<p>Let me offer another argument: if you are living in Philly, I believe you pay the wage tax (on top of fed/state taxes), even if you do not work in the city. (The wage tax is close to 5% of pay!!) I lived in Philly and suburbs pre-kids. Current residents may be able to update you on the current tax status.</p>
<p>If you are being paid a Lehigh Valley wage and living in Philly, you may find yourself short on $$.</p>
<p>it’s down to about 4.2 % for city residents.</p>
<p>And our sales tax is 7% in the city vs 6% in the rest of the state</p>
<p>And for all this you get ???</p>
<p>Argh. I guess Bethlehem it shall be. And I’ll have to truck it out every weeknight and weekend I need the city culture. </p>
<p>Worst-case scenario, I might just quit my job. But I’ll give it a try.</p>
<p>Ya’ know, it’s a funny world we live in.</p>
<p>Not knowing the area you’re talking about all that well, I decided to go to Mapquest and see exactly where Bethlehem, PA is. There are – uh – two towns in PA named Bethlehem – one in Clearfield County, sort of near Punxatawney, and the other one (the main one) in Northampton County, near Allentown.</p>
<p>They are four hours apart. Here are driving directions: [Driving</a> Directions from Bethlehem, PA to Bethlehem, PA](<a href=“http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?do=nw&go=1&r=f&aoh=&aot=&aof=&2a=&2c=Bethlehem&2s=PA&2z=&2n=Clearfield%20County&2y=US&2l=9wxZViyOFd52tFV91ypmsg%3D%3D&2g=FDYzRfYrldblnGtXxPOKOQ%3D%3D&2v=CITY&1a=&1c=Bethlehem&1s=PA&1z=&1y=US&1l=ebhZUMdq%2Bh3KyAlwrGo0aQ%3D%3D&1g=8sloYfHjfLvmmN5d4aiQJw%3D%3D&1pn=&1pl=&1v=CITY&1ffi=&1ex=&1n=Northampton%20County]Driving”>http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?do=nw&go=1&r=f&aoh=&aot=&aof=&2a=&2c=Bethlehem&2s=PA&2z=&2n=Clearfield%20County&2y=US&2l=9wxZViyOFd52tFV91ypmsg%3D%3D&2g=FDYzRfYrldblnGtXxPOKOQ%3D%3D&2v=CITY&1a=&1c=Bethlehem&1s=PA&1z=&1y=US&1l=ebhZUMdq%2Bh3KyAlwrGo0aQ%3D%3D&1g=8sloYfHjfLvmmN5d4aiQJw%3D%3D&1pn=&1pl=&1v=CITY&1ffi=&1ex=&1n=Northampton%20County)</p>
<p>How is this possible?</p>
<p>It reminds me of The Bob Newhart Show, with my brother, Daryl, and my other brother, Daryl.</p>
<p>I’ll chime in…Lehigh grad, then Penn for grad school 4 more years so know both fairly well. Also I travelled 476 often for college soccer games in recent years, perhaps 25 times each fall, not a commute though. </p>
<p>Midcounty tolls are about mile marker 20 or 22 or so and are located at the southern terminus of the Northeast Extension; Lehigh Valley exit is around exit mile marker 57 so you’re talking about 35 miles on 476 (476=NE Extension). I hate that road. Besides the traffic which is totally unpredictable even on weekends, there’s a concrete median barrier that really bothers me…it seems to be too close to the driver’s side in the passing lane. The road can give you claustrophobia, at 75 mph.</p>
<p>And that’s AFTER you’ve travelled from Philly wherever to mid-county tolls. I’m not a fan of Phila, we live in South Jersey. The Schuylkill Expressway is awful, anyone will tell you that, and the Blue Route (the part of 476 south of midcounty tolls…it skirts the city) isn’t much better, and it’s quite possible you’ll need one of them just to get to the Northeast extension. Good areas to live in are center city and old city. I think it would be pretty bad getting from either of these areas to NE-Ext. Manayunk or Conshohoken are at least more northern geographically in the city so if you MUST live in the city you might want to look there, and these are filled with young college grads who can’t afford center city so you’d be with people your age.</p>
<p>I’d suggest this…keep your blood pressure in check and live in Lehigh Valley, possibly near the Lehigh campus. LValley is fairly substantial and Lehigh in particular has the campus vibe you may like. There’s another giant advantage to Lehigh Valley…you’re really only about an hour and a half to Manhattan, which blows away Philadelphia imho.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. You’re all great and super helpful.</p>
<p>I will get a three-month rental in Bethlehem (the one near Allentown, haha), possibly on the main street area near the Hotel Bethlehem, that has lots of foot traffic and a quaint feel. If I like it, I’ll stay, if not, then I can weigh my options: commute to/from Philly or just move and quit my job? By that timeI’ll have been in my job over a year, which is the average time anyone stays at their first job anyway, so it’ll be okay.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Lolabelle, As a transplant to the valley 10 years ago but a firm believer in the less stressful lifestyle, let me chime in. Good choice on a short term rental - Downtown Bethlehem is lovely and historic and there are a lot of cool areas. You might like it! Try the BrewWorks! </p>
<p>And if you need your city fix, take Beiber into NYC (around 25$ one way)- better than Philly and no need to drive…</p>
<p>Please feel free to PM me if you need help, advice or just info…</p>
<p>MikksMom</p>
<p>I work in NE Philly and know a couple of people who are commuting from the lansdale area and further north. They are doing up to 90 miles roundtrip. </p>
<p>Where in Philly is your job?</p>
<p>^^^
Sue-
Its the other way around. The OP’s job will be in Lehigh Valley (didn’t specify where) but wants to live in Philly and commute daily.</p>