BlogIndustry News
ByKelly Leighton | Nov. 4, 2022 | 3 min. read
Forget Florida. Retirees should be heading to the commonwealth.
Five cities in Pennsylvania were in the top 10 places to retire in 2022-2023, according to U.S. News and World Report, with eight in the top 20.The site ranked Lancaster first, Harrisburg second, York fifth, Allentown ninth and Reading 10th. Scranton (17th), Philadelphia (19th) and Pittsburgh (20th) also made the list of 150 cities best for retirees. What makes these areas stand out? According to the report, they have happy local residents, housing affordability, affordable tax rates and high health care quality.
Lancaster, which was ranked fifth last year, was applauded for events for retirees (including the Lancaster Senior Games), museums, a farmers market and plenty of restaurants to try. The cost of living is generally affordable with lower taxes for retirees than other states in the U.S.
“Lancaster County has state-of-the-art hospitals, senior living facilities and plenty of places to play golf or tennis. The area is easy to get around and we have great restaurants and proximity to Philly and New York City,” said Logan Hutton, a member of the Lancaster County Association of Realtors® who serves on the board of directors. “Lancaster County has all four seasons and each of them are beautiful. My favorite part about living in Lancaster is having amazing tennis courts around and very good trout fishing.”
“Probably the greatest appeal of Lancaster is its cost of living,” added Richard Boas III, also a board of directors member at LCAR. “At least compared to many other areas around the country, specifically cities. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve worked with a client from out of state only for them to comment that ‘everything is half off’ in Lancaster. When you get more bang for your buck buying a home and it costs less to live here, it’s no surprise that Lancaster is such a popular retirement destination. Another selling point is the sheer variety of activities to partake in. From baseball games at the Lancaster Barnstormers stadium to plays at the Fulton Opera House, there is always something to do. Lancaster is also a huge tourist destination with a lot of history and, of course, the Amish. You could be driving through the city one minute and the next minute you’re surrounded by field after field of farmland.”
“Lancaster is extremely versatile in what it offers,” said Boas. “If retirement means seeing the sights and enjoying the nightlife, you may want to consider the city as there are an almost unlimited number of things to do. If you’re more into peace and quiet, then maybe the countryside is more for you. You can have your space and enjoy the seclusion. Lancaster is unique in that it has a little bit of everything.”
Harrisburg landed in second place overall and scored well for its value, as the cost of living in the city is below the national average. Harrisburg also offers retirees a strong quality of life, offering many outdoor activities, historical features and close access to Hershey, Lancaster and Gettysburg. York, which came in fifth, offers some of the most affordable housing on the whole list, with plenty of opportunities for retirees to either rent or own. Just like Harrisburg and Lancaster, York offers a variety of outdoor activities, museums, places to eat and an arts scene.
Allentown, Reading, Scranton, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh all scored highly on affordability, as well as quality of life. Cities in Pennsylvania offer retirees a little something of everything.
Looking for events?
Pennsylvania Realtors® can access monthly webinars and much more.
Upcoming Events
Topics
Did you like this post?
Click on a star to rate this post!
Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 6
No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.
Related Articles
Harrisburg Homes Are Selling Fast: Fourth-Hottest MetroMar. 12, 2024 by Hope Walborn
Retirement: Pa. Is 10th Best Overall and Second Best in This CategoryFeb. 27, 2024 by Hope Walborn
Why the Best Places to Retire are in Pa.Nov. 22, 2023 by Hope Walborn
Pennsylvania’s Most Walkable CitiesOct. 20, 2023 by Hope Walborn
Lancaster Named Top City to Retire Along with Five Other Pa. CitiesJun. 27, 2023 by Kim Shindle
Harrisburg Named One of the Best Cities for SellersMar. 23, 2023 by Kelly Leighton
Majority of Boomers, Gen X Plan to Retire Without MovingJan. 17, 2023 by Kelly Leighton
Will Home Equity Help Inflation Woes for Retirees?Jan. 9, 2023 by Kelly Leighton
Lancaster Named Best Small City in the U.S.Oct. 17, 2022 by Kelly Leighton
Most Homeowners Plan to Age in PlaceAug. 4, 2022 by Kelly Leighton
Potential Commercial Flood Risk Damage Ranked High in Three Pa. CitiesApr. 28, 2022 by Kim Shindle
Pittsburgh, Allentown See Increase of RetireesDec. 8, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Eight Pennsylvania Cities Nab Spots on the Best Places to Retire ListOct. 26, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Three Pennsylvania Cities Make List of Most Neighborly CitiesOct. 20, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
8 Pennsylvania Cities Make 150 Best Places to Live ListJul. 22, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg Named as Hot Rental Markets in 2021May. 18, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Three Pennsylvania Towns Nab Spots on Best Places for Remote Workers ListMar. 29, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia Named Affordable Places to RetireFeb. 22, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
More Retirees RelocatingFeb. 4, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Harrisburg Predicted to be a Top Housing Market in 2021Jan. 4, 2021 by Kelly Leighton
Majority of Retirees Want to Remain in Their Current Homes as They AgeOct. 20, 2020 by Kelly Leighton
Harrisburg Named One of the Toughest U.S. Markets for BuyersFeb. 27, 2020 by Kelly Leighton
Lancaster named one of the happiest cities in the countryNov. 12, 2019 by Kelly Leighton
Six Pa. Cities Make Top 50 List of Places to RetireOct. 21, 2019 by Kelly Leighton
More older adults planning to stay put in homes post-retirementSep. 4, 2019 by Kelly Leighton
Subscribe To JustListed Daily Emails
You’ll be the first to know about real estate trends and various legal happenings. Stay up-to-date by subscribing to JustListed.
Member Discussion
Log in to join the conversation
Not a Realtor®? Learn how to become a member.
Become a MemberLogin to your Account