Pennsylvania cities, including Harrisburg, top the list of best places to retire in the U.S

Seven metropolitan areas in Pennsylvania, including Harrisburg, landed at the top of the best places to retire in the country, according to an analysis by U.S. News & World Report.

The report analyzed data for the 150 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. to determine how well they meet Americans’ retirement needs and expectations.

Cities in Florida dominated the retirement list but Pennsylvania’s snagged several high-ranking spots, buoyed by sky-high quality healthcare scores as the state is home to a variety of highly-respected healthcare systems including UPMC, Penn State Health, and Geisinger.

Lancaster ranked the highest of all the places in Pennsylvania by being named the fifth best place in the country to retire, besting Tampa and Fort Myers in Florida, among dozens of other places. The Harrisburg area came in at 13th, York at 17th and Philadelphia at 19th.

Each city was ranked based on housing affordability, tax rates, health care quality, and the happiness of local residents. Happiness was measured by surveys, crime rates and air quality. A score of 10 was the highest in each category and those categories were averaged for an overall score.

Lancaster’s overall score landed at 7.2, boosted by healthcare quality measured at 9.3. Housing affordability was listed at 6.5. The report noted Lancaster residents appreciate the balance between natural and commercial spaces.

Housing costs in Lancaster averaged $226,550 last year compared to the national average of $315,743.

Here’s a look at other Pennsylvania towns that ranked high on the list.

Harrisburg, PA

Pennsylvania’s capital earned 13th place on the list of retirement living with an overall score of 7.1.

The report noted Harrisburg is a great spot for bikers and runners to enjoy Susquehanna River scenery on the trails of Riverfront Park, and the area also hosts many of the metro area’s annual festivals and events.

Housing affordability landed at 6.7 for Harrisburg. Housing costs in Harrisburg averaged $265,150 in 2020 compared to the National Average of $315,743. The city’s overall healthcare score ranked at 8.8.

Allentown, PA

Allentown ranked 11th for the best places to retire. The area offers a variety of things to do for people of all ages, according to the report.

With an overall score of 7.1, Pennsylvania’s third-largest metro area provides historic homes and buildings, commercial structures and century-old industrial buildings, according to the report. Allentown’s housing affordability was quantified at 6.0, as many of the closed mills and manufacturing buildings have been converted into modern looking apartments and lofts. Healthcare was nearly-perfect at 9.8.

Reading, PA

With an overall score of 7.1, Reading landed at number 15 on the list. The metro area is home to the real-life “Reading Railroad” from the Monopoly board game, With housing affordability scoring at 6.5, the diverse metro area continues to attract new residents with its low cost of living and low crime rates, according to the report. Healthcare scored high at 9.3.

York, PA

Ranking at number 17 for best places to retire, York is home of the Continental Congress, the birthplace of the Articles of Confederation and even the capital of the U.S. for a short time . The small, historic metro area (with an overall score of 7.0) offers shops, high-end apartments and special events, according to the report. York’s downtown living is on the rise, as the city is seeing a growing number of visitors due to the major activity centers. Housing affordability scored at 6.4 with a strong showing for health care quality at 9.4.

Philadelphia, PA

Earning an overall score of 7.0 and landing at number 19, Philadelphia offers a unique mix of modern lifestyles, according to the report. History and art are pervasive in the city with murals and mosaics visible downtown. Art galleries, music venues and theaters embrace the city’s culture and style. Housing costs in Philadelphia last year averaged $304,667 compared to the National Average of $315,743. The U.S. News & World Report ranked housing affordability at 5.5 and healthcare with a perfect 10.0.

Scranton, PA

With an overall score of 7.0, Scranton ranked at 21 on the list. Although Scranton is the sixth largest city in Pennsylvania, the close-knit neighborhoods around downtown gives the city strong small-town appeal. Housing affordability landed at 7.5 with health care quality earning more than most areas on the list but the second-lowest in Pa. top towns at 8.3.

Pittsburgh, PA

The Pittsburgh area scored the highest of Pa. towns in housing affordability at 7.2, but the lowest in the state for healthcare quality of 7.9. The healthcare score still was much higher than most other towns from other states on the list. The area’s overall score was 6.9.

The overall score was good enough to place at 29th on the list. The report noted Pittsburgh encompasses almost 2,000 acres of land in just its city parks, and also offers county parks, state parks and riverfront parks to its residents. Housing costs less in Pittsburgh compared with other major cities, although residents are seeing a slow rise in housing costs amid a booming housing market.