Best places to live in Pennsylvania
What do you look for in an ideal town? Proximity to trails, lakes, and beaches? How about top-ranked schools for your children? Would you like a professional or college sports team nearby, or do you prefer museums and art walks?
Stacker compiled a list of the best places to live in Pennsylvania using data from Niche. Niche ranks places to live based on a variety of factors including cost of living, schools, health care, recreation, and weather.
On the list, there’s a robust mix of offerings from great schools and nightlife to high walkability and public parks. Some areas have enjoyed rapid growth thanks to new businesses moving to the area, while others offer glimpses into area history with well-preserved architecture and museums. Keep reading to see if your hometown made the list.
#10. Park Forest Village
- Population: 10,299
- Median home value: $289,800 (58% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (42% rent)
- Median household income: $72,083
- Top public schools: State College Area High School (A+), Radio Park Elementary School (A+), Park Forest Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Park Forest Montessori School
#9. Aspinwall
- Population: 2,724
- Median home value: $286,400 (67% own)
- Median rent: $1,051 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $84,375
- Top public schools: Fox Chapel Area High School (A+), Fairview Elementary School (A+), O'Hara Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Christ the Divine Teacher Catholic Academy
#8. Mount Lebanon Township
- Population: 32,303
- Median home value: $268,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $928 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $100,011
- Top public schools: Mt. Lebanon Senior High School (A+), Hoover Elementary School (A+), Jefferson Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Seton LaSalle Catholic High School (A), Jubilee Christian School (A), Ave Maria Academy - Mt. Lebanon Campus
#7. Narberth
- Population: 4,345
- Median home value: $506,000 (63% own)
- Median rent: $1,414 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $110,300
- Top public schools: Harriton Senior High School (A+), Lower Merion High School (A+), Merion Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Margaret School
#6. Boalsburg
- Population: 4,642
- Median home value: $324,900 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,170 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $105,891
- Top public schools: State College Area High School (A+), Mount Nittany Middle School (A), Mount Nittany Elementary School (A)
- Top private schools: Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy (A-)
#5. Swarthmore
- Population: 6,318
- Median home value: $415,200 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,021 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $107,778
- Top public schools: Strath Haven High School (A+), Swarthmore-Rutledge School (A+), Strath Haven Middle School (A+)
#4. Houserville
- Population: 1,972
- Median home value: $225,700 (82% own)
- Median rent: $1,257 (18% rent)
- Median household income: $90,750
- Top public schools: State College Area High School (A+), Houserville/Lemont Elementary School (A+), Mount Nittany Middle School (A)
#3. Ardmore
- Population: 12,808
- Median home value: $355,400 (59% own)
- Median rent: $1,415 (41% rent)
- Median household income: $96,780
- Top public schools: Harriton Senior High School (A+), Lower Merion High School (A+), Penn Valley School (A+)
- Top private schools: Regina Angelorum Academy
#2. Penn Wynne
- Population: 5,932
- Median home value: $366,000 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,416 (13% rent)
- Median household income: $123,854
- Top public schools: Lower Merion High School (A+), Bala Cynwyd Middle School (A+), Penn Wynne School (A+)
- Top private schools: Friends' Central School (A+), Perelman Jewish Day School - Stern Center, Robert J. Wilf Preschool & Kindergarten
#1. Chesterbrook
- Population: 4,800
- Median home value: $323,000 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,832 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $130,000
- Top public schools: Conestoga Senior High School (A+), New Eagle Elementary School (A+), Valley Forge Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: Chesterbrook Academy
