Real Estate Experts Name Best 8 Places to Live in PA

Whether you're a lifelong resident or just moving into the state, chances are you've discovered for yourself how charming Pennsylvania can be. From small towns to big cities, Pennsylvania offers a range of living options to suit various lifestyles and interests. Travel & Leisure connected with several real estate experts who identified the following eight best places to live in PA.

Philadelphia was highlighted for affordable city living with a median home price around $270,000, a variety of neighborhoods, and a rich cultural scene along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Sports enthusiasts love the robust sports culture that exists here.

“We are known as a city of neighborhoods, with over 150 communities offering unique flavors and experiences,” said Bill Lublin, CEO of Century 21 Advantage Gold and 2025 president of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors.

At the opposite end of the state from Philadelphia is Erie. Here, the cost of living is 13% lower than the national average. The median home price is around $189,975. During the warmer months, residents can enjoy diverse forms of entertainment, including the annual CelebrateErie festival.

Philadelphia suburbs along the Main Line, including Ardmore, Haverford, Wayne, Villanova, Radnor, and Bryn Mawr, offer fantastic schools, walkable downtowns, and rail access to Center City Philadelphia. The median sale price of a home in the Main Line at the end of 2025 was around $650,000.

Harrisburg and Lancaster offer affordable housing and a high quality of life. Harrisburg has a median home sale price of around $269,000, and Lancaster is in the mid-to-upper $300,000s. These central Pennsylvania communities are within a short distance from Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City.

Chester County is known for its high quality of life and family-friendly communities, such as West Chester and Downingtown. Median home sales are around $530,000 to $560,000. The county offers residents access to high-quality schools, making its communities attractive to families.

The Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania offer natural beauty and year-round outdoor recreation, including hiking, kayaking, and skiing. The median home price here is around $320,000. The area appeals to remote or hybrid workers due to affordable homes and proximity to major metros, including New York City.

Pittsburgh stands out for its culture, outdoor recreation, affordable housing (median home sale is around $235,000), and a growing food and beverage scene across diverse neighborhoods.

Bucks County is described as charming and spacious with good schools, parks, and a variety of housing near Philadelphia. Charming towns like Newtown, Yardley, and Doylestown, however, tend to be more expensive places to live, with median home values around $610,000 to $715,000.