
Rate Lancaster
4.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Lancaster stands out as one of the oldest inland municipalities in the United States, tracing its roots back to the early colonial era. The city is famous for its deeply rooted heritage and its large, traditional Amish community. The local economy remains remarkably resilient, supported by steady performances in healthcare, manufacturing, and tourism. Residents love gathering at the historic Central Market, a local staple that has operated continuously since the early Georgian era. The region provides a highly competitive cost of living alongside convenient transit access to major metropolitan hubs along the East Coast.
Lancaster stands out as one of the oldest inland municipalities in the United States, tracing its roots back to the early colonial era. The city is famous for its deeply rooted heritage and its large, traditional Amish community. ...
Personal Safety : 68
Property Safety : 55
Community Safety : 24
$370,000
Median Home Rent
$1,500

Rate State College
4.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
State College serves as a prime example of a community that appeals far beyond its traditional identity as a prominent university town. The area features peaceful, highly secure neighborhoods alongside public schools that regularly earn top marks for academic excellence. The presence of a major public research institution drives a stable local economy and maintains a steady calendar of diverse cultural events. Tucked into beautiful mountain ridges, the town is perfect for professionals and families who enjoy hiking and outdoor recreation.
State College serves as a prime example of a community that appeals far beyond its traditional identity as a prominent university town. The area features peaceful, highly secure neighborhoods alongside public schools that regularl...
Personal Safety : N/A
Property Safety : N/A
Community Safety : N/A
$480,500
Median Home Rent
$1,760

Rate Philadelphia
5.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Philly functions as the largest urban center in the state and serves as a massive regional economic engine. The city proudly holds the distinction of hosting the first hospital and public library in the nation. Today, the metropolitan workforce thrives across the fields of higher education, biomedical research, and corporate finance. Residents enjoy premier big-city amenities and robust employment prospects without the prohibitive housing prices found in Boston or New York. The city is celebrated for its distinct neighborhoods, historic landmarks, and legendary culinary scene.
Philly functions as the largest urban center in the state and serves as a massive regional economic engine. The city proudly holds the distinction of hosting the first hospital and public library in the nation. Today, the metropol...
Personal Safety : 24
Property Safety : 4
Community Safety : 25
$280,000
Median Home Rent
$1,600

Rate Allentown
3.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Allentown serves as a critical engine for industrial logistics and commercial growth within the Lehigh Valley. Major downtown revitalization efforts have created a diverse job market centered around modern healthcare networks and supply chain management. One of the finest attributes of this community is its extensive park system, which provides more dedicated green space per capita than most cities of its size. A competitive cost of living and a modernized downtown core make it a highly livable environment for growing families and young professionals.
Allentown serves as a critical engine for industrial logistics and commercial growth within the Lehigh Valley. Major downtown revitalization efforts have created a diverse job market centered around modern healthcare networks and ...
Personal Safety : 55
Property Safety : 56
Community Safety : 29
$351,500
Median Home Rent
$1,650

Rate Harrisburg
4.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Harrisburg sits gracefully along the banks of the Susquehanna River, offering a welcoming, small-city atmosphere backed by stable employment. The local economy is grounded by state government operations, regional retail centers, and extensive medical networks. The state capital is an excellent option for buyers seeking consistent economic conditions, accessible housing, and ample riverfront recreation. Its central geographical location also makes regular travel to other major Mid-Atlantic hubs simple and straightforward.
Harrisburg sits gracefully along the banks of the Susquehanna River, offering a welcoming, small-city atmosphere backed by stable employment. The local economy is grounded by state government operations, regional retail centers, a...
Personal Safety : 14
Property Safety : 23
Community Safety : 6
$274,950
Median Home Rent
$1,375

Rate Pittsburgh
5.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Pittsburgh has successfully transformed its legacy as an industrial steel hub to become a global leader in robotics, software technology, and clinical medicine. The city is anchored by prestigious academic institutions like Carnegie Mellon University and the massive UPMC health network. Known widely as the City of Bridges because of its unique river topography, it features beautiful waterfront access and abundant green spaces. The market successfully combines urban innovation with a very accessible cost of living and highly competitive real estate values.
Pittsburgh has successfully transformed its legacy as an industrial steel hub to become a global leader in robotics, software technology, and clinical medicine. The city is anchored by prestigious academic institutions like Carneg...
Personal Safety : 12
Property Safety : 18
Community Safety : 19
$240,000
Median Home Rent
$1,525

Rate Scranton
3.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Scranton is a mid-sized city that pairs a proud industrial heritage with a comfortable, suburban atmosphere. Historically nicknamed the Electric City due to its early introduction of electric streetcars, the town now supports a modern professional and administrative workforce. Its low operational costs continue to attract prominent financial and back-office firms. Residents benefit from some of the most competitive home values and everyday living costs in the entire state.
Scranton is a mid-sized city that pairs a proud industrial heritage with a comfortable, suburban atmosphere. Historically nicknamed the Electric City due to its early introduction of electric streetcars, the town now supports a mo...
Personal Safety : 54
Property Safety : 61
Community Safety : 31
$226,000
Median Home Rent
$1,350

Rate Reading
3.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Reading is characterized by its rich cultural diversity, vibrant community spirit, and a highly resilient manufacturing base. The city is exceptionally affordable and serves as a premier destination for outdoor sports lovers, earning international recognition for its expansive network of mountain biking trails. Families frequently target the highly rated adjacent suburbs for their excellent public schools while enjoying a straightforward daily commute into the city center.
Reading is characterized by its rich cultural diversity, vibrant community spirit, and a highly resilient manufacturing base. The city is exceptionally affordable and serves as a premier destination for outdoor sports lovers, earn...
Personal Safety : 45
Property Safety : 55
Community Safety : 42
$265,000
Median Home Rent
$1,400

Rate Erie
3.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Erie is proudly nicknamed the Flagship City due to its strategic position on the Great Lakes. The community offers a classic lakeside lifestyle defined by the sandy beaches, competitive boating, and excellent fishing found at Presque Isle State Park. The regional economy remains highly stable, anchored by robust healthcare networks and the headquarters of Erie Insurance, a prominent Fortune company. Because local housing prices remain exceptionally low compared to national real estate trends, the area stands out as one of the most affordable waterfront cities in the United States.
Erie is proudly nicknamed the Flagship City due to its strategic position on the Great Lakes. The community offers a classic lakeside lifestyle defined by the sandy beaches, competitive boating, and excellent fishing found at Pres...
Personal Safety : 52
Property Safety : 40
Community Safety : 15
$153,500
Median Home Rent
$1,098

Rate Bethlehem
4.0/5
1 Review
Job Market
100%
Commute
100%
Good Schools
100%
Affordability
100%
Public Transit
100%
Future Growth
100%
Bethlehem is a captivating city located in the Lehigh Valley that is widely celebrated for its colonial heritage and industrial legacy. The community proudly carries the nickname of Christmas City due to its historic wintertime founding and its festive holiday markets. The local economy is exceptionally well-rounded, spanning higher education, advanced manufacturing, and the arts. Boasting highly walkable historic districts and a creative culture anchored by Lehigh University, the town offers an incredibly inviting environment to call home.
Bethlehem is a captivating city located in the Lehigh Valley that is widely celebrated for its colonial heritage and industrial legacy. The community proudly carries the nickname of Christmas City due to its historic wintertime fo...
Personal Safety : 73
Property Safety : 67
Community Safety : 28
$387,000
Median Home Rent
$1,875
Transparent & data-driven
Each city is scored against the state average on five weighted factors, normalized to control for regional cost differences and market size. Home prices, rents, and inventory come straight from Houzeo's live MLS feed; everything else is sourced from verified government datasets.
Median home price, price per sq ft & rent relative to local incomes vs. the state average.
Violent and property crime rates per capita from FBI reporting vs. the state average.
Median household income, employment levels & job stability vs. the state average.
Active listings, days on market & buyer competition from Houzeo’s live MLS feed.
Schools, walkability, commute times & access to everyday amenities — the tiebreaker.
If you’re looking for Pennsylvania cities that offer lower home prices and a manageable cost of living, these communities are a great place to begin. They provide steady access to jobs, everyday essentials, and housing options that work for a variety of budgets. For more choices, explore our complete list of the most affordable places to live in Pennsylvania.
| City | Median Home Price | Median Rent | Cost of Living Vs. State Avg. | Affordability Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford | $70,170 | $950 | 8.4/10 | |
| Altoona | $125,000 | $950 | 8.3/10 | |
| Johnstown | $58,500 | $850 | 8.2/10 | |
| Pottsville | $143,800 | $1,200 | 7.9/10 | |
| Oil City | $182,320 | $900 | 7.7/10 |
Safety is a major priority for people relocating within Pennsylvania. These cities rank among the safest in the state, based on the latest FBI crime data, reporting lower rates of both violent and property crime compared to the state average. You can find the full rankings in our guide to the safest places to live in Pennsylvania.
To determine the best places to live, we applied a structured, data-driven methodology using verified economic and housing datasets. Our analysis incorporates employment levels and job stability (Bureau of Labor Statistics), cost-of-living benchmarks (C2ER), median home prices and average rents (Houzeo housing data), and income statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Each factor was normalized against its respective state average to control for regional cost differences and market size. The combined metrics were then weighted and aggregated to produce a final comparative score, highlighting cities where income levels align more favorably with housing costs, employment conditions remain stable, and overall affordability is stronger relative to the state baseline.
Based on information from the West Penn Mutli-List, INC through Sep 6, 2026, 8:45 PM. Information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. © 2026 West Penn Multi-List, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Based on information from Bright MLS through Sep 6, 2026, 8:45 PM. Listing information is from various brokers who participate in the Bright MLS IDX program and not all listings may be visible on the site. The property information being provided on or through the website is for the personal, non-commercial use of consumers and such information may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Some properties which appear for sale on the website may no longer be available because they are for instance, under contract, sold or are no longer being offered for sale. Property information displayed is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. IDX information is provided exclusively for personal, non-commercial use, and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. © 2025 Bright MLS, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Click here for more information
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The market analysis provided on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Data is sourced from public records, industry reports, and third-party providers, and while Houzeo strives for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the completeness, accuracy, or timeliness of the information presented.
All estimates, projections, and historical data are based on statistical models and should not be relied upon as predictions of future market conditions. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and real estate market conditions may change due to various economic and regulatory factors. Users are responsible for conducting their own due diligence before making any real estate or financial decisions. Houzeo is not liable for any decisions or actions taken based on the information provided. Any unauthorized use, duplication, or distribution of the data may violate copyright laws and result in legal consequences. Certain information, tools and services on this page may be powered by third-party vendors. Houzeo does not control or guarantee the accuracy, reliability, or functionality of such third-party services.