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Allemaengel t1_ixxh5rj wrote

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.

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UnderstandingOne4825 OP t1_ixxj4jf wrote

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.

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Allemaengel t1_ixxjv21 wrote

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.

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Hopeful_Scholar398 t1_ixz1hdq wrote

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.

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Illustrious_Air_1438 t1_iy2jyej wrote

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.

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Allemaengel t1_iy2vjdj wrote

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

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