10 Greatest Locations to Retire in Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is the second-biggest metropolis in Pennsylvania by inhabitants and among the finest locations within the state for retirees. “Pittsburgh is residence to one of many highest populations of seniors within the nation,” mentioned Jerad Bachar, president and chief govt officer of Go to Pittsburgh. “Whereas our metropolis bustles with eclectic arts, a various culinary scene, and champion sports activities, we additionally supply a world-class healthcare system, inexpensive housing, and low-cost transportation.”

This mixture of arts, tradition, and leisure with affordability provides a top quality of life for Pittsburgh retirees. With a mean residence worth of simply $233,000, this mid-sized metropolis is one the place retirees can plant roots with out breaking the financial institution.

Residents will get pleasure from actions and occasions all through the town’s 4 distinct seasons. There are sports activities (favorites embody the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Pirates), museums just like the Carnegie Museum of Pure Historical past and Andy Warhol Museum, and reside leisure at venues together with the Benedum Middle for the Performing Arts and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

There are additionally loads of out of doors actions, parks, and strolling trails. Plus, Pittsburg is a part of the AARP Age-Pleasant Community and has lately taken on tasks to enhance sidewalks, roadways, and crosswalks for pedestrians, bikers, and folks with disabilities.

West Chester

West Chester is positioned simply an hour exterior of Philadelphia, so it provides residents a small-town really feel with easy accessibility to big-city facilities. Plus, it’s an excellent spot for retirees on the lookout for a 55+ group. “When you’re contemplating retiring in Pennsylvania, you’ve obtained some unbelievable choices relying on what you’re after,” mentioned Chad Walker, vice chairman of gross sales and actual property operations at 55places.com, a web based useful resource connecting retirees to 55+ communities throughout the nation. “Communities like Hershey’s Mill put you near all of the motion,” mentioned Walker. Certainly, facilities at Hershey’s Mill embody a personal golf course, a heated out of doors pool, a sports activities advanced with tennis, pickleball, bocce, and paddleball, a group middle, a group backyard, and a lot extra.

West Chester embraces each the previous and the longer term. Downtown West Chester is listed on the Nationwide Register of Historic Locations and has been named a Distinctive Vacation spot by the Nationwide Belief for Historic Preservation. House to West Chester College, it’s additionally a university city with a full of life vibe.

Residents will love eating and buying at impartial companies downtown and getting outdoor at one of many space’s many parks and leisure areas. Pure Land’s Stroud Protect has mountain climbing trails, canoeing, kayaking, and searching, and there’s golf at quite a few programs, together with Broad Run Golfer’s Membership, West Chester Golf & Nation Membership, and Penn Oaks Golf Membership.

Harrisburg

Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, was lately named the greatest place to retire within the U.S. for 2024. Situated on the Susquehanna River about two hours west of Philadelphia, this thriving metropolis maintains 25 playgrounds and parks, together with Italian Lake and Metropolis Island, a 63-acre island in the course of the Susquehanna River.

In accordance with Zillow, the common residence worth in Harrisburg is simply $248,400, which is effectively under the nationwide common of over $360,000. The town additionally boasts six senior facilities and a strong healthcare system that features UPMC Harrisburg, Hamilton Well being Middle, and Penn State Well being Milton S. Hershey Medical Middle.

Lancaster

Lancaster is without doubt one of the greatest locations to reside in Pennsylvania in line with actual property specialists. Situated within the coronary heart of Amish Nation, this metropolis provides each rural landscapes and humanities, tradition, buying, and eating. Residents get pleasure from a strong calendar of actions that features reside theater, music, and festivals.

The common residence worth in Lancaster is at the moment round $355,000, which is slightly below the nationwide common, in line with Zillow.

As a member of AARP’s Age-Pleasant Community, Lancaster is dedicated to rising its livability for seniors. In 2023, the Clear, Inexperienced, and Secure mission was launched to make it simpler for seniors to stroll to the Marin Senior Middle by including shade timber, benches, and security cameras to the world.

Philadelphia

Retirees who need a metropolitan really feel with easy accessibility to leisure, world-class eating, and transportation ought to look to Philadelphia. This metropolis, often called America’s birthplace, was the nation’s first UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis. It provides an countless checklist of issues to do, together with museums, historic websites (together with Independence Corridor and the Liberty Bell), eating, and reside leisure.

Philadelphia is the right spot for retirees who like to journey as a result of Philadelphia Worldwide Airport is positioned lower than 20 minutes from the town middle. This airport provides nonstop flights to 123 locations around the globe, with a mean of 442 departures per day. When you’re a retiree who prefers cruising, you’re in luck; Norwegian Cruise Line will start crusing from Philadelphia in 2026.

Scranton

Scranton, Pennsylvania, is named “The Electrical Metropolis” for its pivotal position within the Industrial Revolution, however it might be extra extensively often called the house of the favored TV collection, The Workplace.

Situated in northeastern Pennsylvania, it provides a small-town vibe, a low price of dwelling, and a vibrant downtown.

In accordance with Zillow, the common residence worth is round $175,000, and the price of dwelling is eight % under the nationwide common. The Scranton Senior Neighborhood Middle provides instructional, health, social, and leisure actions in partnership with United Neighborhood Facilities of Northern Pennsylvania, whereas the Lackawanna County Space Company on Getting older provides help and programming designed for older adults and their caregivers.

Allentown

Allentown, Pennsylvania, is the third-biggest metropolis within the state by inhabitants and an excellent selection for retirees.

Lehigh County, which incorporates Allentown, is a member of AARP’s Age-Pleasant Community. The town additionally provides senior providers designed to help the protection and well-being of older residents, like in-home security surveys that assess dangers. It additionally supplies necessities like smoke detectors, anti-slip mats, tablet containers, and flashlights. Instructional applications embody automobile security and Matter of Steadiness, an eight-week collection to extend exercise, stability, and energy.

Allentown isn’t only for retirees on the lookout for a slower tempo of life. It’s additionally for many who get pleasure from easy accessibility to big-city facilities. Residents can drive to Philadelphia in 1 hour quarter-hour, to New York Metropolis in 1 hour 45 minutes, and to Baltimore in 2.5 hours.

Camp Hill

Camp Hill was named among the finest small cities for retirees within the U.S. in a research by Go Banking Charges and as an ideal retirement city within the Northern U.S. by World Atlas.

This small Pennsylvania city provides residents a quiet suburban really feel with an enormous emphasis on group; many family-friendly occasions are held all year long.

It boasts 5 parks; some characteristic facilities together with a pool, pickleball courts, and public tennis courts. There’s even a grandparent pool plan, excellent for visiting grandkids. The Maurice Okay. Goddard Path provides residents a scenic strolling and biking path that winds by means of city, passing a number of parks and the library.

With housing prices under the nationwide common, a vibrant downtown stuffed with native outlets, eating places, and occasions, and loads of out of doors actions, it’s simple to see why Camp Hill is a prime spot for retirees.

Swarthmore

Swarthmore is a small city that embraces each its youthful and older residents: It’s residence to Swarthmore Faculty and can also be a part of AARP’s Age-Pleasant Community. Situated simply half-hour exterior of Philadelphia, it provides residents a small-town environment with big-city perks close by. The Swarthmore Senior Residents Affiliation supplies sources, social interplay, journey alternatives, bodily health, and schooling to members.

The common residence worth in Swarthmore is about $435,000, which is increased than the nationwide common, however retirees on the lookout for a thriving group with easy accessibility to Philadelphia might discover it’s price it.

Stroudsburg

For retirees on the lookout for a group really feel with entry to ample out of doors recreation alternatives, there’s Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Situated within the coronary heart of the Poconos Mountains, this city boasts an artsy and walkable downtown full of galleries, native outlets, reside music, public artwork, and eating. Annual family-friendly occasions like StroudFest, WinterFest, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade entice locals and guests alike.

With the Poconos Mountains at their doorstep, Stroudsburg retirees can get pleasure from many out of doors adventures, together with mountain climbing, biking, horseback using, fishing, golf, snowboarding, kayaking, and boating. There may be additionally a on line casino and a number of wineries close by.