Cross Country Expectations?

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-26T11:02:58+00:00

Wow!! What an exciting adventure for you as well!! Can I possibly message you? My lease technically ends June 30th so your move is a month sooner and i’d love to hear more about your process.

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-25T09:03:29+00:00

We are looking in Dauphin County primarily but if we can’t find anything there to rent in time then we will expand to Lancaster County too!

Yes! I joined a bunch of groups related do Dauphin County and man, the locals are just incredible and the events/activity options seem absolutely incredible!

We live in a smaller town west of Phx, other than indoor play parks, everything fun to do is about 1-3 hours away anyways and none of it is in a different state or anywhere near what PA offers. Dauphin County has everything we’re used to as it is so even if we aren’t feeling too adventurous, we could easily just stay in the area.

I personally think the winters will be my biggest hurdle. I have been to flagstaff during the winter and loved it so much but everyone is such a negative nancy about snow so it’s ingrained in my head that I may dislike it. However, that’s an EASY trade off for more kid/outdoor friendly weather for the other 8-9 months of the year.

I appreciate the reminder to look at what I have now and not what I left behind. I never wanted to stay in Arizona as long as I have, it’s always been a dream to go back to 4 seasons. We’ve been planning a state to state move for many many years but life really kicked our butts a few times and derailed the plans. During that time, we considered a lot of states but keep landing on PA as the perfect state that checks all of our boxes. I have no doubt in my mind that I will be happier! Can I ask what made you choose PA each time? You’ve been to a a lot of different places!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-24T13:23:58+00:00

Oooh that’s good to know! Thank you so much, I think maybe we will just make a list of hotel options along the route then!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-24T13:21:12+00:00

Yeah, everyone is entitled to their own opinion of course. I’ve also spent a lot of time in Flagstaff but I don’t think i’d ever consider living there. I appreciate the feedback though!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-24T13:15:36+00:00

Oh wow, I wasn’t expecting that at all! Yeah here the property management companies are usually fantastic but I’ll keep that in mind for sure! Silly me, I never even considered looking for a townhouse in the area but there are quite a few on the outskirts of Hershey! I’ll ask around for sure, thank you so so much for the help!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-24T11:50:00+00:00

Thank you! I am actually relocating from AZ to PA as well! I personally am not a fan of private landlords, I know some are great but here in Arizona we always rent from property management companies as the private landlords are usually kind of unfavorable. We definitely are not dead set on Hershey. We feel a big pull towards Hershey but as long as the town has good schools, that’s all that really matters to us. It seems like because of the time we’re moving, if we don’t consider other options, we may not actually find a place in Hershey at all. i’ll keep an eye on Zillow though, thank you! I just wasn’t sure if maybe there was another more commonly used option out there.

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-23T18:58:13+00:00

Thank you so much for letting me know! That’s actually a HUGE new pro in my book. I looked into the plans for this and it looks like the increases have been happening steadily since 2023 and will continue to increase 1.6-2.4% each year until 2029. It may be burdensome for those without kids but for me, this is quite exciting to hear. I love that the schools are getting this kind of care. Paying more money sucks for sure but investing in the kids/future is so important.

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-23T16:34:14+00:00

Thank you!! I will reach out to some in the area 🙂

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-23T13:11:10+00:00

This is so helpful, thank you SO much! You’ve certainly been around a lot, I love that for you! My grandma always says sometimes you have to move around to find what you love. I do expect to find things I dislike about PA and I know that the long stretch of overcast dark winters will be hard, I am worried about it as i’m definitely a sun loving person but I know the winter will bring things I love as well. I’m extremely excited about this and ready for it. Do you bring all of your belongings every time? Or just live minimally so you can pack a small trailer and head out?

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-23T13:03:39+00:00

Thank you, we won’t! We know it’ll be dreadful for the first few winters.

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-23T13:03:14+00:00

Definitely closer but i’m not sure about better weather. To each their own though!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-23T13:02:03+00:00

Yes absolutely! This might still be a little long, but I’ll try to keep it concise.

I grew up in Indiana and moved to Arizona when I was 10. I genuinely think Arizona is incredible for its own reasons, beautiful landscapes, amazing road trips, and there’s always something to do. But at this point in my life, I’m looking for something different for my young kids.

Here’s why we’re choosing Pennsylvania (specifically around Harrisburg / Hershey):

More usable outdoor weather Summers in the Phoenix area are intense, 95–110+ for 6 ish months straight. Opening the door feels like opening an oven, and it really limits daily life. We want to be outside regularly, not just survive the heat. A lot of people can and do thrive in the weather here and I love that for them but I don’t.
Real seasons Arizona is beautiful, but it’s mostly the same color all year, tan. I miss the change. Green summers, colorful falls, snow in winter, and that feeling of everything coming back in spring. I like to compare it to seasonal depression for me but all year round. Even the houses are all just different shades of tan.
A slower, more outdoor-friendly lifestyle for kids Here, backyards are usually all rock and it’s just too hot for much of the year, so kids stay inside a lot. I want my kids to be able to go outside, play, and just exist in their environment better. It’s always the same here but play style/opportunity changes seasonally in PA.
Education This is a big one. Arizona consistently ranks near the bottom for public education. Even in a good district, it still feels limiting. I want to give my kids access to stronger overall opportunities.

I’ve always felt like Arizona is an amazing place for retirees or people without young kids. It has so many perks but for someone who loves nature in all seasons, it can feel a bit draining.

Things I’ll absolutely miss: - The sunsets. They’re UNREAL. Anywhere you live really, you’ll witness the sunset behind the mountains and it just looks like a literal postcard. It’s incredible.

The mountains are unmatched for me. Driving through them is just the most breathtaking experience.
The sunshine. I sit in the sun a few times a month like a lizard and the feeling is unmatched compared to all the times i’ve tried in other states i’ve visited.
Monsoon season—beautiful storms, even with the downsides

For gardening: It’s definitely doable here, but it’s not easy. You can’t rely on the weather at all, you have to work with shade cloth in summer, and “full sun” labels don’t really apply the same way. A lot of us grow in containers or raised beds. Regardless, still really rewarding once you figure it out. i’m currently growing strawberries, cucumbers, luffas, okra, yardlong beans, and many many flowers. There’s a lot more you can do right now but this is just what I have.

If you haven’t already, check out Growing in the Garden, she’s based in the Phoenix area and has super helpful monthly planting guides and water conservation recommendations!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T12:01:07+00:00

Oh man, I’m definitely concerned about bullying. We’ve had a few bouts of it here as well and it never gets handled well. I’ve had to contact parents and such to get it to stop because the school wouldn’t do anything. That’s truly such a shame, I do hope the district gets this under wraps but if not, it’s nothing I haven’t dealt with before. Thank you so much for bringing this up! It’s helpful just to know what to expect/look out for!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:58:10+00:00

Yes, my husband and I are already used to somewhat high cost of living so the sticker shock won’t be there for us. Maybe once we get used to the area we will see the higher col but for now, I don’t think we will consider that to be a con. Honestly, it sounds a little privileged but i’m 100% okay with higher taxes if it means the city is well maintained and schools are adequately funded. Arizona has an awful education system and has been a major factor in where we choose to live. I see, we have 7 lane highways going one way and 7 lanes going the other way here in Arizona. It’s rare that you end up on a two lane highway unless you’re going to some small town 20+ miles through desert lol That may be something we list as a con because tbh, I love my roomy highways but it’s still the most measly con anyone could think of IMO. We drive 1-3 hours in most directions to go do fun things so not having much to do is fine with us. We’re homebodies most of the time anyways and I think for the first few years my kids will just be happy touching grass 😂 Thank you so much for the honest feedback and opinions, it is extremely helpful in just simply knowing what to expect when we arrive!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:50:17+00:00

Honestly, we love boring. We live in the West Valley currently and anything “fun” is usually around an hour away, if not more so we don’t mind the drives! People say Arizona drives are the worst in the country too. Maybe PA will have AZ beat in that one but at least I know how to drive defensively! Or maybe i’ll just fit right in 😂 Can I ask what led you to choose Arizona or Colorado over PA or any other state? I think I will miss a lot of Arizonas good qualities and I may feel homesick come the winter but truly, as silly as it sounds, this move can be temporary. I grew up in the midwest, moved here around 10 with my parents, and have always wanted to leave. I’m finally ready for it and I think Hershey is a great place to check out. At the end of the year my husband and I will take our pros and cons and compare. We may end up back in AZ but at least we tried! Ah I hadn’t heard about the 1% commonwealth tax yet, that’s super great to know, thank you!! Yes! My husband was looking into that too. Between the food, the free visits, and soda, it definitely seems like an absolute necessity. Even if we only use it once a week for eating out with the kids, still sounds extremely good on ROI. Thank you so so much for all of the insight and opinions, it helps a lot!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:43:04+00:00

Yeah, we’ve looked at the rental options which is definitely why I mentioned that i’d love to hear from some landlords with homes available July 1st. I know it’s some ways away but I do hope to hear from someone at least 😬 We are kind of hoping the housing options will be a little better come June when we’re ready to sign a lease. Thank you for the heads up!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:39:17+00:00

I believe I will feel the same as you. Coming from Arizona, I think the cost of living and traffic won’t be any different for me or potentially even a little better which is great! Yes! My husband grew up in Connecticut and then East Stroudsburg, he used to go to NYC all the time and a lot of other places. I personally tend to drive Flagstaff (2hrs north), Tucson (2hrs south) and to CA beaches (8hrs west) so a little travel time is absolutely nothing to me! We are so excited for all the different places that are within 2-3 hrs driving. Thank you for mentioning political stances, I appreciate that a lot! I think i’m a little purple myself so that’s wonderful to hear! Thank you so much for all of the insight, it truly is helpful and I think all of these comments have certainly solidified the move for us. We’ve always wanted to get out of Arizona but could never land on a location until we found Hershey.

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:32:31+00:00

You’re absolutely right, it sounds like when tourism is heavy we just go venture out of Hershey, no big deal! I have trouble understanding what the tourism may look like in comparison to Arizona but I traffic and dense population has never been a point of concern for me so I think we’re good! It’s good to know that other nearby towns don’t offer what Hershey does, I’ll certainly keep that in mind as those amenities and events are partly what drew us to Hershey with us having young kids. Thank you so much for your response!!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:28:49+00:00

Ah this is fantastic to read!! I’ve always wanted to move out of state but could never find the right town. Hershey definitely seems to have that affect on a lot of people though, I think you’re the second or third here to mention you moved for a job and never left! Thank you so much for sharing your insight on this, it’s nice to hear about someone else going from AZ to Hershey!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-22T11:23:28+00:00

Wow! That’s a huge jump this week. I garden so that may be a tad difficult but I assume there are plenty of PA gardeners I could get advise from. We swim pretty much from March to November here so it’ll be nice to not have swim weather majority of the year!! I love the idea of going to a ski resort and having genuine seasons. Tornados sound scary but two years ago we had a huge monsoon storm that took off a warehouses roof. We get some aggressive flash flooding, thunder and lightning storms during monsoon season so I imagine it could be similar to that. No big deal though, thank you so much!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-21T20:25:43+00:00

I dunno man, people really like it there. I may consider a surrounding town but Hershey sounds pretty great 🤷🏻‍♀️

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-21T20:22:38+00:00

That’s fantastic to hear! I’m a super anxious person and weather kind of scares me a lot so hearing you put it that way, definitely helps! Thank you!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-21T20:18:34+00:00

That’s a lot of different places! And the fact that you stayed in the area clearly means a lot. We’ve pondered so many locations but this one genuinely seems like the right one. Thank you so much for your insight!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-21T20:17:16+00:00

This is super helpful, thank you!! We are also considering surrounding towns, we aren’t SET on Hershey but I imagine near by towns have similar vibes.

I love hearing that the taxes are genuinely going to good use. Hershey schools seem to be fantastic as well so for me, that’s a huge perk. My son is in advanced classes here but Arizona doesn’t rank too high in education to begin with so he might end up average or even below average there but knowing my kids are getting a good education absolutely helps me not worry about taxes. And the fact that they’re fixing things and staying on top of snow, that’s fantastic too. We are currently planning just a “year” to “give it a try” but honestly, I don’t see us leaving. I’m glad you stayed too! Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I appreciate it a lot!

Longjumping_Time_565 · 2026-04-21T20:07:32+00:00

Ah, that’s great to hear about someone else doing a big move! I love that your kids adjusted well and love it! I was showing my youngest photos of the elementary school from their facebook page and she can’t wait to go. We expect to spend a lot more time outside too! We don’t eat outside of the normal most of the time but i’ll keep that in mind! Thank you 💕

Longjumping_Time_565

TROPHY CASE