Best Affordable Places to Live in Pennsylvania in 2025

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The state capital, Harrisburg offers plenty to do no matter what you’re into. It’s a short drive to several popular tourist attractions, including Amish country, Gettysburg, and Hersheypark. Or you can stay in the city and enjoy local concerts, art exhibitions, restaurants, the theater, and more. Though the overall cost of living in Harrisburg is a little higher than the cost of living in the U.S., the city’s home and rent prices are relatively manageable.

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If you like a place with history, including Colonial-era homes and buildings, you’ll definitely want to check out all that York has to offer. You’ll also find plenty of modern-day features, including trendy shops, modern apartments, and a thriving arts scene. For newbie homebuyers, there are first-time homebuyer programs in Pennsylvania that may help with a down payment and/or closing costs.

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If you’re looking for a bigger city with a small-town feel, Scranton might be a good bet. There’s a sense of neighborhood here, along with a dynamic downtown. And the cost of living is lower than many other cities in the Northeast, so you may be able to get more house for your money.

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Nicknamed Christmas City, Bethlehem takes holiday fun seriously, with a parade, Christmas market, and more. But the city keeps it family-friendly year-round, with Musikfest in the summer and Oktoberfest in the fall. As you house shop in Bethlehem (or anyplace), the resources in a home loan help center could be helpful in your search.

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Sometimes referred to as Happy Valley, State College is known for its walkability, its charming downtown, and, of course, as the home of Penn State University. Kids can enjoy activities that include an outdoor movie series and a children’s garden. Plus, the city is more affordable than many other family-friendly communities in the state.

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This suburb of Philadelphia has plenty of indoor and outdoor places for children to play, kid-friendly restaurants, and a festival for every season and reason, including the Zucchini 500, during which youngsters can build their own race cars from fruits and veggies. There’s a vintage market for Mom and Dad, too, and the town is just a short commute to Philly.

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If you’re a sports fan, you already know Pittsburgh has pro baseball, football, hockey, and soccer teams, plus college sports. But this energetic city also offers festivals, concerts, museums, and a dynamic dining scene. And there are plenty of green spaces and parks to be active. It’s also one of the better places on the list to go house-hunting, with a home price-to-income ratio under 4.

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Reading is close to Philadelphia, and also to Amish country. It has great outdoor spaces, and also some good museums. And if you’re a sports fan, you can cheer for the Reading Fightin’ Phils (an affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies) or the Reading Royals (an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers). The pace is a little slower and more relaxed here. Going through the mortgage preapproval process could give buyers a leg up if and when it’s time to put an offer on a home.

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Looking for an up-and-coming city? Altoona may be worth checking out for young adults searching for an affordable community where they could rent or buy. The city is home to a Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate and has its own symphony orchestra and theater, so there are some fun things to do. There are also plenty of restaurants and some breweries. Prospective buyers can look into different types of mortgage loans to see the various options they have.

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You may think of Hershey as strictly a tourist town, but there’s more to it than the smell of chocolate in the air. Hershey is known for good medical care and its carefully planned (by Milton Hershey himself) small-town charm. Plus, with Hersheypark right there, you’ve got a built-in place to take the grandkids!

This small Pittsburgh suburb has a range of activities to offer retirees, from golf and horseback riding to antiquing and hunting for flea market finds. There are also a number of retirement communities and senior living facilities to choose from in Bridgeville.

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Pennsylvania’s second-largest city makes another appearance on this list as a smart place to retire. It has plenty of cultural attractions, such as the Carnegie Museum and Andy Warhol Museum, as well as beautiful parks. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center offers first-rate health care. The overall cost of living here is moderate, and depending on where you locate in the city, you may find it possible to walk to shops and restaurants with ease.

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If you dream of retiring somewhere with great scenery and a water view, and you don’t mind a few months of frigid temps, Erie could be worth considering. True to its name, the city sits on the south shore of Lake Erie, which means it’s beautiful, breezy, and in the winter, sometimes very, very cold.

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Be sure to bring your bike, kayak, and hiking boots if you plan to move to Warren. You’ll want to take full advantage of its proximity to the Allegheny River and Allegheny National Forest and all it has to offer. Once you dry off, you can enjoy the local brewery, theater, and antique stores.

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Situated in the northwestern part of the state on the Allegheny River, Oil City offers picturesque water views and a variety of activities for residents. The thriving business district includes a farmers market and shops and galleries, and the city hosts concerts and festivals year-round.