Submitted by UnderstandingOne4825 t3_z5pvie in Pennsylvania
My family currently lives in a suburb outside Philly (Delco). We’re looking for somewhere in PA close to or in the mountains but not necessarily the middle of nowhere. We want that rural, homestead feel but still a nice place to raise a family and have community plus good schools. Any suggestions?
Thank you for the info! Bethlehem seems to be a common answer coming up. I’ve only visited once, I’ll have to look into it.
I grew up in and still live within 15 miles radius of the Turnpike's Lehigh Tunnel for 50 years now sort of where the Lehigh Valley blends into the Slate Belt, Coal Region and Poconos.
I grew up just south of the mountain where my family still owns a decent amount of land but I now live north of the mountain with my gf so decent insight on both the 610 and 570, lol.
All I can say is that you better bring money for what you want due to the influx of North Jersey and New York residents seeking cheaper WFH primary residences, vacation homes, or Airbnb investment properties increasing prices. Properties with decent acreage are particularly sought after and scarcer than they used to be.
Also rural acreage with both good schools and proximity to a town with cultural amenities is going to hard to find. Actual decent schools are going to be found closer to the north side of Allentown and Bethlehem than right along the mountain or anywhere north of the tunnel. School districts north of the mountain are generally a real mess, poorly-funded, and high taxes due to lack of strong local tax base.
If you have decent funds, maybe north of Nazareth in Bushkill Township which is close to Jacobsburg State Park off of Route 33. Also the scenic area east of Hamburg NW of Kutztown near Hawk Mountain north of I-78 though the 3 school districts out there (Hamburg Area, Kutztown Area, and Northwestern Lehigh might not be quite as good as Nazareth.
Thank you for all the info, I hadn’t considered the influx WFH has brought to the state. And you’re right, in our search we’re realizing that rural feel we’re looking for doesn’t often yield great schools.
I know how you feel. I'm OK with deep rural areas looking for my own land and prices are brutal for acreage even in so-so school districts all along Blue Mountain both sides.
I commute to Bucks County and nothing's easy between there and where I live on the Carbon-Monroe County line.
Good luck though, I hope you find something.
I'm in a very similar situation. You are right on the money. The areas around the mountain seem to go through 15+/- year real estate cycles. Or that's how it looks to me anyway.
I thought northwestern Lehigh was a decent school but idk. I went to Parkland (and grew up very close to the Lowhill border, actually) which is considered one of the best schools in the area and honestly, I feel like "good" schools are somewhat overrated. The teachers at Parkland were hit or miss - some were really good, but there were just as many that didn't teach much. The worst was one of my French teachers, who did absolutely nothing at all, except occasionally give us projects to complete.
I did well academically and got into a "top" university, but that was mostly because of stuff I did outside of school, because my parents pushed me to go beyond the school curriculum and compete in math/science competitions. I don't think I would have been any worse off going to an "okay" high school.
Northwestern is actually decent - I grew up in Lowhill actually. It"s likely even better now than when I went there.
It sounded like OP wanted something slightly less country and next to an actual town which made something like Nazareth seem more logical
Bethlehem
Why do you want Rural Homestead feel? And are you OK with the smell of manure and the sight of men and women carrying guns as a matter of habit and necessity? Dont move to the farmlands if you are going to complain about living in the farmlands. Stick to Bucks and the like. Its “woodsy” enough without being outside the norms. Move to far out and you get to were people are a lot different then the city people you might be accustomed to.
None of this means you will come to harm by rednecks with guns and jacked up trucks. But that is who lives out in areas where “homesteads” are the norm.
Sounds like the Lehigh valley- Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton area- is exactly what you’re looking for
Check out the Hershey, Bloomsburg, Clarks summit, Danville, Lewisburg,or Dallas school district. All are in areas outside of major cities where you could easily get land but close enough to towns where you could get everything you need
the area just outside State College has some gorgeous wooded areas and a lot of farms. I can't speak for the schools but it really is a pretty area in the outskirts.
The State College school district is definitely good. I did math/science competitions in high school and some of the best students in the state were from there.
Cameron County
Our favorite camping spot is in Sproul State Forest right near Cameron County. I’ve heard of Emporium, are you familiar with the town?
This might be a bit of an out there answer, but in Blair county you can be in a bit of a rural area while still being in hollidaysburg school district.
I’ll agree with the Lehigh valley but definitely not the ABE parts, especially for schools. I’d suggest somewhere in the parkland school district , which can include some of the nicer parts of Allentown but really not the CITY. or, even right outside Lehigh back in bucks county the southern Lehigh school district/Coopersburg and center valley area is well off. These areas you can find a home with space and land if you’d like but are still populated and are short drives to mountains.
Which places have you visited that you liked?
Ligonier is a great small town, very Stars Hollow and only about an hour from Pittsburgh.
[deleted]
Jim Thorpe
Bellefonte
[removed]
Nazareth area, Bushkill township, both, Nazareth area school district. Great education. Went there myself, and still live there. Bushkill township is more rural, yet close to stores, malls, and sporting events. It is approx. 15 miles north of Easton, 20 miles northeast of Bethlehem and 25 miles northeast of Allentown, with a short drive to major highways such as routes 33, 22, 80, and 78.... do yourself a favor and check it out !! If you have any questions yet, dm me and if I can help you I will , or try to direct you to someone else who could...
If you need a real estate agent in central PA (Lancaster, York, Harrisburg) hit me up!
[removed]
We're just outside Bethlehem, have just under 8 acres with farm house and barn. Ten minutes to downtown Bethlehem. We bought in 2020, so the market wasn't as crazy at that time. We really like it, but the market is quite competitive still. Good luck with the hunt, and try to avoid bucks county if you can, higher taxes and more crowded than other counties in the area.
[removed]
Newton Township, Lackawanna County. Rural feel, but very close to Scranton. Abington Heights School District has a great reputation.
xephornite t1_ixxerzh wrote
Lehigh Valley area. Allentown and Bethlehem are of the 3 major cities within the ar3a. Easton is the other one. All have smaller towns outside of them that give you a more suburban feel. However there are all types of areas around here that could suit your needs. Best of luck to you