Maybe you’ve reached the time where you’re ready to make a big change and move to a new state, or maybe you live in PA but are looking for a new community. There are many reasons for wanting a lifestyle change: having a nice place to raise a family, moving to an urban center for career option, or looking for the perfect place to retire, to name a few. And, if you’re looking to move, Pennsylvania has a lot to love!
If you’re interested in moving to the Keystone State – a state known for its deep-rooted history, natural beauty, and culturally diverse art, music, and dining experiences – you’ll be faced with the challenge of figuring out where you want to live. With so many incredible places to choose from, you might find yourself struggling to narrow down your options for moving to Pennsylvania. Read on for an overview of the best the state has to offer.
Pennsylvania Overview
With over 13 million residents, Pennsylvania is the 5th-most populous state. Nearly half the population is concentrated in the southeastern Delaware Valley, centered around the state’s largest city, Philadelphia (6.25 million). Another one-third live in Greater Pittsburgh (2.37 million) in the southwest. The state capital is Harrisburg. Other major Pennsylvania cities include Allentown, Reading, Erie, and Scranton.
Pennsylvania’s geography is highly diverse: the Appalachian Mountains run through its center, while the Allegheny and Pocono Mountains span much of the northeast; close to 60% of the state is forested. While it has only 140 miles of waterfront along Lake Erie and the Delaware River, Pennsylvania has more navigable rivers than any other state, including the Delaware, Ohio, and Schuylkill.
To help you through the process of beginning your Pennsylvania adventure, you’ll need to start by narrowing down your options and choosing your ideal city or town. Pennsylvania is bookended by Philadelphia in the southeast and Pittsburgh in the Southwest. But, with 305 miles between them there are many incredible places to consider relocating to. Let’s get a taste of some of the bounty Pennsylvania offers and take a brief look at some of these places.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia is the economic and cultural center of the greater Delaware Valley along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Founded in 1682 by William Penn it is one of the oldest municipalities in the United States and played a central role in the country’s founding.
Philadelphia is the home of many U.S. firsts, including the nation’s first library (1731), hospital (1751), medical school (1765), national capital (1774), university (1779), stock exchange (1790), zoo (1874), and business school (1881). Philadelphia contains 67 National Historic Landmarks, including the Liberty Bell, and the World Heritage Site of Independence Hall. Philadelphia is also home to Philadelphia Museum of Art, and several others.
Oh, and did we mention the food?! Philadelphia has become renowned for its diverse food scene. Whatever you’re craving; from the famous Philly Cheesesteak to a 5-star dining experience, and everything in between, you’ll find it in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is known both as “the Steel City” for its more than 300 steel-related businesses and as the “City of Bridges” for its 446 bridges. Bridges aren’t the only notable elements of infrastructure found in this city. Anyone living in Pittsburgh is familiar with the countless stairs, as the city boasts a staggering 712 sets of public steps, more than any other hilly city in the country. It’s rich industrial history left the area with renowned museums, medical centers, parks, research centers, and a diverse cultural district.
Today, Pittsburgh has transformed into a hub for the health care, education, and technology industries. Pittsburgh is home to 68 colleges and universities, including Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
The Downtown area (also known as the Golden Triangle) sits where the Allegheny River flows from the northeast and the Monongahela River from the southeast to form the Ohio River. The convergence is at Point State Park and is referred to as “the Point.”
One area of Pittsburgh that has gotten a lot of attention as a hip place to live is the North Side. Composed mainly of residential neighborhoods, it is noteworthy for its well-constructed and architecturally interesting homes. Many buildings date from the 19th century and are constructed of brick or stone and adorned with decorative woodwork, ceramic tile, slate roofs and stained glass. The North Side is also home to attractions such as Heinz Field, PNC Park, Carnegie Science Center, the National Aviary, Andy Warhol Museum, Mattress Factory art museum, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Penn Brewery, and Allegheny Observatory.
And while house hunting in Pittsburgh make some time to stop by Primanti Bros. for their famous “Pittsburgh” sandwich.
Allentown
On the Lehigh River is Allentown, the third-most populated city in Pennsylvania. Historically, Allentown was a wilderness area used by the local Native Americans for hunting grouse, deer, other game, and fishing trout. Today, Allentown is known for its rich Pennsylvania Dutch history, IronPigs baseball team, and award-winning park system.
If you’re looking to explore the historical side of Allentown, stop by America on Wheels, offering an excellent history of the transportation industry. The Lehigh Valley Heritage Center provides a comprehensive look into the people and industries of Lehigh County. Lastly, the Mack Trucks Historical Museum showcases the history of Mack Trucks.
There is a long history of professional baseball in Allentown, dating as far back as 1884. The city today is best known for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The 8,100-seat Coca-Cola Park is one of the newest AAA parks in the country found on the east side of Allentown. Notable parks in Allentown include West Park, Allentown Rose Gardens, and Cedar Creek Park.
Erie
Erie is located on the south shore of Lake Erie and is the fourth-most populated city in Pennsylvania and has been nicknamed the Flagship City. Much of the development in Erie came from the manufacturing industry, which remains prominent in the local economy. Other sectors are now expanding in Erie, including higher education, technology, and healthcare.
The most visited state park in all of Pennsylvania is Erie’s Presque Isle State Park. The Presque Isle peninsula enters Lake Erie at this park, where individuals and families of all ages can come and enjoy a plethora of recreational activities. The only surf beaches found in the entire state are here at Presque Isle State Park.
Other exciting things to check out in Erie include the Erie Maritime Museum, which is found along the waterfront and focuses primarily on the War of 1812. However, it covers the city’s complete maritime history. The Seaway Trail runs through downtown Erie along the lakefront. The Tom Ridge Environmental Center, at the foot of Presque Isle, features 7,000 sq ft of exhibit space.
Other tourist destinations include the Bayfront Convention Center; the Bicentennial Tower that overlooks Lake Erie; Dobbins Landing, a pier in downtown Erie; the Erie Land Light, and the Erie Maritime Museum, the home port of the Niagara. For families with children, the indoor waterpark Splash Lagoon, in Summit Township, is the largest indoor waterpark on the East Coast
A hidden gem of Lake Erie is its premier grape growing and wine production. Just east of downtown Erie, you’ll find many excellent wineries. Some of the favorites include Presque Isle Wine Cellars at the Colony, 6 Mile Cellars, Inc., and Heritage Wine Cellars.
Is That It?
Heavens no! We wish we had the time and space to describe every wonderful place you can locate to in Pennsylvania. To explore more on your own here’s U.S. News’ list of the best places to live and HomeSnacks.com’s list of the 10 best communities in Pennsylvania.
We do have a little more for you…
Are you a pro sports nut? Pennsylvania has you covered!
Pennsylvania is home to many major league professional sports teams: the Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball, the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins from the NHL, and the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer.
Pennsylvania also has numerous minor league baseball, hockey, and basketball teams playing in many communities statewide.
Is outdoor adventure your thing? Pennsylvania has 121 state parks and they all feature free admission.
And a Little More
There’s truly is so much to do all around Pennsylvania that it was hard to know where to begin and where to end.
We never even mentioned Harrisburg (the state capital), the Valley Forge National Park, Gettysburg National Military Park, Hersheypark, Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium, the Houdini Museum in Scranton, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, the Pocono Mountains, and many more places to fall in love with in Pennsylvania. We’ll have to explore more in future blogs.
The Bottom Line
No matter what lifestyle you’re looking for in Pennsylvania, whether it’s life along the waterfront of Lake Erie, rural living in Lancaster County, or the hustle of more metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, there’s somewhere for everyone.
Thankfully, some of the best places to live in Pennsylvania are still reasonably priced. So, if you are interested in moving to Pennsylvania, now might be a good time to start your research.
Once you’ve found your new home the Hadley Team is here to help you find the right mortgage. We’re local PA residents and PA mortgage experts, and we can speed up your loan closing by getting you pre-approved. So, let’s connect and get your project off the ground!