Looking for information about Reading and Lancaster, PA. Which areas are nice? Cost of living?

Answer 1

Here, let me drop a few quick points about Lancaster and Reading.

Lancaster, is quiet, and in the country. It's a nice place with relatively friendly people.

Cost of living? It's PA....so it'll be high. Pennsylvania some of the highest taxes in the nation....low enough rate, but they tax damned near everything.

In Lancaster, there's not much in terms of employment beyond low-level service or education (neither one of which will earn you above 35K).

Reading....eeeh, Reading has one of the highest HIV ratios per population in the US. Don't sleep with a local. Also, there are some nasty nasty ghetto areas in that town. It's got a high crime rate and a lousy localized economy.

I know it may not be exactly what you were looking for, but it's still truth that you may want to consider.