A little bit hilly, great food, safe, under $300,000 (Philadelphia, Reading: rental, crime)

[Wells5]

Suggest Bellefonte. It's very close to State College and extremely hilly. Housing costs in the borough are above your budget, though

[Max and Catriona]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I'd rank those cities as follows

Lancaster
Allentown
Bethlehem
Harrisburg

Harrisburg is the state capital, but it strikes me as having not that hot of a dining or nightlife scene, and its arts and culture scene is little better.

Bethlehem has the advantage of being in the Lehigh Valley, and it has a fantastic performing arts center built around the stacks of the defunct Bethlelem Steel mill.

Allentown is the largest of the three Lehigh Valley cities (and the third-largest city in the state after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), and as you've already learned, it's easy traveling among all three. I haven't checked out the dining scene here, and I know this won't be of concern to you at all, but I figure that its being home to the Lehigh Valley's only gay bar and dance club should indicate that there's more going on there overall.

Given the size difference, I might still recommend the Lehigh Valley over Lancaster, but Lancaster IMO is the coolest small city in the state^Wthe mid-Atlantic region, if not the entire Northeast. It has a strong arts and culture scene, several great restaurants and the oldest public farmers' market in the country, Central Market. Plus the state's most productive farmland is located in the county, in the "Pennsylvania Dutch" (Amish) country. It's also about an hour from Philadelphia.

That was really interesting to read, thanks so much for this great info.

[Max and Catriona]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Suggest Bellefonte. It's very close to State College and extremely hilly. Housing costs in the borough are above your budget, though

Our budget is going to be a challenge pretty much everywhere. I will add Bellefonte to the list of places to keep an eye on though, in case a nice home in our price range comes up for sale. We are totally willing to do cosmetic interior renovations, so maybe something could work out if we found a house with an architectural style I like but in need of new countertops / flooring etc. Thanks for your input.

[Max and Catriona]

Anyone familiar with Mt Joy / Mount Joy? It's about 20 mins north-west of Lancaster. I was looking at a listing for a townhouse there: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...2_M43986-72482

[Max and Catriona]

This went pending very quickly in Harrisburg: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...4_M97727-01486

Here's another pending listing, a smidge over my budget, in Camp Hill: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...E&gclsrc=aw.ds

Pending Lancaster: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M4064204719

Contingent Bellefonte: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M3673199320

Sold $310,000 mid-mod in Indiana, PA: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M4800621805

Pending Tannersville: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M3379713178

Something like this would be fun to remodel: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M9279017875

Pending in Bellefonte: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M4738271329

Pending condo Lancaster: https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...il/M3920652119

Just wanted to show some listings that caught my eye. Would be very interested in any feedback.

[NewtownBucks]

Look at Wyomissing or Wyomissing Hills. It's got all the shops and stores and amenities you could need, and a very diverse housing stock with smaller houses in your range up to $1m+ 19th century stone mansions. Close to nice downtown area in West Reading, and a mid-size city in Reading. It's definitely suburban.

[Max and Catriona]

Originally Posted by NewtownBucks

Look at Wyomissing or Wyomissing Hills. It's got all the shops and stores and amenities you could need, and a very diverse housing stock with smaller houses in your range up to $1m+ 19th century stone mansions. Close to nice downtown area in West Reading, and a mid-size city in Reading. It's definitely suburban.

Looks like a good prospect, thank you so much for bringing this area to my attention! How is Reading, is it a nice city?

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by Max and Catriona

Looks like a good prospect, thank you so much for bringing this area to my attention! How is Reading, is it a nice city?

Reading is not a great city overall (I wouldn't really recommend living in Reading itself), but they are trying to revitalize and have things to do, including minor league hockey and baseball teams. West Reading is more a part of Wyomissing than Reading and has a nice "downtown" strip with restaurants, bars, etc. on Penn Ave.

[toobusytoday]

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

I'd rank those cities as follows

Lancaster
Allentown
Bethlehem
Harrisburg

Harrisburg is the state capital, but it strikes me as having not that hot of a dining or nightlife scene, and its arts and culture scene is little better.

Bethlehem has the advantage of being in the Lehigh Valley, and it has a fantastic performing arts center built around the stacks of the defunct Bethlelem Steel mill.

Allentown is the largest of the three Lehigh Valley cities (and the third-largest city in the state after Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), and as you've already learned, it's easy traveling among all three. I haven't checked out the dining scene here, and I know this won't be of concern to you at all, but I figure that its being home to the Lehigh Valley's only gay bar and dance club should indicate that there's more going on there overall.

Given the size difference, I might still recommend the Lehigh Valley over Lancaster, but Lancaster IMO is the coolest small city in the state^Wthe mid-Atlantic region, if not the entire Northeast. It has a strong arts and culture scene, several great restaurants and the oldest public farmers' market in the country, Central Market. Plus the state's most productive farmland is located in the county, in the "Pennsylvania Dutch" (Amish) country. It's also about an hour from Philadelphia.

I’d switch the order between Allentown and Bethlehem. But agree with the rest of the list.

[Max and Catriona]

OK now I'm getting really intrigued by Lancaster. Not sure if I should ask more in depth about it in the Harrisburg area subforum or if I can just stick with this thread for all of my questions.

Can anyone compare Lancaster vs Gettysburg for me? I just looked up population #s and was actually shocked Gettysburg is only ~7400. I thought it would be more like 15,000. I like the population size of Lancaster. Oh my gosh now my brain is going non-stop with questions about Lancaster. Do I ask here or in the Harrisburg area forum?