Define “cheap rent”? Ultimately, you get what you pay for. You can’t have it all!

The La Anna area I've been looking in has 2bdr for around $750 This is just my ideal checklist, nothing will ever be perfect. Just included that note as I'm not exactly looking for a Frasier Crane penthouse suite

Here in Massachusetts, single rooms in a shared house are going for $8-900!

I'd say a comfortable rent would be a max of around $1200

Scranton and the outlying areas are what you’re looking for.

Jim Thorpe

No clue how you found La Anna, I've been to the Poconos a lot and never heard of it. Looking at the map, yea it's in the middle of nowhere. Halfway between Scranton and Stroudsburg. Stroudsburg is a nice "main street USA" with a state university and the Sherman Theater who gets national touring bands.

Unless you're into the hardcore scene, or are a The Office fanatic, there shouldn't be any reason to go to Scranton

Scranton, Pittston, Honesdale, and Carbondale are probably what you're looking for.

I am...into the punk scene, haha La Anna jumped out at me only because it was surrounded by green, and also is my name! Stroudsburg is a place you'd recommend?

I recommend Lancaster, it is one of the coolest small cities in the country right now, great music of all sorts and art scene, and in under 10min you can be in woods/wilderness/nature

Under 2 hours from Philly and Baltimore

But I don't think it meets your distance from Boston, I think it's like 6 hours away (but we have an Amtrak station)

Stroudsburg is a nice even smaller city than Lanc, or a big town, being in the Poconos is cool, there a few more super hardcore right wing christo-fascist areas around there tho

Oh I mean 6ish is fine, that's doable for a weekend trip back home. Spent a month in Coudersport and that was a heavy 8 hours to and fro. Lancaster sounds super cool, will look it up! Thanks a ton! That's a good tip about the Poconos area, that can easily be a deal breaker

Tbf, Lancaster County is Red, Lancaster City is Blue and has always been progressive

Southern Lanc County is a bit more agressive, but not like some areas of the Poconos those are like true militia people, or at least in greater numbers than around here

I’ll be real with you, rural PA is a bit sketch. Lots of extreme far right politics (look up the republican governor candidate that just lost, barely), some drugs (not weed, stuff like meth and heroin), general economic decay (“rust belt”) and the issues that come along with it.

Ever heard of the term Pennsyltucky? It really be like that.

You’re not going to be in any kind of desirable area for less than $1,000/month.

Dang, this is a really good point, and exactly why I asked here. Thank you, that's very good to know and consider!

If you’re open to a roommate, bucks and montgomery counties might be more of what you’re looking for! Not cheap, tho.

If not, you might be able to find a cheaper studio or basement apartment in the $1,200 range but it’ll need to be through word of mouth so join some local FB pages and start asking!

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Yep. Good community, lots of stuff within striking distance

Bucks county but min you will pay is 1400 but it’s beautiful.

r/ChoosingBeggars may have better luck there lol

Everyone has an ideal list of stuff they look for before moving, man. Otherwise I'd throw a dart at a globe. I know I won't hit all these points but it sure helps narrow it down.

There is next to nothing in La Anna. It's a tiny little hamlet in the woods. If you like driving at least 20ish minutes for just about anything and having some interesting neighbors, you can do worse than La Anna. Fair warning - back mountain roads in the winter time can be treacherous, except for your interesting neighbors who know them blindfolded and will not hesitate to drive in your backseat, even in the snow.

I'd recommend coming up and staying in a hotel for a few days and driving around to get a feel for the area.

checkout the Lehigh Valley - Not 100% on the rents in bethlehem, but checks a lot of your boxes

Central or Upper Bucks county fits your list to a T. Almost midway to NYC and Philly. Shortish drives to mountainous regions in PA and NY. Close to Jersey beach and even DE/MD. 5ish to MA. Towns like New Hope and Doylestown are close. And state parks abound with access to short hikes, camping, and kayaking on the rivers.

Edit: as others have noted you may be priced out depending on where in bucks you look. Lehigh valley is an option too.

Kennett Square in Chester county. Great small town, great hiking and scenery in area, easy access to Wilmington, Philly and Lancaster, lots of new semi affordable housing and a decent young night life scene.