Considering relocating to Eastern PA From the Deeeeeeep South. Crazy? (Philadelphia: homes, theater)

[Pullenaway]

Originally Posted by Gerania

You should ask this question in the Northeastern PA forum. I grew up in Wilkes-Barre, but haven't been to either of those places in decades.

My first thought is that you aren't going to find work in those little towns and have a long drive in the morning. You don't want to do that in the winter.

There are no stores or services in Tobyhanna. The nearest supermarket, pharmacy, doctors are in Mount Pocono. At least Tunkhannock has those things and a small hospital.

Interesting. Thanks!

I was initally thinking that those small areas would be very hard to get a job in...now I see why.

I also am reading/hearing that the Pocono Mountain area may not be a good fit for a family with young children.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Avalon08

I remember when I used to drive across I-80 toward Williamsport, and once I had to get off early and go through some little towns that would put me back up on the main road into Williamsport. Those "towns" were no more than a collection of a post office and a few houses, maybe a restaurant at an intersection. So my point being just because you see a town on a map doesn't mean it's a fully-functional "town" with all the amenities you'd expect.

I used to take 118 over to the Williamsport area. There's a little "town" named Red Rock on the way. It has three businesses (the ice cream shop is seasonal) and not even a post office. A name on a map doesn't mean there's going to be an actual town.

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by Pullenaway

Interesting. Thanks!

I was initally thinking that those small areas would be very hard to get a job in...now I see why.

I also am reading/hearing that the Pocono Mountain area may not be a good fit for a family with young children.

When many lost their lovely lake or vacation homes in the 2000s, people from urban areas--the ones with bad habits and no manners--bought them because they were cheap. I've read that there's a ghetto vibe in some of the communities. The Mt. Pocono Walmart is supposed to be a real eye opener.

[mslhu]

Originally Posted by Gerania

When many lost their lovely lake or vacation homes in the 2000s, people from urban areas--the ones with bad habits and no manners--bought them because they were cheap. I've read that there's a ghetto vibe in some of the communities. The Mt. Pocono Walmart is supposed to be a real eye opener.

[ki0eh]

Teaching math/CS, and 7 kids? Surprised no one's pointed more at the Northern Tier counties.

Susquehanna - still some natural gas drilling going on. Houses in towns relatively inexpensive, they get pricey for a "nice" house on "some land" especially with gas rights. For much of the county, shopping town is Binghamton NY (with Johnson City and Endicott, the "Triple Cities") more than Scranton, and possible venue for using a NY State teaching certificate.

Bradford - first off to Pennsylvanians, a reminder that Bradford County is nowhere near the City of Bradford. (Or Bedford.) Home to a regional medical center, the Guthrie system based in Sayre, as well as gas drilling that has eased off significantly. Houses in towns relatively inexpensive, they get pricey for a "nice" house on "some land" especially with gas rights. Long stretches on two lane roads to get anywhere.

Tioga - possibly the most scenic of the northern tier counties, also hosts the Mansfield University teachers' college so perhaps slightly more competition for teaching jobs. New US 15 expressway for fast escape to Corning/Elmira NY to the north, and Williamsport to the south. The PA 49 Cowanesque Valley corridor is much cheaper than cutesy Wellsboro or college town Mansfield. Elkland, on PA 49, still has a Catholic church that likely welcomes newcomers. Blossburg, unfortunately in the last 15 years went from 4 to less than 1 Catholic church, and the high school closed, but it's not far up the highway to Mansfield which retained its parish and high school.

Potter - the most isolated of the northern tier counties, and the first going west that's really in the "snow belt" as it's atop the Eastern Continental Divide. You have to like the woods to like it here. Some services like the 911 center and the visitor's bureau are consolidated now with Tioga. I think PA's smallest independent school district still persists here.

McKean - now you find the small City of Bradford, with its infrequent-service airport that's always the cold spot on PA news. The next-big-city from here is Buffalo, still an hour++ snowy drive up US 219 mostly expressway. You start to notice old oil wells here, but don't try to make a joke about the one behind McDonald's drive-thru, they've heard it all before.

Warren - my wife stopped me from applying for a job transfer here when she smelled the oil refinery on the edge of town, and the abandoned oil wells hiking in the national forest. Combines the slightly larger town services of McKean with the accessible woods recreation of Potter, blanketed by relatively persistent snow cover in winter.

[Pullenaway]

Originally Posted by ki0eh

Teaching math/CS, and 7 kids? Surprised no one's pointed more at the Northern Tier counties.

Susquehanna - still some natural gas drilling going on. Houses in towns relatively inexpensive, they get pricey for a "nice" house on "some land" especially with gas rights. For much of the county, shopping town is Binghamton NY (with Johnson City and Endicott, the "Triple Cities") more than Scranton, and possible venue for using a NY State teaching certificate.

Bradford - first off to Pennsylvanians, a reminder that Bradford County is nowhere near the City of Bradford. (Or Bedford.) Home to a regional medical center, the Guthrie system based in Sayre, as well as gas drilling that has eased off significantly. Houses in towns relatively inexpensive, they get pricey for a "nice" house on "some land" especially with gas rights. Long stretches on two lane roads to get anywhere.

Tioga - possibly the most scenic of the northern tier counties, also hosts the Mansfield University teachers' college so perhaps slightly more competition for teaching jobs. New US 15 expressway for fast escape to Corning/Elmira NY to the north, and Williamsport to the south. The PA 49 Cowanesque Valley corridor is much cheaper than cutesy Wellsboro or college town Mansfield. Elkland, on PA 49, still has a Catholic church that likely welcomes newcomers. Blossburg, unfortunately in the last 15 years went from 4 to less than 1 Catholic church, and the high school closed, but it's not far up the highway to Mansfield which retained its parish and high school.

Potter - the most isolated of the northern tier counties, and the first going west that's really in the "snow belt" as it's atop the Eastern Continental Divide. You have to like the woods to like it here. Some services like the 911 center and the visitor's bureau are consolidated now with Tioga. I think PA's smallest independent school district still persists here.

McKean - now you find the small City of Bradford, with its infrequent-service airport that's always the cold spot on PA news. The next-big-city from here is Buffalo, still an hour++ snowy drive up US 219 mostly expressway. You start to notice old oil wells here, but don't try to make a joke about the one behind McDonald's drive-thru, they've heard it all before.

Warren - my wife stopped me from applying for a job transfer here when she smelled the oil refinery on the edge of town, and the abandoned oil wells hiking in the national forest. Combines the slightly larger town services of McKean with the accessible woods recreation of Potter, blanketed by relatively persistent snow cover in winter.

These areas all seem very nice, and I apprciate the suggestions.

Jobs may be tough to come by in those counties. I've reasearched a few school districts in those areas and they all seem very, very, small.

I hadn't really given a lot of thought to driving to NY to teach, but I am able to teach in NY now (AFAIK) without having to do any work except actually landing a job.

[ncnittany]

Originally Posted by Pullenaway

These areas all seem very nice, and I appreciate the suggestions.

Jobs may be tough to come by in those counties. I've researched a few school districts in those areas and they all seem very, very, small.

I hadn't really given a lot of thought to driving to NY to teach, but I am able to teach in NY now (AFAIK) without having to do any work except actually landing a job.

Don't put any thought into it. You will not land a teaching position in rural NY without connections. They have more than enough local applicants per position. You will probably need to focus your employment search around the larger population centers in PA.

My wife and I made the move from Pcola to NY and moved back. We are moving again, this time to PA.

[Pullenaway]

Originally Posted by ncnittany

Don't put any thought into it. You will not land a teaching position in rural NY without connections. They have more than enough local applicants per position. You will probably need to focus your employment search around the larger population centers in PA.

My wife and I made the move from Pcola to NY and moved back. We are moving again, this time to PA. Let me know if you have any questions.

I do have questions...are you available for PM's via this site, or is there a different medium we could use?

I have to say this board has been great in getting questions answered, fwiw.

I also did a little bit of homework and discovered that I'd be paying NY taxes if I taught there (ofc) and would also be paying PA taxes, although I think I could deduct my NY taxes from the ones I pay in PA.

[Pullenaway]

Originally Posted by mstelm

im from York PA, and i'd tell you don't come here but i don't know about further east. The reason i am replying is i wanted to say im form PA and want to move SOUTH lol .. TN maybe?

Best Wishes

You're referring to the city limits of York, not the actual county, correct?

[rowhomecity]

Originally Posted by Pullenaway

You're referring to the city limits of York, not the actual county, correct?

I am very familiar with Lancaster and York counties. Quality of life is higher in Lancaster County, although I will say York city is most certainly what they are referring too. There are nice places in York County, but Lancaster County offers more at relatively the same cost.