Best places to raise a family in Pennsylvania

Choosing a place to raise children can be a daunting task for any family. If it takes a village to raise a child, that may just extend all the way to your next-door neighbor, fifth-grade teacher, or volunteer soccer coach. While all parents are looking for a great place to raise their kids, oftentimes this decision means balancing—and prioritizing—certain community resources and costs.

Stacker compiled a list of the best places to raise a family 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. Keep reading to see if where you grew up or currently live made the list.

You may also like: How to monitor electricity usage in your home

1 / 25

#25. Lemont

- Population: 2,188
- Median home value: $257,000 (69% own)
- Median rent: $891 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $74,130
- Top public schools: State College Area High School (A+), Houserville/Lemont Elementary School (A), Mount Nittany Middle School (A)
- Top private schools: Montessori School of the Nittany Valley (unavailable)

- Pictured: 160 Claremont Ave, State College ($375,000, 4 bedrooms)

2 / 25

#24. Radnor Township

- Population: 31,820
- Median home value: $663,900 (66% own)
- Median rent: $1,488 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $127,161
- Top public schools: Radnor Senior High School (A+), Radnor Middle School (A+), Ithan Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: The Agnes Irwin School (A+), Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy (A+), Academy of Notre Dame de Namur (A+)

- Pictured: 4 Welwyn Rd, Wayne ($3.7 million, 5 bedrooms)

3 / 25

#23. Upper St. Clair

- Population: 19,737
- Median home value: $295,600 (91% own)
- Median rent: $1,780 (9% rent)
- Median household income: $128,482
- Top public schools: Upper St. Clair High School (A+), Boyce Middle School (A+), Fort Couch Middle School (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Louise De Marillac School (unavailable), Wesley Spectrum Academy (unavailable), Montessori Early Childhood Center (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1581 Hollow Tree Dr, Pittsburgh ($1.5 million, 6 bedrooms)

4 / 25

#22. Bradford Woods

- Population: 1,225
- Median home value: $351,300 (95% own)
- Median rent: $289 (5% rent)
- Median household income: $114,063
- Top public schools: North Allegheny High School (A+), Marshall Elementary School (A+), Bradford Woods Elementary School (A+)

- Pictured: 61 Seldom Seen Rd, Bradfordwoods ($505,000, 4 bedrooms)

5 / 25

#21. Upper Uwchlan Township

- Population: 11,560
- Median home value: $442,300 (93% own)
- Median rent: $1,786 (7% rent)
- Median household income: $173,385
- Top public schools: Downingtown STEM Academy (A+), Pickering Valley Elementary School (A+), Downingtown High School East (A+)
- Top private schools: Windsor Christian Academy (unavailable), St. Matthew's Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable), The Goddard School - Chester Springs (unavailable)

- Pictured: 25 Webb Rd, Downingtown ($729,900, 4 bedrooms)

You may also like: Fastest-growing jobs in Pennsylvania

6 / 25

#20. 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 (unavailable)

- Pictured: 2332 Corinna Ct, State College ($669,000, 5 bedrooms)

7 / 25

#19. O'Hara Township

- Population: 8,892
- Median home value: $257,800 (84% own)
- Median rent: $1,484 (16% rent)
- Median household income: $96,926
- Top public schools: Fox Chapel Area High School (A+), Fairview Elementary School (A+), O'Hara Elementary School (A+)

- Pictured: 647 Arbor Ct, Pittsburgh ($815,000, 4 bedrooms)

8 / 25

#18. Birmingham Township

- Population: 4,204
- Median home value: $586,900 (98% own)
- Median rent: $1,295 (2% rent)
- Median household income: $199,830
- Top public schools: Unionville High School (A+), Chadds Ford Elementary School (A+), Pocopson Elementary School (A+)

- Pictured: 271-273 Hickory Dr, Tyrone ($189,900, 4 bedrooms)

9 / 25

#17. 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)

- Pictured: 322 Beacon Cir, Boalsburg ($649,900, 4 bedrooms)

10 / 25

#16. East Marlborough Township

- Population: 7,388
- Median home value: $447,500 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,383 (13% rent)
- Median household income: $124,079
- Top public schools: Unionville High School (A+), Chadds Ford Elementary School (A+), Pocopson Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Upland Country Day School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 239 W Barnard St, West Chester ($450,000, 3 bedrooms)

You may also like: Counties with the most veterans in Pennsylvania

11 / 25

#15. Charlestown Township

- Population: 5,941
- Median home value: $483,400 (86% own)
- Median rent: $2,066 (14% rent)
- Median household income: $140,179
- Top public schools: Valley Forge Middle School (A+), Valley Forge Elementary School (A+), Great Valley High School (A+)
- Top private schools: Charlestown Playhouse (unavailable), Kindercare Learning Center #303038 (unavailable), Great Valley KinderCare (unavailable)

- Pictured: 697 Metro Ct, West Chester ($235,000, 2 bedrooms)

12 / 25

#14. Franklin Park

- Population: 14,589
- Median home value: $350,200 (90% own)
- Median rent: $1,673 (10% rent)
- Median household income: $134,688
- Top public schools: North Allegheny High School (A+), Franklin Elementary School (A+), Marshall Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Anthony School Programs (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1807 Tara Ct, Pittsburgh ($1.1 million, 5 bedrooms)

13 / 25

#13. Fox Chapel

- Population: 5,121
- Median home value: $662,400 (96% own)
- Median rent: No data available (4% rent)
- Median household income: $205,987
- Top public schools: Fox Chapel Area High School (A+), Fairview Elementary School (A+), O'Hara Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Shady Side Academy (A+)

- Pictured: 145 Old Mill Rd, Pittsburgh ($3.0 million, 7 bedrooms)

14 / 25

#12. Blue Bell

- Population: 6,250
- Median home value: $475,900 (87% own)
- Median rent: $1,708 (13% rent)
- Median household income: $132,204
- Top public schools: Wissahickon Senior High School (A+), Plymouth-Whitemarsh Senior High School (A+), Wissahickon Middle School (A+)

- Pictured: 1907 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell ($4.0 million, 10 bedrooms)

15 / 25

#11. 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+), Foster Elementary School (A+), Hoover Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Seton LaSalle Catholic High School (A-), St. Bernard School (unavailable), Mount Lebanon Montessori School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 850 Osage Rd, Pittsburgh ($2.4 million, 5 bedrooms)

16 / 25

#10. 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 (unavailable)

- Pictured: 23 4th St, Pittsburgh ($274,500, 3 bedrooms)

17 / 25

#9. 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)

- Pictured: 120 Fernleaf Ct, State College ($689,500, 4 bedrooms)

18 / 25

#8. Marshall Township

- Population: 9,053
- Median home value: $363,100 (89% own)
- Median rent: $1,396 (11% rent)
- Median household income: $135,208
- Top public schools: North Allegheny High School (A+), Marshall Elementary School (A+), Bradford Woods Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: KinderCare Learning Center (unavailable), Tender Care Learning Center of Cranberry (unavailable), Wexford KinderCare (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1150 NW Quimby St Unit 430, Portland ($830,000, 2 bedrooms)

19 / 25

#7. 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+)

- Pictured: 401 Park Ave, Swarthmore ($895,000, 5 bedrooms)

20 / 25

#6. 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: Lower Merion High School (A+), Harriton Senior High School (A+), Penn Valley School (A+)
- Top private schools: Regina Angelorum Academy (unavailable)

- Pictured: 3104 Darby Rd, Ardmore ($1.4 million, 4 bedrooms)

You may also like: Most commonly hunted migratory birds in Pennsylvania

21 / 25

#5. Berwyn

- Population: 3,531
- Median home value: $475,200 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,351 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $102,147
- Top public schools: Conestoga Senior High School (A+), Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School (A+), Hillside Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Regina Luminis Academy (B), St. Norbert Elementary School (unavailable), Tarleton School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 2291 S Valley Rd, Berwyn ($3.3 million, 6 bedrooms)

22 / 25

#4. 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: Lower Merion High School (A+), Harriton Senior High School (A+), Merion Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: St. Margaret School (unavailable)

- Pictured: 349 Sprague Rd, Narberth ($1.8 million, 5 bedrooms)

23 / 25

#3. Devon

- Population: 1,869
- Median home value: $657,700 (92% own)
- Median rent: $2,177 (8% rent)
- Median household income: $193,015
- Top public schools: Conestoga Senior High School (A+), Tredyffrin-Easttown Middle School (A+), Valley Forge Middle School (A+)

- Pictured: 437 S Fairfield Rd, Devon ($3.2 million, 5 bedrooms)

24 / 25

#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 (unavailable), Robert J. Wilf Preschool & Kindergarten (unavailable)

- Pictured: 1409 Surrey Ln, Wynnewood ($725,000, 4 bedrooms)

25 / 25

#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+), Valley Forge Middle School (A+), Valley Forge Elementary School (A+)
- Top private schools: Chesterbrook Academy (unavailable)

- Pictured: 505 Kettlehouse Pond Dr, Chesterbrook ($499,500, 2 bedrooms)