Where are the best places for families to live in Pennsylvania?

If you’re a Pennsylvania Realtor®, then you know the commonwealth is a great place to live.

Pennsylvania has the sixth-largest state economy by gross domestic product (GDP), thanks to 18 Fortune 500 companies, as well as natural-resource industries. Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is 4.8 percent, below the national average of 4.9 percent as of January, and  the commonwealth has an above-average median family income and strong housing market, according to WalletHub.

WalletHub reported that students in Pennsylvania achieved scores higher than the national average in both math and reading standardized tests, according to the latest figures from the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

It’s fairly evident why a family would want to reside in Pennsylvania. But, where? WalletHub recently ranked the best places for families to live in Pennsylvania.

Franklin Park, located in Allegheny County, claimed the top prize in the study, scoring a 74.55, by claiming top honors in the affordability and socioeconomic environment ranks. Franklin Park landed in 16th place in education, health and safety, and 59th in family life and fun.

Also located in Allegheny County, Upper St. Clair landed in second place with a 69.28, scoring second in affordability, third in socioeconomic environment, 43rd in education, health and safety and 75th in family life and fun.

Allegheny County’s Jefferson Hills won the bronze with a total score of 65.68, landing fifth in affordability, seventh in education, health and safety, 13th in socioeconomic environment and 104th in family life and fun.

If you have a family looking for the most attractions, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are their best bets, as the cities tied for first. Gettysburg, Lancaster and Erie round out the top five. For families looking to reside near other families with young children, Darby, Coatesville, Reading, Bradford and Downington are places they should consider. Those families concerned with crime should head to Old Forge, Camp Hill, South Park, Montgomeryville or Lower Burell, the cities with the lowest crime rates in the state.

Clare Conry-Murray, an assistant professor in the department of psychology at Saint Joseph’s University said that if families are looking for quality schools and affordable housing, there are plenty of options in Pennsylvania. “In my experience, there are some amazing school districts that have housing at many different levels of income. For example, Quaker Valley School District outside Pittsburgh has houses for sale from $60,000 to over a million. It is also a top-ranked school district that provides great education,” she said.

WalletHub compared 129 cities in the state across 21 key indicators of ideal family conditions. The data set ranges from the percentage of families with young children to median family income to housing affordability, according to the site.