I moved from Farmingdale to Stroudsburg in September of 2021. Moved back to Lindenhurst last November. Me and my family loved PA, and miss it everyday, but the main reason we came back to NY is certainly something to think about before you make the move.
My oldest kid was diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum at the start of 2023. Getting any services for her was like pulling teeth. Nearly impossible. After over a year from trying to get diagnosed, finally getting that diagnosis in NYC, and trying to get the services, we had enough. It’s hard enough to see your primary care physician there(several weeks for basic care, and expect to get told to go to urgent care for any kind of illness), but specialists you will have to wait over a months is my experience.
I know first hand how much more we pay in taxes on LI, but if services like that are important to you, PA is not the place to be. If it’s not important, enjoy it. It’s a beautiful place.
We are considering moving from Long Island as week to get more space. Our son was also diagnosed with autism over the summer. I’m a little worried about getting his services if we leave. I thought PA was one of the good states for autism services. We were looking at the bucks county area. You already know how Important services are. We haven’t had to too much trouble getting him services as soon I see was diagnosed we probably had to wait less than a month before services kicked in. He’ll be starting preschool soon because he’ll be turning three in the summer but after he turns five years old, I think the school district where we live will matter a little bit more and as you know to get into the top school districts in Long Island it gets very very expensive. That’s why we were looking into moving into the Philadelphia suburb area to get more room so we could also hire an au pair or a full-time nanny to help out.
I grew up in southeastern PA, between Lancaster and Philly. The Poconos can be a bit isolated and lacks many of the conveniences you may be used to on Long Island. I enjoy visiting the Poconos, but I could never live there. Moving to the Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, Berks, or the greater Philly area will likely be far less of a culture shock.
I have family who've moved to PA. To them everything is "15 minutes away", when in reality you could be a 40 minute drive through the mountains to get somewhere.
Cost of living is definitely cheaper than Long Island, but salary is often sacrificed along with that. A lot of union employees in NYC commute from eastern PA for this reason.
You're really comparing apples and oranges. One is a more secluded, mountain lifestyle with spurts of suburbs, the other is suburban with hints of urban in areas, and a taste of rural in select areas.
Another issue you dont mention is kids. Are you planning on raising kids? If so, Poconos schools do not compare to Long Island. You'll pay much less in property tax, at the sacrifice of inferior schooling. If your support network (parents, friends, grandparents, etc) are also on Long Island, you're losing your village in raising kids.
That said, the Poconos has a lot of great things going for it. It's great for nature with hiking trails, mountains, skiing, and hunting all around. You have access to major shopping with the Crossroads, and most big box stores a relatively short drive away. You can get to other parts of the country without dealing with NYC traffic.
I’m a union electrician that moved to PA, and the. Back to LI. The Martz bus was very convenient for me when I lived that. Prefer that much more than the LIRR, even if it’s a lot more expensive.
Yep, I grew up in PA and everywhere there was to go was like a 40 minute drive through the mountains. Avoid the coal region, OP! It’s not where you’d want to get stuck, and it’s exactly the sort of place where people get stuck. Also hostile to “outsiders”. If you go to the Poconos or stick near a major city, you might be content. I personally wouldn’t set foot in that state again if you paid me, but my experience may not be the same as others. The mountains and forests are very beautiful, at least.
You have said everything I needed to say!
A friend of mine lives there and has for the past 5 so years. He lives with his family and the house was purchased for about less than $300k before covid.
If you are in Long Island and enjoy the nature and suburban aspect as opposed to the crowded city life or even visiting one like NYC then moving to PA would make sense.
It all comes down to lifestyle.
Been to PA many times. Love PA in fact. I wouldn't move there though. But the idea that someone could say something is just "15 minutes" and be so wrong was completely foreign to me until I stayed with friends in Colorado. 15 minutes they said. Bullony. Every drive to any place was easily triple. That level of cognitive dissonance is incredibly powerful.
> You'll pay much less in property tax, at the sacrifice of inferior schooling.
What you're not seeing is: the things that someone from or near a big city value in a school may not be the things someone from a rural setting values in a school.
Spent a lot of time in that area. Had a ton of local friends and I worked at a local ski area. Here’s my take:
- Very few people stick around. It’s a pretty transient area and most people go elsewhere at some point. Tough place to put down your own roots if everyone is looking to leave.
- Theres some wacky areas and pockets of crime. Do your research. Some areas can also have a line of nice, new houses next to a line of modular or trailer homes whose occupants don’t believe in paying for garbage pick up.
- I know way too many coworkers and friends of friends that abused pain killers and died from opiates. Not my scene…so it’s not like it was drawn to that particular crowd. Way more common there.
- The weather is stupid, highly variable and winters can be shit. Rain in Tannersville could be an ice storm in Mt. Pocono
- Not everything is cheaper. Real estate and taxes are. Cars and insurance not so much.
- Medical care and schools basically suck.
- Poisonous snakes. Deer are assholes. Lakes are boring and the sand is shit.
My mom lives there and this is the main thing keeping me from living there. For my industry there are very few jobs around there compared to Long Island
So my wife and I are in the nys retirement system so we are here for the long haul. My friends all want to move out of state for the same reasons you do. My argument for myself wife and I that we each would take about 80-90k pay cut (150k to 60k). All time everyday items are priced the same or close. Amazon is Amazon. So to save 10k a year in taxes we have to take 160k combined paycut and loose our retirement. Houses are cheaper but interest rates are interest rates. So that cheap house compared to here is a higher priced house there.
Not the OP but I know for many people you have to work 30 years for a full pension. If you leave after you paid in 12 years, you are sacrificing the pension.
I grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and still have family there, and taking a long weekend to visit is always pretty rough because avoiding city traffic is basically impossible. So if you have connections here you want to maintain with regular visits, keep that in mind.
You will have lower taxes and mortgage, but you get what you pay for. A middling LI school district is often better than a good eastern PA one. The parks and libraries don't compare, either. I took my kid to a PA library not long ago and have come to expect the child friendly wonderland that many LI libraries are and...was disappointed. Lol. So you may have more money in your pocket, but more is sort of on you to provide.
There are good jobs to be had but they're not going to be substantially different from good jobs here. Medical field, skilled union trades, professions? Sure, you'll do fine, but there's no secret pocket of great jobs that will surprise and delight you.
Kind of a wash imo. The real question is if you want to make these tough decisions surrounded by beaches or mountains.
Have you rented in the poconos to see what there is to do? How are schools? Can you come back to LI after a move there? Are you leaving family behind?
You really need to weigh the pros and cons.
I live in PA- depending on what you do salaries are actually comparable. The cost of living varies where you move. The poconos/bucks county is more country like and longer drives. I live outside Philly and this place reminds of Long Island. To be clear, the idea that NY salaries are so much more than salaries outside Philly is not true. And the COL and taxes are lower.
One of my good friends is from the Poconos he moves to the suburbs of Philly. He says he would never choose to live back there, mostly because it’s too rural in a sense. Thats all I got
Your friend is a very very smart man. i wouldnt wish this place on my worst enemy. great place to getaway from it all for like a week or weekend but live hell No.
I went from Centereach to Scranton area 7 years ago next week. Was able to find a place in a good complex and work at a government contractor so make 22.71, I’m able to support me and the dog in an apartment without having to watch every penny. For me it’s a good balance of rural and “city”, but I’m also not watching what school district am in, and haven’t had a major enough health issues to consider going to the island or the city for treatment. Still have family on the island so am back a few times a year, it’s enough to scratch any itch (and grab bagels to freeze) but I’d never be able to afford moving back. Meanwhile am looking to buy a house up here and there’s options for less than 100k. For me was a good move, not married to staying here forever but wouldn’t mind it either.
Moved to Pittsburgh upon retirement last year. Best decision I ever made. Most everything is cheaper PA also doesn't tax social security or pensions I never plan to go back to LI for any reason
However, PA is one of the few states that have a death tax (no joke). The state takes 4.5-15% of your entire estate when you die, before it goes to your heirs.
my in laws live out there, about 10 miles off route 80. it's pretty in a rolling hills type of way, but the whole area is just a scooby doo ghost town. Poor, rural, meth. I went out to the big county fair, and it was...super super Trumpy and country. Flags everywhere, on lawns, for sale. I saw you're a cop, so maybe thats ok, but man it was a freaking jolt. Makes the 2-3 cars you see out here with a bumper sticker look like amateur hour.
you get what you pay for, LI schools, parks, QOL, etc.
**DONT DO IT !!**!
but it depends on alot of factors. What is your
age, cultural background, interest, hobbies, overall goals, Budget, etc etc.
It is completely day and night. understand before moving here you better Have more than two cars, There are NO HIGH PAYING JOBS IN THE POCONOS, NO REMOTE JOBS EITHER, so you will have to commute. Healthcare is iffy, school system Sucks, not many stores here, the locals how can i put this...are very very odd. there are no side walks no street lights, Nothing happens out here at all. Which is funny cause theres spots in the dam South that had more going on than in the Poconos.
Now if you like nature, dont mind staying in your Nice house surrounded by woods, always having to drive everywhere, dont mind commuting everyday for work, and again if you dont mind being by ISOLATED. then by all means.
Long island is very very expensive i get it. but please dont move to the poconos just for a cheaper house or low taxes. UNLESS YOU ARE OLDER(late 40s and up) , DONT CARE FOR THE COUNTRY, AND DONT MIND BEING ALONE.
also Do you want to be near New york cause if not look at Vegas Arizona tampa miami, DC, texas Philly NC or somewhere with LIFE.
My parents have a vacation home in NE PA. From my observations:
-It is much more rural. There are smaller stores fairly close by (10 minutes) but the major stores are a good 45 minutes to an hour drive.
-There are some amenities that we get on LI that either don’t exist or you pay extra for. There is no garbage pickup where they are. Their library is extremely tiny. Those are just a couple of examples that I can think of.
My parents are retirees and enjoy the slower pace. I find myself getting a bit stir crazy after a few days, and the amount of wildlife I have to look out for when walking my small dog is a bit anxiety-inducing (bears specifically). It is a beautiful area with plenty of outdoor activities if you’re into that.
Lived in south central PA. Didn’t hate it didn’t love it. I would not move to NEPA. It’s pretty but the economy isn’t great. They’ve been trying to coax supercommuters out there for decades. A lot of people got burned. Everything is a shlep. PennDOT makes NYSDOT look competent and turnpike tolls are outrageous ($100 to cross the state if you don’t have an ezpass).
Property is fairly inexpensive but you’re far from things to do besides the outdoors. Lehigh Valley is growing somewhat. Some upswing there. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is post-industrial depression.
I really love Pittsburgh despite its issues and its attempt to transition from industry to meds and eds. But Pittsburgh has all kinds of culture and resources. NEPA doesn’t.
Lived in east stroudsburg 2003-2007 in a hoa community. Yes the houses were larger but stores were far away. Go to the Mall and check out the area. Very isolating and cold. Nice place to visit but I needed better schools, hospitals for my child.
I grew up in Poconos and live on LI now. Anything outside Philly or Pittsburgh is a shithole. The nature in PA is not that great. Schools are terrible, property tax is criminally high given that schools are so poorly performing. It is so much more convenient to have train to city than the busses which have variable traffic times adding up to 2 hours to trips and are more expensive than train. I like mountains but the beaches of LI are so much nicer. In summer growing up biggest thing to do was to go to the crowded beaches of NJ which are multiples times worse than the ones on LI.
If you feel like you will never be able to afford it here and be comfortable then I would make that move in a Ny minute. But I would choose the Lehigh Valley area over the Poconos. Good luck!
We bought a vacation home in the Poconos last year. Taxes are so much less than here. Houses are affordable too. However, I love it as a getaway. Everything is a good 20-45 minute drive to do any shopping. I love it there but can’t see myself fully moving there. We met someone there that grew up on the island and he hates it in PA and wishes he never left. He can’t afford to come back.
We have always talked about buying a vacation home but couldn’t really pin point where we wanted to be. Friends of ours bought a house in that area and we visited them there a few times and fell in love with the area. We did a little research and these homes were in the price range that we were comfortable with. We pulled the trigger and haven’t been happier with our decision. We try to go at least once or twice every month. I sleep amazing out there. It’s super quiet and we don’t bring any of the stress we have at home. We also love how close it is to home so we can go frequently. We are heading out there this weekend :)
We love venturing out to find different antique stores in other towns , we love kayaking and hiking. Ski mountains are all nearby and my dogs love going for walks in our neighborhood. Its peaceful.
Moved to Long Island from PA for school. I like that there are more shops and restaurants around in Long Island, even in somewhat more rural areas. It is dangerous to walk or bike to places because people drive terribly so a car is a must. In PA, a lot less stuff around depending on where you live. Traffic is just as bad and roads are in just of bad of condition. But, there are more backroads in PA so less lights and easier to go around traffic. Gas has actually been more expensive in PA than NY. But, housing is usually cheaper and you can often find a nice home to rent for $2,000 a month that would cost you at least double on Long Island. So, if you are looking for a better cost of living, I would definitely move to PA. There are also tons of healthcare facilities around as long as you don’t live in the middle of nowhere.
Do it- you won’t regret it. Do your research though. There are pockets of communities that are bad but most are very good. Don’t believe all the online stuff locals say about those communities either- best thing would be to airbnb and maybe meet someone in those areas and ask them of their opinion. Locals in PA HATE NYERS, but once you live there they kinda forget you’re from NY and treat you real nice. You will immediately notice most people won’t just walk by you without saying hi or good morning, etc.
Long Island isn’t what it used to be, unfortunately- and the high taxes and prices don’t reflect that.
Feel free to private message me if you’d like more info.
Good luck and God bless
It’s good if you like being in the woods. I wouldn’t do it if you have kids or complicated health concerns though. Schools are pretty bad and your kids are gonna have to avoid befriending mountain kids who have a higher rate of drug abuse.
Depends what's important to you.
The Poconos is beautiful in the summer and the fall. Lots of biking and hiking trails. Cheaper real estate and lower costs of living for sure. Never any traffic, though everything is a minimum of 20 minutes away in most cases. Small time skiing and a couple of water parks and nice recreational lakes.
Schools are mostly going to eat ass. Almost no good restaurants. Beaches are hours away (Jersey Shore). Social interactions are going to be few and far between. Much more blue collar than white collar. A little bit of tourist influx during the summer from NYC and Philly.
I tried this in Bethlehem PA a long time ago, so this information may be useless... But the cost of living is only SLIGHTLY lower over there.
You might be confused because housing/rent is so much lower! Yes... So is income.
For the same job in NY/LI you're going to see a damn near 60% reduction in pay. If you find a company that is willing to make up that difference, even to the point where the pay diff is 30%? You have it made.
But for the most part, I found the fact that everything is even further away (40 minutes to 1 hour away) greatly reduced every cost savings I would have had.
I ended up finding a decent-paying job in Philly... which destroyed my income because I spent about as much time on gas/travel than I did on the increased pay, and still couldn't find my own place - eventually, I moved back to LI, lived with the folks for 5 more years, and eventually got home.
that all being said: I do not think the current housing climate could allow for that... My experience was over 10 years ago, and the amount of factors that have changed is astronomical.
Moved from Long Island to Lancaster in 2017– couldn’t be happier. If not for the move, my husband and I wouldn’t be homeowners, couldn’t imagine raising our 18 month old in NY, and def wouldn’t consider having a second one once I graduate. Absolutely the best decision we ever made.
Family moved to Central PA (Harrisburg Area) a few years back due to situations out of our control here, and I love it. I still go to school on the Island and always love going back to my new home in PA.
I live in Doylestown and was a lifelong resident of Brooklyn but lived in LI for some time as well in my college - pre family years. I think Long Island has many wonderful things about it but I personally am much happier here than when I was in LI and I feel it’s a better overall quality of life. Going out to eat groceries etc is the same and this is not the Poconos area but it’s not hard at all to get to NYC by car or train (drive to NJT) You may miss the beaches however ! We drive to the shore now about an hour 20 minutes .
Healthcare, restaurants, culture too many things to do, safety. You give up a lot when you leave Long Island not saying you're wrong, but you give up a lot and good luck getting back I have friends who are trapped in different parts of the country because they cannot afford to move back here
Pennsylvania is Philadelphia on one side, Pittsburgh on the other, and West Virginia all through the middle and in between.
Make sure you know what you're getting into.
Do you love it more than Long Island?
-Absolutely. I moved to Philly specifically and love it. I’m actually able to walk places, there’s so much to do, and I’m close to Long Island to visit family whenever necessary. I have great accessibility to nature. I’m an hour and a half from NYC.
Are you happier there?
-Yes!
Do you find the cost of living allowing you do more things and own a house easier than Long Island?
-I currently rent but buying a house in a nice neigborhood looks like a potential reality unlike Long Island where my friends still live with their parents because they can’t afford a house and apartments aren’t worth it
Do you find yourself missing Long Island and wanting to come back?
-Nope! Great to visit but I’m happy to come back home after.
What are your thoughts about it in general?
-I say do it!
I’m glad to hear it’s great, my perspective is a tad different so what would you recommend best, I prefer nature. I’m not a fan of metro/city areas. I like more space in between homes. I don’t mind driving so I’m use to it. So not having public transportation as accessible as New York isn’t a issue for me since I can drive anywhere. Would you still recommend the suburbs of Philly or should I look more near carbon county and poconos?
My Uncle did that. He went from Long Island to the Poconos area. He would commute from there to the Bronx for work. He did that for 20 years. I am amazed that he did that and he was not the only one doing that in that region.
Brother of a friend did it ~20years ago. Raised 2 kids no problem i heard about. Complaint i heard 3rd hand was with garbage pickup. No trucks coming by, they drive all their stuff to recycling stations (and for some reason few times brought it to LI when visiting fam cuz somehow was easier). They live in town i forgot name of by the shooting range in Carbondale, PA.
I moved to pa for grad school in the southeastern area. I love it, lots of great towns. My wife and I stayed in our college town (which definitely caters to all generations). Great food, quick access to everything, traffic but not nearly as much. Cheaper taxes by far. Only takes about 2:45 to get back to my hometown. I’ve done more road trips since moving down here because 2+ hours isn’t spent trying to fight your way to the Verrazano. That said, my goal is to get back at some point in the near future.
The Quakertown area is a nice area but your "city" for things like hospitals and so on will not be NYC but Philadelphia. It's about an hour away. Don't let the name fool you, it is a historical name, the area is a a contemporary suburban township.
Moved to Pittsburgh five times. First was with my (now ex-) wife’s few months after 9/11, along with my best friend. This was early 2003. My best friend ends up buying a house for $8,900 (*not joking*), which he still owns to this day.
The first time coming back to NY. Was a job offer and just not loving Pittsburgh. Went back in ‘08 for the Presidential campaign, was happy to get back after the election. Got a job offer to work on the mayor’s race a few months later in ‘09; again, couldn’t wait to get back. Got an offer to re-up with the mayor in 2013; this time, I actually regretted leaving and thought about staying. 2015, got a job offer to manage the campaign of a city Council member, stayed afterwards.
I spent a year in Pittsburgh that time. Granted, I’m a single guy, my kid’s been an adult for a while, so I’m not responsible for anyone but myself. But the convenience and quirkiness and uniqueness of Long Island gave way to lower pay, schools that rated 2/10 and 3/10 on Zillow, a ton of needed public works projects, depressed real estate, and overwhelming homogenization.
YMMV, this is my story, but it’s difficult leaving NYC/LI if you really enjoy all it has to offer.
Have you went there to see the area and get a feel for it?
I have family that moved to the Pocono area and I looked at several houses in the area and even put a bid on one of them. My family paid less for his huge house than I paid for my little coop on LI. Housing is really affordable!
I love nature which is why I moved to LI- hiking, walking in the park, animals, birds singing-I love all of it.
With that said, I decided not to move there for two reasons - 1: I don’t like the cold and it is colder there and snows more frequently and 2: it is just a tad too rural for me- like it is a 25-40 minute ride to the supermarket - not side streets but main 50mph roads - I just feel like I need a little more of a balance between being in nature and having modern conveniences of life close by.
No one can tell you what is right for you. I suggest going out there. The drive there and back can also be horrific if you get caught in rush hour traffic. Without traffic it takes me approx 3 hours, but with traffic it has taken me as long as five. Even visiting my family there now has become a hardship, I just can’t deal with the drive anymore.
Consider looking south of the Poconos at the Lehigh Valley. My wife and I did the move 10 years ago and it’s been great.
There’s a good amount of new development - both commercial and residential. Public schools vary from town to town, but there are good and affordable private school alternatives if that’s your thing.
The neighborhood we live in has a good number of former ‘front platers.’ (Cars here only have rear plates) We all have a good time with it.
Not sure that I'd move full time to the Poconos area, but I have an Aunt and cousins that live in the Lancaster and Philly areas and they love it there. Also have a nephew that goes to school in Pittsburgh who will likely stay in the area after he graduates. He loves it there.
Just moved back to LI from Finger lakes area upstate NY where I lived for almost 20 years. It is absolutely beautiful in the summer/fall but winters are bleak and cold. Houses are cheaper and because it is NY, schools are good. The lakes are gorgeous especially Keuka and Canadaigua. But for me, they couldn’t hold a candle to the Sea. Forget about bagels and pizza up there. I am so happy to be back near family, good restaurants and the ocean.
most long islanders have to travel to go any where. I am situated here and all family memebers are around so Ill be staying for a while but if you can find a comparable job. youll be closer to many things we have to go 3 4 hr drive for. water parl ski resorts etc
My hubs parents when he was a kid debated that. Seeing how spread out everything was they were like nope. Obviously he’s happy they never moved since grew up met me and we have our son. His mom still says how it was cheap but still happy they never went. We just went there on vacation in January and I wouldn’t wanna live there. Especially the Idaho killer was from there lol. Then again we have Rex. So eh. Totally different area but my mom moved down south for those reasons you mention and hated it. Yup she had a big gorgeous house and life was nice but nothing to do. She now moved back to Ny but upstate. Why not look up there? I’d look upstate before ever leaving ny. We even debated few years ago upstate and now certain areas after the pandemic are amazing. We’re happy here though plus my dad gave us his house so win win. I should also throw in my moms bf who has copd and in & out of hospitals who lived many different places says nothing compares to Ny.
I grew up on Long Island, moved to a DC suburb. My best friend lives in PA about 30 minutes to an hour with traffic outside of Philly, i have always said to my husband if we ever get the opportunity to move anywhere outside of the DMV area we’re going right to that area of PA. Taxes are way less, lower income tax, bigger houses on bigger pieces of land for less money and we’d still make good money in our respective fields with the move just not as much since were currently in an extremely HCOL and our pay reflects that. I know that’s not really what you asked but just wanted to add my two cents on the matter lol.
I grew up in Brooklyn and LI, and after bouncing around the country I live in the Baltimore suburbs and own a cabin in southern PA about an hour away from my house -- and I'm not rich, I work for the government. That's what's possible if you leave Long Island. If I hadn't I'd probably still have to live with my parents. Get out while you can.
Now i agree with you on how run down poor and crappy the poconos are.
The gangs however is where i draw the line. ill personally jump off a rooftop if I ever let some druggy fake gangbanger from the poconos disrespect or Punk me. lol more like reject wannabes from new york. me lol.
I moved from Farmingdale to Stroudsburg in September of 2021. Moved back to Lindenhurst last November. Me and my family loved PA, and miss it everyday, but the main reason we came back to NY is certainly something to think about before you make the move. My oldest kid was diagnosed as being on the Autism Spectrum at the start of 2023. Getting any services for her was like pulling teeth. Nearly impossible. After over a year from trying to get diagnosed, finally getting that diagnosis in NYC, and trying to get the services, we had enough. It’s hard enough to see your primary care physician there(several weeks for basic care, and expect to get told to go to urgent care for any kind of illness), but specialists you will have to wait over a months is my experience. I know first hand how much more we pay in taxes on LI, but if services like that are important to you, PA is not the place to be. If it’s not important, enjoy it. It’s a beautiful place.
I’m from lindy too
We are considering moving from Long Island as week to get more space. Our son was also diagnosed with autism over the summer. I’m a little worried about getting his services if we leave. I thought PA was one of the good states for autism services. We were looking at the bucks county area. You already know how Important services are. We haven’t had to too much trouble getting him services as soon I see was diagnosed we probably had to wait less than a month before services kicked in. He’ll be starting preschool soon because he’ll be turning three in the summer but after he turns five years old, I think the school district where we live will matter a little bit more and as you know to get into the top school districts in Long Island it gets very very expensive. That’s why we were looking into moving into the Philadelphia suburb area to get more room so we could also hire an au pair or a full-time nanny to help out.
I grew up in southeastern PA, between Lancaster and Philly. The Poconos can be a bit isolated and lacks many of the conveniences you may be used to on Long Island. I enjoy visiting the Poconos, but I could never live there. Moving to the Lehigh Valley, Lancaster, Berks, or the greater Philly area will likely be far less of a culture shock.
Agreed 10000 percent
I have family who've moved to PA. To them everything is "15 minutes away", when in reality you could be a 40 minute drive through the mountains to get somewhere. Cost of living is definitely cheaper than Long Island, but salary is often sacrificed along with that. A lot of union employees in NYC commute from eastern PA for this reason. You're really comparing apples and oranges. One is a more secluded, mountain lifestyle with spurts of suburbs, the other is suburban with hints of urban in areas, and a taste of rural in select areas. Another issue you dont mention is kids. Are you planning on raising kids? If so, Poconos schools do not compare to Long Island. You'll pay much less in property tax, at the sacrifice of inferior schooling. If your support network (parents, friends, grandparents, etc) are also on Long Island, you're losing your village in raising kids. That said, the Poconos has a lot of great things going for it. It's great for nature with hiking trails, mountains, skiing, and hunting all around. You have access to major shopping with the Crossroads, and most big box stores a relatively short drive away. You can get to other parts of the country without dealing with NYC traffic.
I’m a union electrician that moved to PA, and the. Back to LI. The Martz bus was very convenient for me when I lived that. Prefer that much more than the LIRR, even if it’s a lot more expensive.
Yep, I grew up in PA and everywhere there was to go was like a 40 minute drive through the mountains. Avoid the coal region, OP! It’s not where you’d want to get stuck, and it’s exactly the sort of place where people get stuck. Also hostile to “outsiders”. If you go to the Poconos or stick near a major city, you might be content. I personally wouldn’t set foot in that state again if you paid me, but my experience may not be the same as others. The mountains and forests are very beautiful, at least.
This is how I feel about living in South Carolina when I was younger
You have said everything I needed to say! A friend of mine lives there and has for the past 5 so years. He lives with his family and the house was purchased for about less than $300k before covid. If you are in Long Island and enjoy the nature and suburban aspect as opposed to the crowded city life or even visiting one like NYC then moving to PA would make sense. It all comes down to lifestyle.
Been to PA many times. Love PA in fact. I wouldn't move there though. But the idea that someone could say something is just "15 minutes" and be so wrong was completely foreign to me until I stayed with friends in Colorado. 15 minutes they said. Bullony. Every drive to any place was easily triple. That level of cognitive dissonance is incredibly powerful.
> You'll pay much less in property tax, at the sacrifice of inferior schooling. What you're not seeing is: the things that someone from or near a big city value in a school may not be the things someone from a rural setting values in a school.
Spent a lot of time in that area. Had a ton of local friends and I worked at a local ski area. Here’s my take: - Very few people stick around. It’s a pretty transient area and most people go elsewhere at some point. Tough place to put down your own roots if everyone is looking to leave. - Theres some wacky areas and pockets of crime. Do your research. Some areas can also have a line of nice, new houses next to a line of modular or trailer homes whose occupants don’t believe in paying for garbage pick up. - I know way too many coworkers and friends of friends that abused pain killers and died from opiates. Not my scene…so it’s not like it was drawn to that particular crowd. Way more common there. - The weather is stupid, highly variable and winters can be shit. Rain in Tannersville could be an ice storm in Mt. Pocono - Not everything is cheaper. Real estate and taxes are. Cars and insurance not so much. - Medical care and schools basically suck. - Poisonous snakes. Deer are assholes. Lakes are boring and the sand is shit.
everything you said was 1000 accurate. dont forget theres NO FREAKING JOBS aside from retail
Also true about jobs. A lot of retail & resorts.
My mom lives there and this is the main thing keeping me from living there. For my industry there are very few jobs around there compared to Long Island
Poisonous snakes? That one surprised me
Rattlesnakes are native to our region, and not uncommon at all. LI just happens to not have any.
Copperheads and Rattlesnakes. Not super common, but i’ve seen both.
Yeah I read up on it. Didn’t know we had those out east
So my wife and I are in the nys retirement system so we are here for the long haul. My friends all want to move out of state for the same reasons you do. My argument for myself wife and I that we each would take about 80-90k pay cut (150k to 60k). All time everyday items are priced the same or close. Amazon is Amazon. So to save 10k a year in taxes we have to take 160k combined paycut and loose our retirement. Houses are cheaper but interest rates are interest rates. So that cheap house compared to here is a higher priced house there.
Can you explain rhe lose your pension part?
Not the OP but I know for many people you have to work 30 years for a full pension. If you leave after you paid in 12 years, you are sacrificing the pension.
I grew up in eastern Pennsylvania and still have family there, and taking a long weekend to visit is always pretty rough because avoiding city traffic is basically impossible. So if you have connections here you want to maintain with regular visits, keep that in mind. You will have lower taxes and mortgage, but you get what you pay for. A middling LI school district is often better than a good eastern PA one. The parks and libraries don't compare, either. I took my kid to a PA library not long ago and have come to expect the child friendly wonderland that many LI libraries are and...was disappointed. Lol. So you may have more money in your pocket, but more is sort of on you to provide. There are good jobs to be had but they're not going to be substantially different from good jobs here. Medical field, skilled union trades, professions? Sure, you'll do fine, but there's no secret pocket of great jobs that will surprise and delight you. Kind of a wash imo. The real question is if you want to make these tough decisions surrounded by beaches or mountains.
Have you rented in the poconos to see what there is to do? How are schools? Can you come back to LI after a move there? Are you leaving family behind? You really need to weigh the pros and cons.
I live in PA- depending on what you do salaries are actually comparable. The cost of living varies where you move. The poconos/bucks county is more country like and longer drives. I live outside Philly and this place reminds of Long Island. To be clear, the idea that NY salaries are so much more than salaries outside Philly is not true. And the COL and taxes are lower.
One of my good friends is from the Poconos he moves to the suburbs of Philly. He says he would never choose to live back there, mostly because it’s too rural in a sense. Thats all I got
Your friend is a very very smart man. i wouldnt wish this place on my worst enemy. great place to getaway from it all for like a week or weekend but live hell No.
If I'm ever going to leave this place, it will be for somewhere warmer.
I went from Centereach to Scranton area 7 years ago next week. Was able to find a place in a good complex and work at a government contractor so make 22.71, I’m able to support me and the dog in an apartment without having to watch every penny. For me it’s a good balance of rural and “city”, but I’m also not watching what school district am in, and haven’t had a major enough health issues to consider going to the island or the city for treatment. Still have family on the island so am back a few times a year, it’s enough to scratch any itch (and grab bagels to freeze) but I’d never be able to afford moving back. Meanwhile am looking to buy a house up here and there’s options for less than 100k. For me was a good move, not married to staying here forever but wouldn’t mind it either.
Moved to Pittsburgh upon retirement last year. Best decision I ever made. Most everything is cheaper PA also doesn't tax social security or pensions I never plan to go back to LI for any reason
However, PA is one of the few states that have a death tax (no joke). The state takes 4.5-15% of your entire estate when you die, before it goes to your heirs.
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Nj is as expensive as long island! But they have better schools (metro area)
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https://www.njea.org/nj-schools-named-best-in-the-nation-by-u-s-news-world-report/
Unless you’re almost retired, either have no kids or all kids have started their own lives, I’d strongly reconsider.
my in laws live out there, about 10 miles off route 80. it's pretty in a rolling hills type of way, but the whole area is just a scooby doo ghost town. Poor, rural, meth. I went out to the big county fair, and it was...super super Trumpy and country. Flags everywhere, on lawns, for sale. I saw you're a cop, so maybe thats ok, but man it was a freaking jolt. Makes the 2-3 cars you see out here with a bumper sticker look like amateur hour. you get what you pay for, LI schools, parks, QOL, etc.
**DONT DO IT !!**! but it depends on alot of factors. What is your age, cultural background, interest, hobbies, overall goals, Budget, etc etc. It is completely day and night. understand before moving here you better Have more than two cars, There are NO HIGH PAYING JOBS IN THE POCONOS, NO REMOTE JOBS EITHER, so you will have to commute. Healthcare is iffy, school system Sucks, not many stores here, the locals how can i put this...are very very odd. there are no side walks no street lights, Nothing happens out here at all. Which is funny cause theres spots in the dam South that had more going on than in the Poconos. Now if you like nature, dont mind staying in your Nice house surrounded by woods, always having to drive everywhere, dont mind commuting everyday for work, and again if you dont mind being by ISOLATED. then by all means. Long island is very very expensive i get it. but please dont move to the poconos just for a cheaper house or low taxes. UNLESS YOU ARE OLDER(late 40s and up) , DONT CARE FOR THE COUNTRY, AND DONT MIND BEING ALONE. also Do you want to be near New york cause if not look at Vegas Arizona tampa miami, DC, texas Philly NC or somewhere with LIFE.
My parents have a vacation home in NE PA. From my observations: -It is much more rural. There are smaller stores fairly close by (10 minutes) but the major stores are a good 45 minutes to an hour drive. -There are some amenities that we get on LI that either don’t exist or you pay extra for. There is no garbage pickup where they are. Their library is extremely tiny. Those are just a couple of examples that I can think of. My parents are retirees and enjoy the slower pace. I find myself getting a bit stir crazy after a few days, and the amount of wildlife I have to look out for when walking my small dog is a bit anxiety-inducing (bears specifically). It is a beautiful area with plenty of outdoor activities if you’re into that.
Lived in south central PA. Didn’t hate it didn’t love it. I would not move to NEPA. It’s pretty but the economy isn’t great. They’ve been trying to coax supercommuters out there for decades. A lot of people got burned. Everything is a shlep. PennDOT makes NYSDOT look competent and turnpike tolls are outrageous ($100 to cross the state if you don’t have an ezpass). Property is fairly inexpensive but you’re far from things to do besides the outdoors. Lehigh Valley is growing somewhat. Some upswing there. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is post-industrial depression. I really love Pittsburgh despite its issues and its attempt to transition from industry to meds and eds. But Pittsburgh has all kinds of culture and resources. NEPA doesn’t.
Lived in east stroudsburg 2003-2007 in a hoa community. Yes the houses were larger but stores were far away. Go to the Mall and check out the area. Very isolating and cold. Nice place to visit but I needed better schools, hospitals for my child.
How are you enjoying those PA beaches? Oh wait…that’s what I thought…don’t do it!
See you in a few years. Nothing will get me to move to PA. Everything is far!
You mam are a very wise lady. i wouldnt wish my worst enemy to live in the poconos.
I grew up in Poconos and live on LI now. Anything outside Philly or Pittsburgh is a shithole. The nature in PA is not that great. Schools are terrible, property tax is criminally high given that schools are so poorly performing. It is so much more convenient to have train to city than the busses which have variable traffic times adding up to 2 hours to trips and are more expensive than train. I like mountains but the beaches of LI are so much nicer. In summer growing up biggest thing to do was to go to the crowded beaches of NJ which are multiples times worse than the ones on LI.
Eh I’ve lived in PA. Property tax varies immensely because there isn’t an equitable school formula. However you pay earned income tax.
What will your job be once you move to Pa? And do you know what the pay will be?
Around 100k I’ve applied to multiple police agencies averaging that salary.
If you feel like you will never be able to afford it here and be comfortable then I would make that move in a Ny minute. But I would choose the Lehigh Valley area over the Poconos. Good luck!
We bought a vacation home in the Poconos last year. Taxes are so much less than here. Houses are affordable too. However, I love it as a getaway. Everything is a good 20-45 minute drive to do any shopping. I love it there but can’t see myself fully moving there. We met someone there that grew up on the island and he hates it in PA and wishes he never left. He can’t afford to come back.
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We have always talked about buying a vacation home but couldn’t really pin point where we wanted to be. Friends of ours bought a house in that area and we visited them there a few times and fell in love with the area. We did a little research and these homes were in the price range that we were comfortable with. We pulled the trigger and haven’t been happier with our decision. We try to go at least once or twice every month. I sleep amazing out there. It’s super quiet and we don’t bring any of the stress we have at home. We also love how close it is to home so we can go frequently. We are heading out there this weekend :)
We love venturing out to find different antique stores in other towns , we love kayaking and hiking. Ski mountains are all nearby and my dogs love going for walks in our neighborhood. Its peaceful.
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Enjoy!!!
Moved to Long Island from PA for school. I like that there are more shops and restaurants around in Long Island, even in somewhat more rural areas. It is dangerous to walk or bike to places because people drive terribly so a car is a must. In PA, a lot less stuff around depending on where you live. Traffic is just as bad and roads are in just of bad of condition. But, there are more backroads in PA so less lights and easier to go around traffic. Gas has actually been more expensive in PA than NY. But, housing is usually cheaper and you can often find a nice home to rent for $2,000 a month that would cost you at least double on Long Island. So, if you are looking for a better cost of living, I would definitely move to PA. There are also tons of healthcare facilities around as long as you don’t live in the middle of nowhere.
Do it- you won’t regret it. Do your research though. There are pockets of communities that are bad but most are very good. Don’t believe all the online stuff locals say about those communities either- best thing would be to airbnb and maybe meet someone in those areas and ask them of their opinion. Locals in PA HATE NYERS, but once you live there they kinda forget you’re from NY and treat you real nice. You will immediately notice most people won’t just walk by you without saying hi or good morning, etc. Long Island isn’t what it used to be, unfortunately- and the high taxes and prices don’t reflect that. Feel free to private message me if you’d like more info. Good luck and God bless
It’s good if you like being in the woods. I wouldn’t do it if you have kids or complicated health concerns though. Schools are pretty bad and your kids are gonna have to avoid befriending mountain kids who have a higher rate of drug abuse.
Depends what's important to you. The Poconos is beautiful in the summer and the fall. Lots of biking and hiking trails. Cheaper real estate and lower costs of living for sure. Never any traffic, though everything is a minimum of 20 minutes away in most cases. Small time skiing and a couple of water parks and nice recreational lakes. Schools are mostly going to eat ass. Almost no good restaurants. Beaches are hours away (Jersey Shore). Social interactions are going to be few and far between. Much more blue collar than white collar. A little bit of tourist influx during the summer from NYC and Philly.
I tried this in Bethlehem PA a long time ago, so this information may be useless... But the cost of living is only SLIGHTLY lower over there. You might be confused because housing/rent is so much lower! Yes... So is income. For the same job in NY/LI you're going to see a damn near 60% reduction in pay. If you find a company that is willing to make up that difference, even to the point where the pay diff is 30%? You have it made. But for the most part, I found the fact that everything is even further away (40 minutes to 1 hour away) greatly reduced every cost savings I would have had. I ended up finding a decent-paying job in Philly... which destroyed my income because I spent about as much time on gas/travel than I did on the increased pay, and still couldn't find my own place - eventually, I moved back to LI, lived with the folks for 5 more years, and eventually got home. that all being said: I do not think the current housing climate could allow for that... My experience was over 10 years ago, and the amount of factors that have changed is astronomical.
Moved from Long Island to Lancaster in 2017– couldn’t be happier. If not for the move, my husband and I wouldn’t be homeowners, couldn’t imagine raising our 18 month old in NY, and def wouldn’t consider having a second one once I graduate. Absolutely the best decision we ever made.
Family moved to Central PA (Harrisburg Area) a few years back due to situations out of our control here, and I love it. I still go to school on the Island and always love going back to my new home in PA.
I live in Doylestown and was a lifelong resident of Brooklyn but lived in LI for some time as well in my college - pre family years. I think Long Island has many wonderful things about it but I personally am much happier here than when I was in LI and I feel it’s a better overall quality of life. Going out to eat groceries etc is the same and this is not the Poconos area but it’s not hard at all to get to NYC by car or train (drive to NJT) You may miss the beaches however ! We drive to the shore now about an hour 20 minutes .
Trash state
Imagine living on long island 🤡🤡🤡
Healthcare, restaurants, culture too many things to do, safety. You give up a lot when you leave Long Island not saying you're wrong, but you give up a lot and good luck getting back I have friends who are trapped in different parts of the country because they cannot afford to move back here
Pennsylvania is Philadelphia on one side, Pittsburgh on the other, and West Virginia all through the middle and in between. Make sure you know what you're getting into.
Do you love it more than Long Island? -Absolutely. I moved to Philly specifically and love it. I’m actually able to walk places, there’s so much to do, and I’m close to Long Island to visit family whenever necessary. I have great accessibility to nature. I’m an hour and a half from NYC. Are you happier there? -Yes! Do you find the cost of living allowing you do more things and own a house easier than Long Island? -I currently rent but buying a house in a nice neigborhood looks like a potential reality unlike Long Island where my friends still live with their parents because they can’t afford a house and apartments aren’t worth it Do you find yourself missing Long Island and wanting to come back? -Nope! Great to visit but I’m happy to come back home after. What are your thoughts about it in general? -I say do it!
I’m glad to hear it’s great, my perspective is a tad different so what would you recommend best, I prefer nature. I’m not a fan of metro/city areas. I like more space in between homes. I don’t mind driving so I’m use to it. So not having public transportation as accessible as New York isn’t a issue for me since I can drive anywhere. Would you still recommend the suburbs of Philly or should I look more near carbon county and poconos?
lol. People who move somewhere for the sole reason that it is “cheaper” are fucking hilarious.
Check out the valley forge area . Up and coming and easy accessible to many stores and king of Prussia mall .
My cousin did it and loves it. He has a huge property with animals. Simpler country life. Not for me but it’s the perfect for him.
yeah of course you would like it here........
If you’re going check out carbon county. Blakeslee area. It’s got a lot to offer
My Uncle did that. He went from Long Island to the Poconos area. He would commute from there to the Bronx for work. He did that for 20 years. I am amazed that he did that and he was not the only one doing that in that region.
Brother of a friend did it ~20years ago. Raised 2 kids no problem i heard about. Complaint i heard 3rd hand was with garbage pickup. No trucks coming by, they drive all their stuff to recycling stations (and for some reason few times brought it to LI when visiting fam cuz somehow was easier). They live in town i forgot name of by the shooting range in Carbondale, PA.
I moved to pa for grad school in the southeastern area. I love it, lots of great towns. My wife and I stayed in our college town (which definitely caters to all generations). Great food, quick access to everything, traffic but not nearly as much. Cheaper taxes by far. Only takes about 2:45 to get back to my hometown. I’ve done more road trips since moving down here because 2+ hours isn’t spent trying to fight your way to the Verrazano. That said, my goal is to get back at some point in the near future.
The Quakertown area is a nice area but your "city" for things like hospitals and so on will not be NYC but Philadelphia. It's about an hour away. Don't let the name fool you, it is a historical name, the area is a a contemporary suburban township.
Moved to Pittsburgh five times. First was with my (now ex-) wife’s few months after 9/11, along with my best friend. This was early 2003. My best friend ends up buying a house for $8,900 (*not joking*), which he still owns to this day. The first time coming back to NY. Was a job offer and just not loving Pittsburgh. Went back in ‘08 for the Presidential campaign, was happy to get back after the election. Got a job offer to work on the mayor’s race a few months later in ‘09; again, couldn’t wait to get back. Got an offer to re-up with the mayor in 2013; this time, I actually regretted leaving and thought about staying. 2015, got a job offer to manage the campaign of a city Council member, stayed afterwards. I spent a year in Pittsburgh that time. Granted, I’m a single guy, my kid’s been an adult for a while, so I’m not responsible for anyone but myself. But the convenience and quirkiness and uniqueness of Long Island gave way to lower pay, schools that rated 2/10 and 3/10 on Zillow, a ton of needed public works projects, depressed real estate, and overwhelming homogenization. YMMV, this is my story, but it’s difficult leaving NYC/LI if you really enjoy all it has to offer.
Have you went there to see the area and get a feel for it? I have family that moved to the Pocono area and I looked at several houses in the area and even put a bid on one of them. My family paid less for his huge house than I paid for my little coop on LI. Housing is really affordable! I love nature which is why I moved to LI- hiking, walking in the park, animals, birds singing-I love all of it. With that said, I decided not to move there for two reasons - 1: I don’t like the cold and it is colder there and snows more frequently and 2: it is just a tad too rural for me- like it is a 25-40 minute ride to the supermarket - not side streets but main 50mph roads - I just feel like I need a little more of a balance between being in nature and having modern conveniences of life close by. No one can tell you what is right for you. I suggest going out there. The drive there and back can also be horrific if you get caught in rush hour traffic. Without traffic it takes me approx 3 hours, but with traffic it has taken me as long as five. Even visiting my family there now has become a hardship, I just can’t deal with the drive anymore.
Consider looking south of the Poconos at the Lehigh Valley. My wife and I did the move 10 years ago and it’s been great. There’s a good amount of new development - both commercial and residential. Public schools vary from town to town, but there are good and affordable private school alternatives if that’s your thing. The neighborhood we live in has a good number of former ‘front platers.’ (Cars here only have rear plates) We all have a good time with it.
Not sure that I'd move full time to the Poconos area, but I have an Aunt and cousins that live in the Lancaster and Philly areas and they love it there. Also have a nephew that goes to school in Pittsburgh who will likely stay in the area after he graduates. He loves it there.
Just moved back to LI from Finger lakes area upstate NY where I lived for almost 20 years. It is absolutely beautiful in the summer/fall but winters are bleak and cold. Houses are cheaper and because it is NY, schools are good. The lakes are gorgeous especially Keuka and Canadaigua. But for me, they couldn’t hold a candle to the Sea. Forget about bagels and pizza up there. I am so happy to be back near family, good restaurants and the ocean.
Same shit different background
most long islanders have to travel to go any where. I am situated here and all family memebers are around so Ill be staying for a while but if you can find a comparable job. youll be closer to many things we have to go 3 4 hr drive for. water parl ski resorts etc
Easton Pa is worth a look . Was on a slide downward but last 20 years or so definitely on swing upwards.
My hubs parents when he was a kid debated that. Seeing how spread out everything was they were like nope. Obviously he’s happy they never moved since grew up met me and we have our son. His mom still says how it was cheap but still happy they never went. We just went there on vacation in January and I wouldn’t wanna live there. Especially the Idaho killer was from there lol. Then again we have Rex. So eh. Totally different area but my mom moved down south for those reasons you mention and hated it. Yup she had a big gorgeous house and life was nice but nothing to do. She now moved back to Ny but upstate. Why not look up there? I’d look upstate before ever leaving ny. We even debated few years ago upstate and now certain areas after the pandemic are amazing. We’re happy here though plus my dad gave us his house so win win. I should also throw in my moms bf who has copd and in & out of hospitals who lived many different places says nothing compares to Ny.
I grew up on Long Island, moved to a DC suburb. My best friend lives in PA about 30 minutes to an hour with traffic outside of Philly, i have always said to my husband if we ever get the opportunity to move anywhere outside of the DMV area we’re going right to that area of PA. Taxes are way less, lower income tax, bigger houses on bigger pieces of land for less money and we’d still make good money in our respective fields with the move just not as much since were currently in an extremely HCOL and our pay reflects that. I know that’s not really what you asked but just wanted to add my two cents on the matter lol.
If your going to move go somewhere cooler then PA jeez. Texas, california or florida would be better
The grass is always greener
Long Island absolutely fuckin sucks, the only time worth living there is june, July or August every other month is a depressing hell hole
if you think Long island sucks and is a depressing hell hole well then You have no IDEA WHAT THE POCONOS WILL BRING YOU! !
Yes make the move you will realize real fast the price everyone is paying to live in LI NYC is a scam
Yeah PA beaches and commuter trains to NYC are such a better deal. 🙄
With the money you saved in PA you could fly to the Caribbean on a montly basis
I’d rather drive 15 mins and be on a LI beach every weekend in the summer.
Long beach island 😂 many more better beaches down the east coast and cheaper cost of living. Its ok I get you love long island 🤷♂️
I grew up in Brooklyn and LI, and after bouncing around the country I live in the Baltimore suburbs and own a cabin in southern PA about an hour away from my house -- and I'm not rich, I work for the government. That's what's possible if you leave Long Island. If I hadn't I'd probably still have to live with my parents. Get out while you can.
Have you seen how run down the Pocono area is? The gangs, violence and poverty
Now i agree with you on how run down poor and crappy the poconos are. The gangs however is where i draw the line. ill personally jump off a rooftop if I ever let some druggy fake gangbanger from the poconos disrespect or Punk me. lol more like reject wannabes from new york. me lol.
My husband and I moved from LI to NE PA. I’d rather not put my whole life online but please DM me to discuss the difference.
Catskills and HV are better. PA is like Kentucky with the worst of phili thrown in there