Seven Pennsylvania Cities Have Been Named Among The Best Places To Retire In 2024
By Beth Price-Williams|Published December 26, 2023
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Living in Pennsylvania certainly has many perks – an abundance of outdoor attractions, some of the best museums in the country, and a premier dining scene, among them. Access to quality healthcare and relatively affordable housing are also significant benefits of living in Pennsylvania. It should come as little surprise, then, that seven Pennsylvania cities have earned a spot on the top 10 best places to retire in 2024, according to U.S. News & World Report.
U.S. News & World Report has released its list of the top places to retire in the United States, and seven cities in Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, Reading, Lancaster, Scranton, Allentown, York, and Pittsburgh – snagged spots in the top 10. Philadelphia secured the 13th spot.
To determine which cities were the best places to retire in 2024, U.S. News & World Report compiled a list of the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the country. The study then analyzed data in six main areas, including happiness, affordability, quality of healthcare, job market, taxes for retirees, and desirability.
For a more in-depth understanding of how U.S. News & World Report compiled this list, check out its best places to retire methodology.
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Coming in at number one with an overall 7/10 score, Harrisburg earns high marks for its housing affordability and its access to healthcare. It’s also easily accessible to numerous outdoor attractions and is just a few hours’ drive from such major cities as Philly and Washington D.C.
Reading scores a close second with a 7/10 rating, also standing out for its housing affordability and healthcare. The median house price is slightly higher - $225,296 – than Harrisburg but rent averages $985.
While Lancaster (3), Scranton (4), and Allentown (5) all score 7/10, their healthcare scores are pretty impressive, too, coming in at 8.3, 7.4, and 8.8. However, it’s New York City, the sixth best place to retire in the U.S., that really shines with healthcare, earning a 10/10.
Philly’s housing affordability is the lowest of all of the Pennsylvania cities in the top 13, scoring a 5.7/10. With a median home price of $227.312 and a median monthly rent of $832, Scranton scored the highest with a 7.5/10.
Are you surprised that any of these Pennsylvania cities are among the best places to retire in the U.S.? Is there a town or city you think should have made the list? Let us know in the comments! Then take a peek at why living in Pennsylvania spoils us for life. If you want to explore some of the cities in Pennsylvania that have been named the best to retire in the United States, book a Vrbo and explore.
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