Life in State College, PA?

I grew up in State College and my parents still live there. It's got the benefits of both a city and a small town. In most of PA, the median age is something like 37 years old. In State College, it's 22. All those college kids really dominate the area. You don't have to live in the borough, some of the surrounding areas are cheaper and further away from the college madness. Look for neighborhoods with young families. Commuting a couple of towns over is very easy.

It's a wonderful place for little kids. Life is slower-paced. There's plenty of culture for parents, plenty of community activities for kids. The library is wonderful. Babysitters are easy to find. Farms are minutes away. Football is king. The stadium holds more people than live on campus or in the town. Home games are utter madness. There's lake swimming at Whipple Dam for summer days, hiking in the mountains, wonderful scenery. Pretty much any chain store and restaurant is there.

Some of the drawbacks -- it's in the middle of NOWHERE. It's expensive to fly in and out. There are two Walmarts. (Well, some might consider that a plus.) It's getting quite a bit of sprawl. The town changes population every 4 years. Housing prices are distorted by student rentals and "football houses" -- second homes bought by people who only live in them on football weekends.

Wegman's is AWESOME. I want one here in Boston.

good family town! Rains a lot...in a very short drive, you are out in the country. City is all about the school (well, see the name, it's the reasonn it's there). For me: dull...but then again, I don't have toddlers to keep me busy. They have a Wegman's, so that's a plus!

one of you are gonna have to move