Are you looking for a new place to call home in Pennsylvania? The best places to live in Pennsylvania include both large metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and smaller cities with tons of historical charm.
In your free time, you can enjoy Pennsylvania’s many museums, outdoor adventures, and natural spaces. You’ll also be close to historical landmarks that played a significant role in the nation’s history, such as Independence Hall, where both the U.S. Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were adopted. Pennsylvania is even called the Keystone State because of the key role it played in politics during the formation of United States (although technically it's also a commonwealth).
Here are some of the best things about living in Pennsylvania:
• Pennsylvania is home to several famous museums, such as the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History.
• Major historical landmarks located here include the Gettysburg National Military Park, the Liberty Bell, the Independence Hall, and the Betsy Ross House.
• There are plenty of outdoor adventures, including over 20 ski resorts and opportunities for whitewater rafting, dogsledding, or snow tubing.
• For a calm day out, hike the Appalachian Trail, take a scenic trip on a historic steam train, or embark on a road trip along the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
• Pennsylvania is also a great place for star gazing and meteor showers because of how unusually dark the sky gets outside the city.
• The state has a range of amusement and water parks, such as Herseypark and the Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom.
• Pennsylvania’s public schools are among the best in the nation.
• The state is home to several major sports teams, such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
The best places to live in Pennsylvania are situated throughout the state. Whether you want to live close to Lake Erie, in the middle of the state, or on the east coast with easy access to New York City and Washington D.C., you can find a place to settle down in Pennsylvania.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is one of the largest cities in the United States and has a vibrant downtown, historic architecture, and key American landmarks such as the Liberty Bell and the Independence Hall. The city is nicknamed the “Birthplace of America”.
Philadelphia is also one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania for cultural experiences. It’s known for its “Museum Mile,” mural street art, performance art, and lively festivals. There’s plenty of nature in Philadelphia as well, including bike paths and walking trails. These popular attractions have created many jobs in hospitality. The city is also a hub for life science companies and has many prestigious universities where you can find jobs in higher ed.
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Erie
If you want to live close to the water, Erie is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. It’s next to Presque Isle Bay and Lake Erie and has a long shoreline where you can enjoy watersports and beaches. Erie’s nickname, the “Flagship City,” came from the USS Niagara, which was stationed in Erie during the Battle of Lake Erie. Today you can view the famous ship at the Maritime Museum.
Erie also has several waterfront restaurants where you can view the sunset while enjoying local food, as well as wineries, the Erie Bluffs State Park, and the Waldameer amusement and water park.
Erie was traditionally a fishing and shipbuilding town. Today, common industry sectors include finance, manufacturing, and healthcare.
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Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in Pennsylvania. You might know Pittsburgh as the “City of Steel” due to its football team and its history as the center of the steel industry. Manufacturing and production are still key industries in Pittsburgh, but today the city has also expanded into other sectors, such as healthcare, life science and engineering.
Pittsburgh also has a burgeoning arts and culture scene and has a lower cost of living than Philadelphia. In this up-and-coming city, you can dine and shop at Market Square, snap a picture at one of the city’s 446 bridges, watch the Steelers play at the Acrisure Stadium, or visit an art gallery in the Cultural District.
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State College
If you want to live in a small and youthful community, State College is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. State College is a municipality with about 42,000 residents named after its major academic institution, the Pennsylvania State University. Because of its smaller size (although the university adds a sizable number of students to the town’s population) and its many parks and trails, State College is a walkable community with a thriving downtown district.
Granted, you can find lots of education jobs here, but the student population has also created a high demand for restaurants and retail. Another common source of jobs is healthcare.
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Lancaster
Lancaster is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania for families due to its low crime rate, high quality of life, and abundance of activities for kids. Visit the public farmer’s market, take a horse and buggy ride, tour farms, or ride on a hot air balloon. About 30 miles from Lancaster, you can find the Herseypark theme park and Hersey Chocolatetown shopping and dining area.
Lancaster is a traditional manufacturing and agricultural town, but the economy has expanded into a variety of industries, including finance and insurance.
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Reading
The city of Reading is packed with sights considering its relatively small size of about 88,000 residents, making it one of the best cities to live in Pennsylvania if you want to settle down in a smaller community. Here you can find Egyptian mummies at the Reading Public Museum, listen to a symphony orchestra, create creative experiments at the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, and catch a game at several arenas. Reading’s unofficial symbol is the Pagoda, originally intended to be a hotel, where you can get a great view overlooking the city.
You can find many jobs in education and healthcare in Reading, which has four higher education institutions as well as a teaching hospital.
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Allentown
Allentown is Pennsylvania’s third-largest city. It has all the entertainment and cultural options of a large city, such as a combined amusement and water park, sport arenas, a symphony hall, and art and science museums, but is also known for its historical district, Victorian homes, and Dutch heritage.
The city has a diverse economy with a wide selection of jobs. Common industries include healthcare, tourism, service, and sales.
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Harrisburg
With a diverse economy and top-rated medical facilities, Pennsylvania’s capital of Harrisburg has one foot in the past and one in the future. Known for the key role it played during the American Civil War and the Industrial Revolution, Harrisburg offers major historical sites such as the National Civil War Museum and a paddle-wheel riverboat cruise. The city is also located less than an hour’s drive from Gettysburg National Military Park.
If you want to find a job in a smaller city, Harrisburg is one of the best places to live in PA. You can find many jobs in government, manufacturing, logistics, administration, and healthcare in Harrisburg.
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