Eight Pennsylvania Towns Make Best Places to Live List

Eight Pennsylvania cities were recently named to the 150 Best Places to Live list, according to the U.S. News and World Report.

Harrisburg was named 51st, followed by Lancaster in 67th, Pittsburgh in 77th, Reading in 96th, York in 106th, Philadelphia in 118th, Allentown in 119th and Scranton in 126th.

Pennsylvania’s capital is no stranger to this list, landing in 44th place last year. Harrisburg was applauded for access to many outdoor activities, from Riverfront Park downtown to multiple parks and recreation areas nearby. Harrisburg also offers a variety of culture, from art to theater to museums. The cost of living in the area is low, especially in housing prices. The median home price in Harrisburg is $166,308, compared to the U.S. average of $232,933.

Lancaster was also named to the list last year, where it was named the 48th best place to live. Lancaster’s quality of life is what draws people to the area, the town offers a variety of activities from culture to bars to nature. Lancaster’s housing prices are also below the national average, albeit only about $17,000.

Pittsburgh also fell on the list, going from 50th place in 2019 to 77th in 2020. However, Pittsburgh is still attractive to an influx of job seekers, as technology companies continue to open offices in the area. Pittsburgh’s affordability sets it apart from areas of similar sizes. The median home price is just $147,158, more than $86,00 below the national median. Pittsburgh offers residents many professional sports teams, museums, restaurants and recreational opportunities.

Cities in Colorado took four of the top five spots, including Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs and Fort Collins, while Austin, Texas nabbed third place.