2023 Best Counties to Live in Pennsylvania

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.63 out of 5  35 reviews

Current Resident: This is an excellent township to live in. The schools are great and the teachers are great. The township takes good care of the roads and the snow very quickly. The taxes are moderate. The neighborhoods are quiet and the people are friendly. There are lots of parks and dog parks to take your dog or go for a walk. Many people are starting to play pickleball and the township makes sure that there are pickleball courts available to residents. The high school is less than 5 years old and the middle school has had many renovations and added a brand new building. The township was very good at giving us information during the COVID pandemic about how to be safe in the area. Especially how are children will be taken care of during school hours and the hand sanitizer stations and the mask policy. We were kept up to date on all changes and services that were available during COVID at it's heights. We are fortunate to be able to live in a great community. Mont County.... Read 35 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 850,890

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.58 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: I love living in Allegheny county! There’s an abundance of shops and restaurants, everything is close. And only 20 minutes out from the city of Pittsburgh! With very little crime rate, and friendly people, what’s there more to offer!... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 1,246,116

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.5 out of 5  40 reviews

Current Resident: Chester County is a beautiful community with a refreshing balance of suburban architecture and natural greenery. I have resided here for a decade and I've never heard of any major crime incidents. Instead, I hear of the numerous community events such as the Uwchlan Block Party and the Ludwig's Corner Horse shows. Both of these vents are listed in my highlights of the year as I get to explore the events' plethora of engaging activities as I reconnect with friends. Throughout the year, my family retreats to the Marsh Creek State Park to languidly kayak across the tranquilizing waters, finishing up our evening with a picnic by creek. Though I'm not the biggest fan of the local restaurants with the exception of Milky Way Farm's Creamery, there are incredible dining experiences a short drive away such as Nalan, Chik-Fil-A, On the Boarder, and iHop. Though I'm overly content with Chester County, I suppose it could use more engaging attractions and branded stores such as H&M and Forever 21.... Read 40 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A

• Population 531,704

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.79 out of 5  48 reviews

Current Resident: It's an extremely amiable environment that is willing to include everyone from all different backgrounds. What I liked about this area is the fact that everyone here feels like one big family, always coming together for the big high school football games and cheering each other on. What I wished was more prevalent in Delaware County is the amount of diversity since the area doesn't have enough to be considered ethnically diverse.... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 573,883

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.43 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I live in Southwestern Centre County, it’s a very nice, affluent area. There is natural beauty all around.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A+

• grade B+

• Population 158,879

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.23 out of 5  62 reviews

Current Resident: Bucks County has many excellent attributes, including scenic beauty, historic landmarks, well-maintained infrastructure and public facilities, and assorted entertainment options. Many areas within Bucks County are also close to Philadelphia, which offers additional options for dining and recreation. My family is especially fond of the state parks. We often visit Tyler State Park to enjoy the hiking trails and covered bridges. We also love to visit New Hope, which has many cultural attractions and a thriving art scene. The town also has strong roots in the LGBTQIA community, which makes it a wonderful place for our family to learn the importance of love in all its permutations. Overall, Bucks County is a clean, safe, inviting place to live. Unfortunately, many Bucks County communities publicly espouse insular, right-wing beliefs that undermine the values of acceptance, diversity, and unity essential to any good community.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Population 643,872

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Works Here: Overall a great place. Pros: there are always new developments being built and new restaurants/gas stations popping up. Plenty of shopping locations. Excellent public parks and recreational activities for kids and (some.. but not nearly enough imo) for adults. Schools are pretty good. Camp Hill, Cumberland Valley (kinda crowded), East Penn, and Mechanicsburg are all great options. Many "ethnic" restaurants as well. Cons: it's VERY suburban. If you want a nearby city, you'll have to cross the river into Harrisburg or Lancaster to experience the best city nightlife/many job opportunities. Traffic sucks... but upgrades are underway. Housing is rather expensive, despite ongoing development. It's one of the fastest growing counties in PA. Your kids might also be oblivious to economic hardship growing up here. It's upper-middle class so do what you will with that information. Overall a great place to live, but it's called the white shore for a reason.... Read 3 reviews

• grade A

• grade A minus

• Population 257,333

• County in Pennsylvania

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 18,198

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.13 out of 5  16 reviews

Former Resident: Independence Day at the Mansion Annual July 4th Celebration It’s one thing to read your history, and another to see it in person. Each year, Independence Day at the Mansion brings our nation’s independence to life. Visitors can listen to the Declaration of Independence, getting read by a historical actor. Best of all, both parking and participation stay free, so bring the family. Fort Hunter Day September 20th | Pennsylvania’s Official Start of Fall Fort Hunter is a historic mansion built on a bluff along the Susquehanna River. And each year, Fort Hunter Day offers family-friendly activities geared towards education. Admission to the festivities is free but will require tickets to enter. Vendors onsite offer food and beverages for sale, as well as for crafting supplies. Cultural Fest Early August Summer Gathering Those unfamiliar with our community may not realize how diverse it stays.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 284,199

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4 out of 5  11 reviews

Current Resident: I grew up in Lehigh county my whole life and I absolutely love it here. My childhood home is a ranch home surrounded by woods and cornfields. As a child, I use to catch fireflies in the fields, and watch deer run and hawks soar in the sky. It was the perfect place to grow up. Now with divorced parents, I moved around a lot with my mom so I got to experience living in different places within the county. Although living in a neighborhood is nice my heart will always be living in the sticks with the world's best sunsets. Lehigh county is a great place to live as it has something to offer for everyone. We have shopping centers, outdoor malls, trails, parks, indoor and outdoor activities, etc. It's kept clean for the most part and offers great educational opportunities and houses a handful of great colleges. Overall I believe the Lehigh Valley is by far the best place to live and the place I like to call home.... Read 11 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 372,492

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.81 out of 5  31 reviews

Current Resident: Butler County is a safe environment for all kinds of people to reside in. Being that the surrounding area is quite rural, there are not as many high end stores. Moreover, it can sometimes take a long amount of time to get a grocery item one may need. However, most people in the area enjoy this element. Overall, Butler County is a safe environment with a solid education system.... Read 31 reviews

• grade A

• grade B+

• Population 192,561

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.34 out of 5  197 reviews

Current Resident: I love that Lancaster has kept true to its farmland roots while also expanding ding into this beautiful diverse hot-spot for so many people to live enriched lives. Lancaster is home to the theatre and arts, acres of fertile land for food, vast array of multicultural "mom and pop" restaurants started by individuals wanting just to share with others. I love that people want that sharing. There are beautiful places to hike and there are beautiful architectural areas to explore. I would say that we could be better about our local city police forces being a better asset for positive change, but that's no fault to Lancaster, but rather the nature of the job title. I would also say that we could stop raising our prices on everything from goods to cost of living, but inflation is a national issue, not county. Lancaster has a rich sense of community, and we understand -at least from the general sense- how to love our neighbors even when (and sometimes especially) our neighbors are different.... Read 197 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 550,480

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.47 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: My experience living in Northampton County is being able to see the beautiful countryside, explore nature, hike on the Appalachian Mountains , meet many friendly people, and enjoy many outdoor activities such as swimming, rafting, hiking, fishing, boating in the Delaware River, and skiing/snowboarding at the Blue Mountain Resort. One unique thing about Northampton County is the Hugh Moore Park and the National Canal Museum. If you’re looking to visit the Crayola Factory you can also find that in Northampton County where you can interact with so many fun activities and put your art and creativity in.... Read 19 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 311,359

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.77 out of 5  57 reviews

Current Resident: Erie My family moved to Erie in the summer of 2016. Which was my senior year of High school. I graduated from East High, which I have so much pride in. Erie is like a village. Not many people live here. The crimes are close to nothing. It's a safe place to have a family. It has a lot of fun things to do. Every time I go out of state, I miss Erie even more.... Read 57 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 271,903

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: I have moved to Lackawanna County from Las Vegas, Nevada and I love it here. I feel safe its very family friendly. A place you would truly want to want to raise your family.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 215,529

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 355,107

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Works Here: I recently worked with a custom home builder in Union County, PA and was extremely impressed with the level of professionalism and expertise demonstrated by the entire team. From the initial consultation to the final walkthrough, every aspect of the building process was carefully planned and executed with attention to detail. The quality of craftsmanship was top-notch and the end result was a beautiful, personalized home that exceeded my expectations. Overall, I highly recommend this custom home builder to anyone looking to build their dream home in Union County.... Read 1 review

• grade A minus

• grade B

• Population 43,094

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.38 out of 5  37 reviews

Current Resident: I think the school distracts here are really great. I love how there are things to do to be involved with the community like a theatre, park, library, etc. We have a nice amount of local restaurants which makes us unique. I would like if we could clean up the roads a little. There is constantly unfinished construction going on which is really annoying to get around. Overall I think Washington is a nice place to live.... Read 37 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 209,090

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.78 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: Beaver County is the outdoorsman paradise. It's also not far from Pittsburgh so if you would like to work in the city but live in the country, it's a very reasonable drive... Read 23 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 168,260

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.43 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: Mercer County is a great county with a lot to offer for the very affordable cost of living. The schools are phenomenal, the people are great, there are a lot of parks and lakes, the housing is nice, there is plenty of trade in Mercer, Grove City, Sharon/Hermitage, and Greenville. It is in a great location near the Ohio Line and is located directly between Pittsburgh and Erie. There are also a lot of churches and it is great for families!... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 111,216

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.76 out of 5  17 reviews

Current Resident: Berks County is a very community-based county with a large variety of living areas but mainly consisting of Suburbs. While the roads are relatively pot-hole filled as are most areas in Pennsylvania, it's a beautiful and safe area to live and raise a family. With abundant playgrounds and housing options, any individual can find happiness living here.... Read 17 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 426,967

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.59 out of 5  122 reviews

Current Resident: Growing up here was always pleasant. I liked how in middle school you can choose where you would like to go for high School, I chose York Tech. The one thing I would like to see across the board for all schools in this county is Life skills. A class like home economics where students can learn how to cook a balanced meals, how to repair clothing, learn how to handle money and how to do taxes, and more. I would like to see a student hub where student can go and get extra help on their studys, preparing them for real life or college paths, where students get mentored and guidances by both staff and their peers.... Read 122 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 454,605

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Pike County for over a year now and i have come to love it. The people are very friendly and it is a quaint area with many camps for children and state land for many different recreational activities for the whole family to enjoy.... Read 10 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 58,345

• County in Pennsylvania

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 65,013

• County in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.52 out of 5  27 reviews

Current Resident: The hiking opportunities and nature is absolutely stunning. My neighborhood is very clean and well taken care of. The community is kind and very welcoming.... Read 27 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 142,486