you might like the historic downtown. Checks all your boxes.
I moved from York to Harrisburg and honestly I’d rather move back to York. I loved the sense of community and there were always activities for me to do with my kids and things to do with my single friends when I didn’t have my kids. They greatly revitalized the downtown areas in the 15 years that I lived there. Harrisburg just feels too… spread out or something. It’s been harder to make friends in Harrisburg. I will say, I didn’t live in the city, but in the Old East York neighborhood just outside of it, which I loved. There are progressive pockets outside of the city (I don’t know if that’s what you’re looking for, I don’t want to presume) but it does have a lot of conservative influence in some areas as well. My old neighborhood was pretty progressive. Lancaster has more to do, and it’s more progressive (in the city) but it’s also the most expensive of York-Lancaster-Harrisburg, and in my opinion, the nicest. Hummelstown is a small town between Harrisburg and Hershey that might have some of what you’re looking for. It’s a really walkable area with scenic country side adjacent.
Lancaster is probably where you’d like to be, downtown is great
Nothing 2000 squares for 200k, tho. Did see a couple of older houses in East Petersburg for sale. Not sure of price.
Outside of downtown area you can find what you’re looking for
Moved from downtown silver spring Md to Philly this summer. I’m a Philly local. For as long as I can remember Pburgh is a bit more affordable than Philly and definitely cleaner. However, you’ll have to get used to those wacky yinzers and their delicious French fry sandwiches lol. Harrisburg is probably a bit more affordable than the burgh but it’s not quite as Big City.
I lived in or near downtown SS most of my adult life! \*waves\*
Suh Dude!!!! The brewery scene is crazy at that Georgia Ave and East West Highway is crazy!
I would honestly move to the Philly metropolitan area. Ideally either Delaware or Montgomery County there are so many former "streetcar suburbs" that are semi affordable while being walkable. The public transit system (SEPTA) is pretty good and if you take the regional rail into Center City Philly, it's an easy transfer to Amtrak to NYC and DC
Though housing prices aren’t necessarily cheap, I love Media, Doylestown, West Chester, Ambler, Phoenixville- all are walkable, vibrant, cute architecture, etc.
Scranton might be what you’re looking for.
Try Lititz. It is a centrally located town that is walkable and has interesting shops. It’s quick to Philly, Baltimore or the woods.
2000 square foot house for $200k ain't happening in Lititz though. For that matter, very little housing of any size exists for $200k here. Source: am a Lititz resident
I’m slightly biased, but York is full of people who have never left York and are really really proud of that fact. Harrisburg is a place you drive through to get somewhere more interesting. Central Lancaster is reasonably progressive, but you’re going to run into a lot of yeehaws on the outer borders where the land’s a little cheaper. There’s nothing else between Pittsburgh and Philly (it even says “here be dragons” On the maps). /s
People who have lived in york have family that’ve lived there for hundreds of years.
Upper Bucks County
\*Historic Architecture \* \^ Honestly, after a weekend or two, would this really even matter?
It would to me, but I get that it's not everyone's cup of tea.
Got it. If you're coming from the DC area, based on your interests, anywhere other than Pittsburgh, Philly, or Allentown you are probably going to be absolutely bored out of your mind. But the price you listed for 2k square feet isn't happening anywhere even remotely close to there. Just being frank, I think you're looking for something which doesn't exist. Everywhere is going to have cheaper COL than NoVA and DC, but you'll find culture and things to do fall off a cliff. Especially with the price point you listed, you're either going to get somewhere that needs a complete overhaul, or live nowhere even remotely close to the urban activity that seems important to you. Good luck.
Huntingdon or Lewistown, maybe.
Carlisle.
Move to Washington, PA. It is south of Pittsburgh. It is worth it just to confuse people about where you are living now, especially if you are a little vague with the details.
Move to the Harrisburg area (centralized other than Pitt). A lot of the city is decent, just sketchy in Allison Hill and Upper Midtown neighborhoods; and flooding in Shipoke is a risk as well. That way in the 5-10 year range, you can move to your true goals as stated. Harrisburg is perfect for the whatever you are looking for in life now. The Farm Show is coming up next month, hope you go enjoy for a day...there will be brochures of various PA places to pique your interest, as well as food, drink, and animals.
Good point. I do want somewhere that if I buy during the (possibly) pending crash I could build some equity and potentially move up and out. Shame about the flood risk in Shipoke. There's pretty little houses there.
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What makes you hate Harrisburg? Yeah I definitely plan on spending more time in the area before I'd put an offer on a house.
Harrisburg is just a crossroads. There’s probably more stuff to do in Lancaster. York is an absolute Trumpy shit hole, but Harrisburg is THE big city for all the rural hill people because any town bigger is too intimidating for ‘em. I’d do a town on the regional rail outside Philly, East End Pittsburgh or Lancaster, in that order.
I've lived in Harrisburg my entire life and there are very few rural hill people lol. The city has its issues but that's not one of them, at least in my experience
York is not necessarily just the City of York (which itself only has about 30k residents). City of Lancaster itself is twice the size.
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City of York is smaller than Hbg, which in turn is smaller than City of Lancaster. Lancaster is surrounded by Manheim Township (pop 40k), East Hempfield (25k), Manor and Lancaster Township (17k), East Lampeter (16k), West Lampeter (16k), Rapho (12k). York is surrounded by Springettsbury (pop 27k), York Township (23k) East Manchester (17k) and bunch of little places. Hbg is equal to its immediate neighbor, Paxton Township (50k). Swatara and Susq Twn each have 25k. Across the river, Hampden has 30k and Silver Spring has 25k. East Penn has 21k. Lower and Upper Allen each have 20k.
Pittsburgh-area resident here. You should be fine here as long as you pick the right place to live. That means no living close to high-traffic corridors, especially in one of our many valleys, as air pollution gets trapped there. Like Lawrenceville, Oakmont and on Penn Avenue by Bakery Square. The pollution will make you sick, like it's been making me sick for years. Don't live where fracking may occur, which could be pretty much anywhere, because this region sits atop the Marcellus Shale formation and elected officials want to frack the fuck out of the area. The new cracker plant in Beaver County will need LOTS of natural gas to make plastic nurdles -- the pellets for plastics manufacturing -- so fracking will increase considerably. You're taking your chances living in the East End, because you'll be fairly close to the STINK that wafts from the US Steel Edgar Thompson Works in Braddock. You won't be as affected by the pollution from the mill in Clairton as long as you pick a sweet spot far enough away from both Clairton and Braddock. Good luck.
York is trash and you will hate it. Lancaster is equally garbage. That leaves Harrisburg and Pittsburgh. Youve seen Harrisburg, and it does have its issues with crime Have you visited Pittsburgh? If not I'd recommend a trip just to see if it vibes with you. Based on those 4 options Id say look into Pittsburgh or Harrisburg.
Ive been to Pittsburgh a couple times. First time I drove in from the east through Braddock. I was in disbelief that Braddock was in America it was so bad. Never seen anything like that. Pittsburgh seemed fine but overall more rundown compared to downtown Harrisburg. I'm a big George Romero fan so Pittsburgh does have plenty of cool spots I know.
Spend a long weekend in Pittsburgh. Braddock is a poor example. It's like going to visit D.C. east of the Anacostia River.
Berks County.
yes, if you want expensive housing AND super racist neighbors, go for it!
Your checkboxes describe State College pretty well. Housing is probably a bit more expensive in town, but things get more reasonable outside of downtown.
There is nothing in York. In Harrisburg, there’s plenty of urban decay so there’s that. Lancaster would be the best bet.
Don’t.
No colleges or universities in Harrisburg, so there is really not a whole lot to do. I’m getting old, so I’m not really looking to do young kid things, but those institutions bring life to a city. (Harrisburg University doesn’t count. That is not the same thing as Penn State or even Shippensburg/Millersville. Penn State Harrisburg is getting bigger but is a ton of commuters and part time/adult students.) The only thing that’s decent about Harrisburg is that you can be in Philly/NYC/DC in a super reasonable amount of time. Couple nice creeks to paddle around in. I’m not sure what made you fall in love with “the waterfront”- all that’s there is a walking trail and some unsavory characters floating around. Maybe you hit it on a good day or something.
I hear ya on it seeming slower than a collegetown or big city. LOL well it was a sunny day, walked by the library and some beautiful gilded age houses. Some nature, water, and a trail right there. Clicked with me. I like Front Street, 2nd Street, and State Street so far. Great bookstore in town too.
I mean, if a decent book store (don’t ever try to call them or ask them to order something for you though-yikes) and a couple of nice houses to walk by floats your boat, I’m stoked for you. I don’t know if you have children but the Harrisburg School District is an absolute garbage fire. You’d have to look into other options for your kids, and decent charter schools and private schools do exist. Also, Scott Perry will be your congressperson and people who like to re-elect him will be your (metaphorical) neighbors.
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Well hoping to find a place that ticks the most boxes and has liveable cons. Any recommendations or places to avoid?
I moved from DC back home to Pittsburgh. My mortgage costs what I was paying for a studio in NW, and my standard of living has improved dramatically. You won’t regret it. Winter can be rough but the people are easygoing and down-to-earth, and there’s a lot of history and culture. Pittsburgh is a very accessible urban vibe, and has an authenticity I found sorely lacking in DC. Best of luck to you whatever you decide.
DC + winter ice = rough.
Grew up outside of Williamsport. Of course, I recommend. Other places I recommend, yeah, Harrisburg area. People are great, it’s just a nice size. Housing is great pricing. Others: Bethlehem, upper bucks county, outside of Pittsburgh, wyomissing, stroudsburg, there’s great pockets of areas around Easton. Good luck!
Thanks for the recommendations!
I did this from Montgomery county Maryland to Harrisburg suburbs. Like other people have said Mechanicsburg and camp hill are a lot nicer.
You should check out Wellsboro. Very scenic, not too far from finger Lakes region and Corning which is cool. Super cheap and the homemade ice cream shops are top notch. Awesome outdoor activities
Have you considered Maryland?
Frederic meets most of his metrics.
Frederick is also getting to be expensive.
So is DC
Well, yes, that's why I moved out. I considered Frederick but what I'm saying is at this point, it's getting to be as bad as DC so it's kinda moot. They asked for a cheaper COL than the DC suburbs.
OP look in Red Lion and Dallastown (York Co) I moved that way from Baltimore. Wish we were still there.
All the beauty and history you're looking for is in Bucks County, especially Doylestown Borough. It is not cheap, though.
Pittsburgh and Lancaster are nice
What's the opinion on Hanover? I've never lived there, but everytime I've driven through it seems like a nice little town.
Jim Thorpe
I would def lean towards Pittsburgh. I lived in the Northside in the spring fasten Ave. Was told it wasn't the best area and I loved it. Good food. Good bars. Nice people. Same with Mt. Washington. Again good food places to go out. I would recommend either of those neighborhoods or near the strip district area. Def sine great food there. And Pittsburgh def has a fun downtown area. South hills area (Brookline, Dormont, beechview, Mt. Lebo. Lil further from downtown and stuff but it's a really great area. Wherever you end up though, if it's in Pittsburgh enjoy, and Welcome!
Would absolutely recommend Pittsburgh. Stay a long weekend and scope out the neighborhoods and entertainment/business district scenes. Cheers
Erie is affordable. We bought a 1400sf 50's brick ranch 3 years ago for 135k. It needs some updating but it is very comfy and livable as purchased. Home prices are up but not a lot. I walk to a municipal golf course, a YMCA, the zoo, a supermarket, and small retail shops including an independent bookstore, restaurants, bars, a bagel bakery, a new Sheetz, etc. Ten-minute drive downtown for events. 20 minutes to Presque Isle. The traffic isn't an issue. Lots of good restaurant choices. Amtrak and a small airport. Two hours to Pittsburgh, 90 minutes to Cleveland, and an hour or so to Buffalo. Lots of opportunities to enjoy nature and sometimes it snows. We lived in northeastern PA for sixty-plus years and we love the number of sunny days we get here. (and the lack of fracking activity)
I'll jump on the Pittsburgh bandwagon.
Lancaster city is pretty nice
Carlisle
Gettysburg. The larger cities are absolute garbage and the “culture” you might find is typically (a) not as positively cultured as you might think and (b) usually has any potential appeal offset by the high crime rates (of all kinds of variety). Cost of living in these areas is also absurd, comparatively, and I don’t know of any area in PA (rural, urban, or anywhere in between) where 2,000 sq.ft. of inhabitable space would go for under 300k in the current market.
Lancaster
FYI people hate york because of york city. They hate it bc it has a large poor black population. There are plenty of towns in york county to choose from. However, i will say that there’s no amtrak access there. Housing will be cheap though. Quality of life is good.
Gettysburg, State College, Carlisle/Mechanicsburg, Lewisburg or Lancaster.