topic Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa? in Community Chat

Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 20:54:53 GMT

I really would like to move and have looked online at various houses in various towns in PA and a couple other states.

Home prices in Erie seem to be somewhat lower than other places I've checked out.

Nice place or not? Pros or cons?

I know they get a ton of snow but I've heard they have snow removal down to a science. You would have have to have a good system if you get a ton of snow. Here I'm lucky if I see one plow by 5pm even if has snowed since early morning.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Kachina624 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:00:24 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 Try to find a warmer place. Would DD go with you? How far are you willing to move from your family?

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:10:41 GMT

@Kachina624 For warmer I would have to go south or out west. Have ruled those places out for a variety of reasons.

Don't want the middle, too flat and don't want to live in or near someplace called Tornado alley.

I have narrowed to somewhere in PA or the New England states.

DD going would depend on the place. She mentioned Vermont as a possibility. I would do a days drive from family, no plane travel.

There is a lot to consider and things to look into before my final decision.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

cantdrive55 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:27:55 GMT

The Chamber of Commerce had slogan awhile back, ""Erie-sistable". My experience has been positive: nice, friendly people.
-There is a very good healthcare network, with one hospital & doctors affiliated with UPMC,and Pittsburgh is about an hour south, and you are a short distance from the Cleveland Clinic. LECOM has their medical, dental & pharmacy schools there.

- The cultural life is well augmented by the colleges and universities there: PennState Behrend, Mercyhurst & Gannon to name a few.

- In the summer, world renowned Chautauqua Institution is less than an hour from Erie. Erie does have a philharmonic orchestra.

-Shopping & restaurants are just okay, with Grove City Outlet mall just down the road. Wegman's has 2 stores and Aldi has 3.

-It's a beautiful area with Lake Erie, parks, hiking trails, wineries, etc.

I'd suggest you look into Lake Erie Living Magazine & their social media to get an idea of what living there would be like.

And, you are correct, the snow does not compare to Buffalo, NY, and Erie has a good handle on it. It's a beautiful region for all 4 seasons.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:46:03 GMT

@cantdrive55 Thanks. I saw a nice house and when I did Google Map you went up the road 5 minutes crossed Peach St, I think, and there was civilization, Wegmans, Target, Panara, CVS.

No traveling 20+ miles round trip to get the basics.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

cantdrive55 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:52:33 GMT

Yes, that's true! Marshall's, Sams Club, TJMaxx, Kohls, are all along there. Erie has these neat network of access roads that run parallel to Peach that connect to each plaza so you don't have to go back out on Peach St., it's well thought out.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Desert Lily — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:52:54 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 If you live near a Great Lake, you may want to be prepared for lake-effect snow. I lived along a Great Lake for part of my life, and we always had more snow than those areas a little further away. But, living near the lake was a beautiful setting.

Crime rates, weather, education, employers, shopping, activities, etc. can be googled. Decisions are often based on what people have as their priorities.

Best of luck to you.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

RedTop — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:05:48 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2

I have family in Meadville, Saegertown, and Export, PA.

My family in Saegertown deal with A LOT of snow, due to the lake effect off Lake Erie. Not once have I ever heard them praise the county for their snow removal efforts! Up until my cousin retired, they always had a 4WD truck to get them around in winter. Their property taxes are very high.

My cousin in Meadville lives right in the heart of town. They are also retired; not out and about much, and their kids and grandchildren are within walking distance.

My cousin in Export does seasonal work, and is usually laid off during the winter months. She and her husband enjoy being snowed in and having quiet time at home.

My husbands aunt moved from DE to an area near East Springfield, PA for several years, and after 3 winters of extremely deep snow, she sold the house and moved back to DE. She was raised in rural WV which is no stranger to snow, but she said what they dealt with in those short years in PA was no comparison to WV snows!

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Group 5 minus 1 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:30:24 GMT

Daddy died in the Veterans Home in Erie.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

cosmic1 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:30:39 GMT

I live 40 miles north of Pittsburgh and Erie is another 88 miles north of me. So, it is more than an hour’s drive. I recall it taking around 2 hours to get to Meadville from Pittsburgh and Meadville is 55 miles from here, so another 33 to Erie from there.

They get a lot of snow! I don’t know how good they are at clearing it, but they get a lot of practice. We don’t usually get that much around here and in Pittsburgh, the streets are always in terrible shape.

On the positive side, it is really pretty up there. Lots of people from down this way go camping up there in the summertime.

Good luck if you decide to move to PA. It is a nice place to live.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 22:47:04 GMT

@Group 5 minus 1 ..as did mine.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Mombo1 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:00:39 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
I really would like to move and have looked online at various houses in various towns in PA and a couple other states.

Home prices in Erie seem to be somewhat lower than other places I've checked out.

Nice place or not? Pros or cons?

I know they get a ton of snow but I've heard they have snow removal down to a science. You would have have to have a good system if you get a ton of snow. Here I'm lucky if I see one plow by 5pm even if has snowed since early morning.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 @RedTop I have never lived in Erie but spent most of my life in the Pittsburgh area. I would move back in a heartbeat if I didn't have my grandkids here in NE Pa. I lived in a suburb of Pittsburgh and enjoyed all that the area has to offer. Fortunately my brother is in the Delmont area (right down the road from Export...which @ RedTop mentioned. So I get back to "my true home" as often as possible. As kids we did spend time at Lake Erie and Meadville. Both very nice areas. My only concern about living in Erie would be that lake affect snow...but I love fall and winter, so if it appeals to you...check it out. My vote goes to the Pittsburgh area. It is close to Erie and so much more to see and do.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

CrazyKittyLvr2 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:02:38 GMT

@Mombo1 My sister's oldest daughter and her family live outside Pittsburgh. They love it.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

FrostyBabe1 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:13:52 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2

Erie gets a little over 100 inches of snow per year. That's a good 20-40 inches more than many places in the snowbelt in southwestern Michigan where I live and believe me, we get a LOT. If you're not confident about and comfortable with clearing your own snow, as well as driving in it, I can't imagine it would be the place for you.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Mombo1 — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 23:18:16 GMT

@CrazyKittyLvr2 wrote:
@Mombo1 My sister's oldest daughter and her family live outside Pittsburgh. They love it.

@CrazyKittyLvr2 I can understand that ! I get homesick every time I have to leave after visiting my brother. There is so much to see and do if you choose to. I would not want to live in the city itself... but the suburbs are great. I just had 2 of my grandkids visit today and we were talking about going to Carnegie Museum. The older one can't wait to see the dinosaur exhibit. She is also interested in Egyptian history. So...that is on our list of things to do soon.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

RespectLife — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:37:28 GMT

@cantdrive55 wrote:
The Chamber of Commerce had slogan awhile back, ""Erie-sistable". My experience has been positive: nice, friendly people.
-There is a very good healthcare network, with one hospital & doctors affiliated with UPMC,and Pittsburgh is about an hour south, and you are a short distance from the Cleveland Clinic. LECOM has their medical, dental & pharmacy schools there.
- The cultural life is well augmented by the colleges and universities there: PennState Behrend, Mercyhurst & Gannon to name a few.
- In the summer, world renowned Chautauqua Institution is less than an hour from Erie. Erie does have a philharmonic orchestra.
-Shopping & restaurants are just okay, with Grove City Outlet mall just down the road. Wegman's has 2 stores and Aldi has 3.
-It's a beautiful area with Lake Erie, parks, hiking trails, wineries, etc.

I'd suggest you look into Lake Erie Living Magazine & their social media to get an idea of what living there would be like.
And, you are correct, the snow does not compare to Buffalo, NY, and Erie has a good handle on it. It's a beautiful region for all 4 seasons.

Oh I beg to differ @cantdrive55 @CrazyKittyLvr2

Erie gets MORE snow than we do in Buffalo or definitely just as much. Sometimes way more due to their position on Lake Erie, the lake effect snow is often more severe.

However, I totally agree they know how to take care of it. My daughter went to Edinboro Univ next 2 exits down from Erie. TONS of snow in a bad winter. We spent a lot of time in Erie and during the hardest of winters, never had a problem getting

around.

My son went to Grove City College....another 3/4 - 1 hour or so beyond Erie. They are in a valley so less snow, but also good plowing. Hwy 79 is always well maintained.

We love Erie and have spent a lot of time there...but it is just as snow laden as Western New York.

There is also

Presque Isle Downs & Casino if you are into that and many beaches on the lake. They have nice wineries also.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

Citrine1 — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 23:25:21 GMT

I live in Philadelphia and know of Erie, but have never been there. I just googled "Is Erie, PA a good place to live?" This what came up.......

"Erie is a pretty decent place to live. The cost of renting apartments isn't too high and there are plenty of jobs available! The only issue would be the drug and crime rate, but I would think most cities have this issue. Public transportation is widely available and you can get all around the city."

Take that for what it's worth.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

maximillian — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 00:02:29 GMT

Presque Isle State Park is the very best feature the Erie area has to offer. Wonderful for a day trip in the summer. It offers swimming at life-guarded beaches. The roads in and out are well-maintained. There is wonderful wildlife and birding.

Erie is a rust-belt city. The townships surrounding the city are the more pleasant, up-scale places to live.

The best school system is Millcreek Township School District.

It's true about winters in Erie. I don't know if the OP is still employed or retired. If you are retired, just stay inside on a snowy day. Snow removal is well-planned.

Erie is surrounded by bigger cities. It's an easy drive to Pittsburgh and Cleveland, Ohio.

Like anyplace in this country, Erie has advantages and disadvantages. It is worth checking out.

Oh, one more tip. Sunsets over Lake Erie in the summer are spectacular. If you visit, take a chartered boat ride at sunset time. It's gorgeous.

Re: Anyone Live In or Near Erie, Pa?

AuntG — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 20:52:51 GMT

Snow removal down to a science?? Now that's funny.