A tour of Pennsylvania’s top 5 retirement ‘hot spots’
Here’s a closer look at the Pennsylvania cities that made up the top 5.
1. Harrisburg
Harrisburg, the state capital, sits on the Susquehanna River and had a population of 50,135 as of 2021. It rose to the top spot this year despite its average Desirability and Job Market scores. Harrisburg has a cheaper cost of living than many other parts of the country due to its lower-than-average prices for food and other necessities.
2. Reading
Reading, in southern Pennsylvania, is known as “The Pretzel City” for its numerous pretzel bakeries. Founded in 1748, Reading grew as a result of the nearby iron and steel industries, which gave rise to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad, an important spoke in the wheel that drove the Industrial Revolution. The city had a population of 95,112 at the 2020 census and is the fourth-largest city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown.
3. Lancaster
Lancaster, the county seat of Lancaster County in southern Pennsylvania, finished at the top of last year’s U.S. News rankings based its scores on health care for seniors, retiree tax rates and overall happiness of residents.
4. Scranton
If some of the folks at Dunder Mifflin—the fictional paper and office supplies wholesale company featured in The Office—have retired since the show left the air, they probably stayed put in the fourth-best place to retire in the U.S. With a population of population of 76,328 as of the 2020 U.S. census, the cost of living in Scranton is 5% lower than the state average and 7% lower than the national average, according to RentCafe. Housing is 24% cheaper than the U.S average.
5. Allentown
The eastern Pennsylvania city Billy Joel famously sings about living in back in 1982 had a population of 125,845 as of the 2020 census. Allentown moved up three spots in the rankings from last year despite the cost of living being 8% higher than the state average and 6% higher than the national average, again per RentCafe.
Worst list ever. New York City? And affordability and retiree taxes were factors? Talk about an East coast bias.
Folks, I grew up in Allentown and go back frequently. I have family and wonderful friends who still live there. Trust me, it is not what it used to be. Public education is terrible and I mean terrible. Downtown used to be a great place to shop and dine………Now you might be shot! I am not sure who did this survey but it looks like they didn’t get out of eastern PA very much!
I suspect large dollar amounts traded hands for this list. My gosh, these are some of the worst places in America. Yes, I used to live in PA, so I know of what I speak. Hello, climate? Unless you’re sitting on your butt in retirement watching TV all day, this state is not for you. Unless you head to FL in the winter. Taxes, toll roads, horrible government….it’s not where to start, it’s where to end. Lordy!