Best Counties to Raise a Family in Pennsylvania

Douglas Muth // Wikimedia Commons

Best counties to raise a family in Pennsylvania

Known in other parts of the world as shires, provinces, or territories, the United States’ counties (also known in certain states as boroughs or parishes) date back to the 1600s, when settlers first came to find freedom from British rule. Today, those counties remain, with the 50 states divided into several, each with its own unique makeup.

For people looking to find a home to raise a family in, choosing a county is an important decision. Most families place affordable homes, safe neighborhoods, a quality school system, and family-friendly activities at the top of their wishlists.

Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to raise a family in Pennsylvania using data from Niche. Niche ranks counties based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, healthcare, recreation and weather.

The list features counties that boast some of the top schools and fun, family-friendly activities for every season. Keep reading to explore the best counties to raise a family. Maybe you’ll find one that suits your brood.

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Lebanon County

- Population: 139,729
- Median home value: $171,300 (70% own)
- Median rent: $874 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $60,281
- Top public schools: Northside Elementary School (A-), Forge Road Elementary School (A-), Lingle Avenue Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: New Covenant Christian School (B-), Myerstown Mennonite School (unavailable), Fairview Mennonite School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: North Londonderry Township (A-), Cleona (B+), Pleasant Hill (B+)

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#24. Mercer County

- Population: 111,518
- Median home value: $121,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $689 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $50,696
- Top public schools: Artman Elementary School (A), Delahunty Middle School (A-), Hempfield Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: Kennedy Catholic High School (B+), Living Word Christian School (A-), Saint John Paul II Elementary School (A)
- Top places to live: Grove City (A-), Pine Township (B+), South Pymatuning Township (B+)

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Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Washington County

- Population: 207,212
- Median home value: $167,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $772 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $63,543
- Top public schools: Peters Township Middle School (A), Bower Hill Elementary School (A), Pleasant Valley Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: First Love Christian Academy (B+), Faith Christian School (B-), Tri-State Christian Academy (B)
- Top places to live: McMurray (A+), Thompsonville (A), East Washington (A-)

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#22. Pike County

- Population: 55,453
- Median home value: $185,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,200 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $65,928
- Top public schools: Shohola Elementary School (A-), Delaware Valley High School (A-), Delaware Valley Elementary School (A-)
- Top private schools: New Life Christian Day School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Milford Township (B+), Matamoras (B+), Westfall Township (B)

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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Monroe County

- Population: 168,032
- Median home value: $168,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,108 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $63,934
- Top public schools: Stroudsburg High School (A-), Smithfield Elementary School (A-), East Stroudsburg Senior High School South (B+)
- Top private schools: Notre Dame Junior/Senior High School (A-), Notre Dame Elementary School (unavailable), Growing Concern School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Smithfield Township (B+), Sierra View (B+), Paradise Township (B+)

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Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Beaver County

- Population: 165,833
- Median home value: $141,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $698 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $57,807
- Top public schools: Dutch Ridge Elementary School (A-), Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School (A-), Blackhawk High School (B+)
- Top private schools: Beaver County Christian School (B+), Ss. Peter & Paul School (unavailable), Our Lady of Fatima Elementary School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Brighton Township (A-), Chippewa Township (A-), Beaver (A-)

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Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Union County

- Population: 45,111
- Median home value: $189,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $769 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $59,399
- Top public schools: Donald H. Eichhorn Middle School (A), Linntown Elementary School (A), Lewisburg High School (A)
- Top private schools: Shady Grove Christian School (unavailable), Morning Star Mennonite School (unavailable), Buffalo Creek Parochial School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Lewisburg (A), Linntown (A), Mifflinburg (B)

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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Berks County

- Population: 418,025
- Median home value: $178,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $939 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $63,728
- Top public schools: Wyomissing Area Junior/Senior High School (A), West Reading Elementary Center (A), Shiloh Hills Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: The King's Academy (A-), High Point Baptist Academy (B+), Blue Mountain Academy (B+)
- Top places to live: Colony Park (A+), West Reading (A), Wyomissing (A)

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#17. Westmoreland County

- Population: 352,590
- Median home value: $153,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $721 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $60,471
- Top public schools: Newlonsburg Elementary School (A), Sunset Valley Elementary School (A), Franklin Regional Senior High School (A)
- Top private schools: The Kiski School (A+), Greensburg Central Catholic High School (A-), Valley School of Ligonier (A)
- Top places to live: Murrysville (A+), North Huntingdon Township (A), Trafford (A-)

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Shuvaev // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Northampton County

- Population: 302,809
- Median home value: $219,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $70,471
- Top public schools: The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts (A), Wilson Borough Elementary School (A), Avona Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Moravian Academy (A+), Bethlehem Catholic High School (A-), Notre Dame High School (A-)
- Top places to live: Lower Nazareth Township (A), Forks Township (A-), Lower Saucon Township (A-)

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#15. York County

- Population: 445,565
- Median home value: $177,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $957 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $66,457
- Top public schools: Indian Rock Elementary School (A), York Suburban Senior High School (A), York Suburban Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: York Country Day School (A), Logos Academy (A-), York Catholic High School (B+)
- Top places to live: Grantley (A), Valley View (A), East York (A)

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Mvincec // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Butler County

- Population: 186,899
- Median home value: $205,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $869 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $70,668
- Top public schools: Mars Area Senior High School (A), Haine Middle School (A), Evans City Middle School (A-)
- Top private schools: North Catholic High School (A-), Portersville Christian School (B+), Butler Catholic School (A)
- Top places to live: Seven Fields (A+), Cranberry Township (A), Jackson Township (A)

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Montour County

- Population: 18,259
- Median home value: $185,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $721 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $58,333
- Top public schools: Danville Area Senior High School (A-), Liberty-Valley Elementary School (A-), Danville Area Middle School (A-)
- Top private schools: St. Joseph School (unavailable), St. Cyril Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable), Creek Side School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Mahoning Township (A), Valley Township (A-), Danville (A-)

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#12. Erie County

- Population: 273,835
- Median home value: $134,100 (66% own)
- Median rent: $753 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $51,529
- Top public schools: Northwest Pennsylvania Collegiate Academy (A+), Fairview High School (A), Fairview Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Mercyhurst Preparatory School (A), Erie First Christian Academy (A), Villa Maria Academy (B+)
- Top places to live: Washington Township (A), Fairview (A-), Avonia (A-)

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#11. Lackawanna County

- Population: 210,652
- Median home value: $152,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $792 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $52,821
- Top public schools: Jefferson Elementary School (A), Moscow Elementary School (A), Newton-Ransom School (A)
- Top private schools: Scranton Preparatory School (A), Holy Cross High School (B+), Triboro Christian Academy (A-)
- Top places to live: Clarks Summit (A), Clarks Green (A), Chinchilla (A)

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Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Centre County

- Population: 161,960
- Median home value: $234,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,000 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $60,403
- Top public schools: State College Area High School (A+), Radio Park Elementary School (A), Ferguson Township Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy (A), Grace Prep High School (A), Centre County Christian Academy (B+)
- Top places to live: Houserville (A+), Boalsburg (A+), Park Forest Village (A+)

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Rina Pitucci // Flickr

#9. Dauphin County

- Population: 275,632
- Median home value: $167,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $949 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $60,715
- Top public schools: Hershey High School (A+), Infinity Charter School (A+), Hershey Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Covenant Christian Academy (A), Bishop McDevitt High School (A-), Milton Hershey School (B+)
- Top places to live: Hershey (A), Palmdale (A), Paxtang (A-)

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Daderot // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Lancaster County

- Population: 540,999
- Median home value: $209,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,009 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $66,056
- Top public schools: Neff Elementary School (A), Nitrauer School (A), Schaeffer School (A)
- Top private schools: Linden Hall (A+), Lancaster Country Day School (A+), Veritas Press Scholars Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Manheim Township (A), Landisville (A), Salunga (A)

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#7. Cumberland County

- Population: 249,328
- Median home value: $202,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $991 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $71,269
- Top public schools: Silver Spring Elementary School (A), Green Ridge Elementary School (A), Good Hope Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Harrisburg Academy (A+), Trinity High School (A-), West Shore Christian Academy (A-)
- Top places to live: Camp Hill (A+), Hampden Township (A+), Wormleysburg (A)

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Lehigh County

- Population: 365,052
- Median home value: $208,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $63,897
- Top public schools: Fred J. Jaindl Elementary School (A+), Springhouse Middle School (A), Cetronia Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Allentown Central Catholic High School (A-), Salem Christian School (B+), St. Thomas More School (unavailable)
- Top places to live: Breinigsville (A), Cetronia (A), Trexlertown (A)

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ESB Professional // Shutterstock

#5. Allegheny County

- Population: 1,221,744
- Median home value: $154,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $890 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $61,043
- Top public schools: Fox Chapel Area High School (A+), North Allegheny High School (A+), Mt. Lebanon Senior High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Shady Side Academy (A+), Sewickley Academy (A+), Winchester Thurston School (A+)
- Top places to live: Mount Lebanon Township (A+), Aspinwall (A+), Franklin Park (A+)

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Bucks County

- Population: 626,806
- Median home value: $330,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,228 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $89,139
- Top public schools: Central Bucks High School - East (A+), Central Bucks High School - West (A+), Bucks County Montessori Charter School (A+)
- Top private schools: George School (A+), Solebury School (A+), Holy Ghost Preparatory School (A+)
- Top places to live: Woodside (A+), Newtown Grant (A+), Buckingham Township (A)

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Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Delaware County

- Population: 564,554
- Median home value: $244,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $74,477
- Top public schools: Radnor Senior High School (A+), Strath Haven High School (A+), Radnor Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Episcopal Academy (A+), The Agnes Irwin School (A+), Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy (A+)
- Top places to live: Swarthmore (A+), Radnor Township (A+), Nether Providence Township (A+)

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Camerafiend // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Chester County

- Population: 519,560
- Median home value: $357,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,330 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $100,214
- Top public schools: Downingtown STEM Academy (A+), Conestoga Senior High School (A+), Unionville High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Westtown School (A+), Malvern Preparatory School (A+), Devon Preparatory School (A+)
- Top places to live: Chesterbrook (A+), Berwyn (A+), East Whiteland Township (A+)

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Douglas Muth // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Montgomery County

- Population: 823,823
- Median home value: $316,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,295 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $91,546
- Top public schools: Lower Merion High School (A+), Harriton Senior High School (A+), Wissahickon Senior High School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Baldwin School (A+), The Hill School (A+), The Haverford School (A+)
- Top places to live: Penn Wynne (A+), Ardmore (A+), Narberth (A+)