Selecting the place to retire generally is a powerful choice. You’ll want to contemplate housing prices, healthcare, local weather, and proximity to leisure actions.
Pennsylvania is a well-liked state for retirees. It provides 4 distinct seasons, a comparatively low value of residing, entry to each large cities and small cities, and loads of purchasing, eating, and leisure.
One factor that makes Pennsylvania uniquely appropriate for retirees is the state lottery: It’s the one one within the nation that dedicates all of its proceeds to packages benefiting older adults. This cash supplies help by means of the state’s 52 Space Companies on Growing old (AAA) for issues like senior facilities, in-home providers, delivered meals, and well being packages. One other program that advantages from lottery funding is the Property Tax/Hire Rebate Program (PTRR) which supplies tax breaks for seniors residing in Pennsylvania.
So, which cities and cities are your greatest choices? Let’s discover a few of the 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 government 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 median residence value 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 stay 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 ideal spot for retirees in search of a 55+ neighborhood. “If you happen to’re contemplating retiring in Pennsylvania, you’ve obtained some implausible 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 complicated with tennis, pickleball, bocce, and paddleball, a neighborhood middle, a neighborhood 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. Dwelling to West Chester College, it’s additionally a school city with a vigorous vibe.
Residents will love eating and purchasing at unbiased companies downtown and getting outside at one of many space’s many parks and leisure areas. Pure Land’s Stroud Protect has mountaineering 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 very best 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 typical 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 likely one of the greatest locations to stay in Pennsylvania based on actual property consultants. Situated within the coronary heart of Amish Nation, this metropolis provides each rural landscapes and humanities, tradition, purchasing, and eating. Residents get pleasure from a strong calendar of actions that features stay theater, music, and festivals.
The typical residence value in Lancaster is at present round $355,000, which is just below the nationwide common, based on Zillow.
As a member of AARP’s Age-Pleasant Community, Lancaster is dedicated to growing its livability for seniors. In 2023, the Clear, Inexperienced, and Secure venture 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 realm.
Philadelphia
Retirees who desire a metropolitan really feel with easy accessibility to leisure, world-class eating, and transportation ought to look to Philadelphia. This metropolis, referred to as America’s birthplace, was the nation’s first UNESCO World Heritage Metropolis. It provides an limitless record of issues to do, together with museums, historic websites (together with Independence Corridor and the Liberty Bell), eating, and stay leisure.
Philadelphia is the proper 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 all over the world, with a median of 442 departures per day. If you happen to’re a retiree who prefers cruising, you’re in luck; Norwegian Cruise Line will start crusing from Philadelphia in 2026.
Scranton
Scranton, Pennsylvania, is called “The Electrical Metropolis” for its pivotal function within the Industrial Revolution, however it might be extra extensively referred to as the house of the favored TV collection, The Workplace.
Situated in northeastern Pennsylvania, it provides a small-town vibe, a low value of residing, and a vibrant downtown.
In accordance with Zillow, the typical residence value is round $175,000, and the price of residing is eight p.c 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 Growing old 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 ideal 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 assist the security 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 packages embody automobile security and Matter of Stability, an eight-week collection to extend exercise, stability, and power.
Allentown isn’t only for retirees in search of 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 examine 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 neighborhood; many family-friendly occasions are held all year long.
It boasts 5 parks; some function facilities together with a pool, pickleball courts, and public tennis courts. There’s even a grandparent pool plan, good for visiting grandkids. The Maurice Ok. 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 filled with native retailers, eating places, and occasions, and loads of out of doors actions, it’s straightforward to see why Camp Hill is a high spot for retirees.
Swarthmore
Swarthmore is a small city that embraces each its youthful and older residents: It’s residence to Swarthmore School and can 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 assets, social interplay, journey alternatives, bodily health, and schooling to members.
The typical residence worth in Swarthmore is about $435,000, which is greater than the nationwide common, however retirees in search of a thriving neighborhood with easy accessibility to Philadelphia might discover it’s price it.
Stroudsburg
For retirees in search of a neighborhood 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 crammed with galleries, native retailers, stay 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 mountaineering, biking, horseback driving, fishing, golf, snowboarding, kayaking, and boating. There may be additionally a on line casino and a number of wineries close by.