Reviews & Comments
State College, PA
re: eh, not quite.... - 6/27/2006 -
1/10/2008Wow. Some of those comments are pretty rough.
Columbia, MD
A Very Brady Place to Live -
1/10/2008Columbia is a planned community conceived in the 1960s. Most of the homes are "shed style" modern, with integrated townhouses, apartments, and business parks. SF homes are expensive ($500K) but the area is falling behind - the McMansionized countryside up in Clarksville is much more $$$ - you can get by here affordably (for the area) if you look around - commutes both to DC and Baltimore are not too bad. There is a system of trails all through the area. It is not a true city, but a compliation of "villages" with "village centers" complete with non-denominational spiritual centers. There are plenty of restaurants and lots of shopping in the area (strip malls, big central mall). Note that there are a few areas that are developing city problems. It is a good fit for someone who really likes the suburbs. If you are moving to central MD and want more cultural and visual variety or a more traditional town, check out Ellicott City, or some of the towns in Baltimore County, or try the Westminster area.
Altoona, PA
Depends on what you want -
1/10/2008I lived in the Altoona area for about 5 years and still go back often to visit friends. I moved there from further east in the state for a job and it was quite an adjustment. It grew on me over time. It's got its good side and plenty of bad. It depends upon what you want. This city used to be twice its size as the railroad building and repair hub for the PA Railroad. If you like trains etc, Altoona will be interesting to you. There are still vestiges of the culture that used to be there - a symphony, a Jaffa Shrine, for example. There is plenty of shopping - better than State College, where Penn State is located. There is a lively branch campus of Penn State there also. Healthcare access is not so great - the doctors are overwhelmed because there are so many older people. You can wait months to see a specialist. There is a serious drug problem in the downtown neighborhoods. However...if you like a Leave-It-To-Beaver era lifestyle, you can still find it in Altoona. It's a pretty good place to raise kids. It's a cold climate in the winter, but does not get snow like towns up by the Lakes. It is not as hot in the summer since its 1600 feet above sea level. There are excellent forests and mountain scenery all around for those who like the outdoors. Regulation is low. Plus you can live outside in the country and still get to work in 10 - 15 minutes. A great choice if you want to escape the Eastern megapolis and the fast lane. Just make sure you have a good job in place first!