Best counties to live in Pennsylvania
Written by:
February 18, 2021
Camerafiend // Wikimedia Commons
Best counties to live in Pennsylvania
What makes a particular county the best? Oftentimes, it's a good mix of opportunities for fun outdoor activities and cultural attractions. Throw in some historical sites, good schools, job opportunities, and affordable housing, and the county will most likely have happy residents.
Stacker compiled a list of the best counties to live in Pennsylvania using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks counties by a variety of factors including: public schools, educational attainment, cost of living, and housing.
Many counties on the list are experiencing growth due to their job opportunities, education, or home values. Others are adored for their historic or well-designed value, or devotion to cultural opportunities. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.
1 / 25
Canva
#25. Pike County
- Population: 55,453
- Median home value: $185,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,200 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $65,928
- Median home value: $185,700 (83% own)
- Median rent: $1,200 (17% rent)
- Median household income: $65,928
2 / 25
Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Columbia County
- Population: 65,715
- Median home value: $151,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $758 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $50,550
- Median home value: $151,700 (69% own)
- Median rent: $758 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $50,550
3 / 25
Canva
#23. Luzerne County
- Population: 317,663
- Median home value: $127,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $785 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $53,473
- Median home value: $127,000 (68% own)
- Median rent: $785 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $53,473
4 / 25
Canva
#22. Mercer County
- Population: 111,518
- Median home value: $121,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $689 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $50,696
- Median home value: $121,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $689 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $50,696
5 / 25
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Berks County
- Population: 418,025
- Median home value: $178,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $939 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $63,728
- Median home value: $178,700 (72% own)
- Median rent: $939 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $63,728
6 / 25
Canva
#20. York County
- Population: 445,565
- Median home value: $177,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $957 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $66,457
- Median home value: $177,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $957 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $66,457
7 / 25
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Beaver County
- Population: 165,833
- Median home value: $141,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $698 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $57,807
- Median home value: $141,100 (73% own)
- Median rent: $698 (27% rent)
- Median household income: $57,807
8 / 25
Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Washington County
- Population: 207,212
- Median home value: $167,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $772 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $63,543
- Median home value: $167,900 (76% own)
- Median rent: $772 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $63,543
9 / 25
Shuvaev // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Northampton County
- Population: 302,809
- Median home value: $219,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $70,471
- Median home value: $219,800 (71% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (29% rent)
- Median household income: $70,471
10 / 25
Canva
#16. Westmoreland County
- Population: 352,590
- Median home value: $153,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $721 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $60,471
- Median home value: $153,100 (77% own)
- Median rent: $721 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $60,471
11 / 25
Canva
#15. Lackawanna County
- Population: 210,652
- Median home value: $152,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $792 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $52,821
- Median home value: $152,400 (64% own)
- Median rent: $792 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $52,821
12 / 25
Canva
#14. Erie County
- Population: 273,835
- Median home value: $134,100 (66% own)
- Median rent: $753 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $51,529
- Median home value: $134,100 (66% own)
- Median rent: $753 (34% rent)
- Median household income: $51,529
13 / 25
Ruhrfisch (talk) // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Union County
- Population: 45,111
- Median home value: $189,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $769 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $59,399
- Median home value: $189,500 (72% own)
- Median rent: $769 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $59,399
14 / 25
Mvincec // Wikimedia Commons
#12. Butler County
- Population: 186,899
- Median home value: $205,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $869 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $70,668
- Median home value: $205,600 (76% own)
- Median rent: $869 (24% rent)
- Median household income: $70,668
15 / 25
Daderot // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Lancaster County
- Population: 540,999
- Median home value: $209,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,009 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $66,056
- Median home value: $209,400 (68% own)
- Median rent: $1,009 (32% rent)
- Median household income: $66,056
16 / 25
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Lehigh County
- Population: 365,052
- Median home value: $208,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $63,897
- Median home value: $208,200 (64% own)
- Median rent: $1,072 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $63,897
17 / 25
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Montour County
- Population: 18,259
- Median home value: $185,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $721 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $58,333
- Median home value: $185,100 (67% own)
- Median rent: $721 (33% rent)
- Median household income: $58,333
18 / 25
Rina Pitucci // Flickr
#8. Dauphin County
- Population: 275,632
- Median home value: $167,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $949 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $60,715
- Median home value: $167,900 (63% own)
- Median rent: $949 (37% rent)
- Median household income: $60,715
19 / 25
Canva
#7. Cumberland County
- Population: 249,328
- Median home value: $202,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $991 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $71,269
- Median home value: $202,900 (70% own)
- Median rent: $991 (30% rent)
- Median household income: $71,269
20 / 25
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Bucks County
- Population: 626,806
- Median home value: $330,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,228 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $89,139
- Median home value: $330,600 (77% own)
- Median rent: $1,228 (23% rent)
- Median household income: $89,139
21 / 25
Nicholas // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Centre County
- Population: 161,960
- Median home value: $234,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,000 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $60,403
- Median home value: $234,900 (62% own)
- Median rent: $1,000 (38% rent)
- Median household income: $60,403
22 / 25
Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Delaware County
- Population: 564,554
- Median home value: $244,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $74,477
- Median home value: $244,400 (69% own)
- Median rent: $1,078 (31% rent)
- Median household income: $74,477
23 / 25
ESB Professional // Shutterstock
#3. Allegheny County
- Population: 1,221,744
- Median home value: $154,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $890 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $61,043
- Median home value: $154,700 (64% own)
- Median rent: $890 (36% rent)
- Median household income: $61,043
24 / 25
Camerafiend // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Chester County
- Population: 519,560
- Median home value: $357,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,330 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $100,214
- Median home value: $357,100 (75% own)
- Median rent: $1,330 (25% rent)
- Median household income: $100,214
25 / 25
Douglas Muth // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Montgomery County
- Population: 823,823
- Median home value: $316,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,295 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $91,546
- Median home value: $316,100 (72% own)
- Median rent: $1,295 (28% rent)
- Median household income: $91,546
