10 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania in 2024
Pennsylvania is an attractive destination for those contemplating retirement, offering a low cost of living relative to many U.S. areas. This affordability, highlighted by the absence of taxes on social security benefits, is particularly appealing to pensioners with fixed incomes. Additionally, the state boasts world-class healthcare facilities and a diverse range of landscapes, catering to various preferences. These factors combine to create an ideal environment for those nearing the end of their careers.
While cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are prominent in Pennsylvania, their fast-paced and crowded environments may be overwhelming for senior citizens. In contrast, the state's small towns offer a more suitable setting for retirees. These towns are characterized by their lush natural surroundings, close-knit communities, relaxed pace of life, and excellent outdoor activities. Their rich cultural and historical heritage further enhances the appeal of these locations. If you're considering retirement in 2024, these charming Pennsylvania towns provide the perfect backdrop for enjoying your golden years.
Kennett Square
Dubbed the “Mushroom Capital of the World,” Kennett Square produces almost 60% percent of the nation’s mushrooms, a credit to the fertile soils in its territory. The green surroundings with sprawling farms offer the ideal environment for retirees. This is especially true at the over 1,000-acre Longwood Gardens, home to a mix of gardens, meadows, and woodlands with a relaxed atmosphere for seniors to commune with nature. Also, Anson B. Nixon Park ensures diverse recreational opportunities to keep them active, from hiking and fishing to sports like tennis and disc golfing.
Kennett Square’s proximity to Philadelphia, less than an hour away, allows retirees to access big-city amenities, including the Philadelphia airport. Its crime rate is almost half the national average, although the living cost is slightly higher, with median home prices at over $450,000. Luckily, retirees who can afford Kennett Square will benefit from several senior living communities, including Brandywine Living at Longwood, and live in a tight-knit community whose warmth is best felt during the Kennett Square Farmers Market.
Lititz
Lititz is a tiny community in Lancaster County steeped in Moravian heritage and known for housing the country’s oldest commercial pretzel bakery. Pensioners can enjoy delicious snakes from a menu perfected over centuries at the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery. Outdoor recreations abound at Lititz Springs Park, ensuring an active lifestyle for senior citizens. The famous nature space has a serene setting with peaceful trails perfect for a lazy stroll and cozy fountains where pensioners can feed ducks. Lititz's colorful heritage includes hosting America’s oldest girls’ boarding school, which you can visit at Linden Hall School for Girls, with more well-documented history about the community at the Lititz Historical Foundation.
Seniors will be glad to know that Lititz is a relatively safe place, with the crime rate significantly lower than the state and national averages. It also offers different senior living communities, such as Moravian Manor Communities, and the highly-rated Lancaster General Hospital is only 15 minutes away. The only thing is that you have to part with at least $400,000 to own a home in Lititz, which is a small price to pay, considering all the benefits of living here.
Gettysburg
One of the most historically significant towns in Pennsylvania, Gettysburg is an excellent destination for retirees with an affinity for nostalgia. This tiny borough hosts a treasure trove of historic sites offering a window into a landmark Civil War battle, which changed the course of America’s history. The Gettysburg National Military Park houses the original sites of the Gettysburg National Battlefield and features a museum showcasing intimate artifacts from the war. The town is also known for being the former home of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, whose legacy you can learn more about at the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Despite its battle-riddled past, Gettysburg is a much safer town today, with a lower crime rate than the national average. Senior citizens also enjoy quality medical care at WellSpan Gettysburg Hospital and additional support from several assisted living communities, including Transitions Healthcare Gettysburg. Finally, pensioners can mingle with other community members at popular social joints like the Majestic Theater to enjoy classic live entertainment in a family-friendly setting.
Bellefonte
Bellefonte’s historic charm, evidenced by stunning Victorian architecture on old homes, proves appealing to retirees searching for a permanent residence. The town keeps its senior citizens active with various outdoor opportunities inside Talleyrand Park, which hosts looping nature trails ideal for walking and jogging. Inside the park, you will encounter the Bellefonte Historical Railroad Society, where you can learn about the evolution of train travel throughout the town. Cultured pensioners can enjoy fantastic art on display inside the Bellefonte Art Museum and even hunt for an antique souvenir at Smith + Front.
Senior citizens in Bellefonte are assured of safety, with the town recording less than two violent crime cases per one thousand residents. In case of any health scare, it will only take them 15 minutes to get to the highly acclaimed Mount Nittany Medical Center. Meanwhile, the living cost is almost at par with the national average, with housing prices going for an average of $400,000, give or take.
New Hope
One of the safer areas to live in Pennsylvania, New Hope’s crime rate, over 50% lower than the national average, makes it a safe sanctuary for those in their sunset years. Its unique historical charm features over 100 historic structures spread across the town. The Perry Mansion Museum is an excellent example and dates back to 1784. Pensioners can enjoy fun house tours, where period furnishings and other artifacts showcase pioneer life in New Hope. When the grandkids visit, you can spend wholesome family time at the Bucks County Children’s Museum, engaging in different insightful, hands-on activities.
New Hope also boasts a thriving restaurant scene, hosting a mix of nationally recognized eateries. You might want to visit the New Hope Ferry Market and sample its unique culinary offerings. Locally, seniors can access reliable medical attention at Doylestown Health Primary Care. However, Philadelphia is less than an hour’s drive from the town for those who need superior healthcare and other social amenities.
Milford
Senior citizens in Milford enjoy serene natural surroundings and a quiet, laid-back atmosphere perfect for life after retirement. This tiny Pike County community hosts just over 1,000 residents, leaving plenty of room to enjoy green nature spaces like Milford Beach. Here, you can take advantage of recreation opportunities like swimming, rafting, picnicking, and kayaking, with scenic views of the Delaware River. Those planning an active lifestyle in their golden years will enjoy hiking along the 1.3-mile Milford Knob Trail, which passes through hardwood forests to the picturesque Raymondskill Ridge vantage point.
Meanwhile, history enthusiasts will gravitate towards the Columns Museum of the Pike County Historical Society. Milford’s median home price is lower than the national average, and seniors can go to Bon Secours Care Center for medical care. It also has a bustling art scene, hosting renowned festivals like the Milford Memories Summer Festival, August 9-11, 2024, bringing the community together for a fun weekend of art, food, and entertainment.
York
The small town of York provides seniors with various entertaining experiences, thanks to the different historical sites, sports arenas, cultural centers, and outdoor parks it houses. Once serving briefly as the nation’s capital, it boasts a colorful history that pensioners can explore at the York County History Center. The community often gathers at WellSpan Park to enjoy a fun baseball game while cheering on the home team. Also, outdoor opportunities abound at Rocky Ridge Park, where seniors can stay young and active with adventures like hiking, dog walking, and playing softball.
York’s cost of living is below the national average, and with a median home price under $250,000, retirees won’t have to worry about burning through their pension. It also has a lower crime rate than most cities nationwide and hosts several events yearly to cement the bond between community members. The York State Fair is arguably the most anticipated event, dating back to 1765, recognized as “America’s First Fair.”
East Stroudsburg
Almost 17% of the population in East Stroudsburg is 65 years or older, making it a haven for retirees. This may be due to its proximity to large cities like Newark and NYC, providing easy access to world-class health facilities. It may be the low cost of living, over 13% below the national average, or its cheap housing prices, at under $300,000. Another factor about the town appealing to retirees is the overall safety, with only two violent crime cases reported per one thousand residents.
Furthermore, East Stroudsburg presents plenty of outdoor opportunities in its different nature spaces, including Yetter Park. It has several nature trails traversing woods and rivers, ideal for hiking. The town also offers numerous kid-friendly attractions that are handy when the grandkids visit. These include the Schisler Museum & McMunn Planetarium and the Pocono Snake & Animal Farm, which intrigues visitors with up-close animal encounters.
Bloomsburg
Bloomsburg presents retirees with lifelong learning opportunities at the Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, making it an enticing prospect for retirees looking to return to school. But there is more to like about this tiny Columbia County community, including its many family-friendly attractions. Those with a soft spot for the arts can gather at Bloomsburg Theater Ensemble to catch a moving live performance. Meanwhile, the Columbia County Historical and Genealogical Society is a great place to glimpse Bloomsburg’s history.
The town’s crime rate is lower than the national average, and seniors receive health and social support from several senior living communities, including Bloomsburg Senior Center. Also, the Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital ensures quality medical care for retirees. Homes here go for less than $250,000, making it one of the cheaper options on our list to own a home.
Lewisburg
Home to Bucknell University, Lewisburg allows senior citizens to pursue their academic aspirations even after calling time on their careers. It also offers several outdoor opportunities in its lovely park system along the Susquehanna River, where retirees can escape to the open spaces and enjoy a tranquil atmosphere. Hosting a small population of about 5,000 residents, this close-knit community often converges at the Lewisburg Farmers Market, an excellent place for newcomers to mingle and establish friendships while shopping for farm-fresh groceries.
Senior citizens don’t have to keep on looking over their shoulders in Lewisburg; the crime rate is over 20% below the national average. They can also access healthcare facilities at Evangelical Community Hospital and benefit from multiple assisted living centers, including Riverwoods Senior Living Community.
Winding Up
From the list above, Pennsylvania has many beautiful locations perfect for retirement. With access to scenic natural beauty, recreational activities, vital healthcare, diverse cultural offerings, and very affordable costs of living, any of these small towns in Pennsylvania would make for an excellent place to spend one's golden years. Consider visiting them in 2024 to experience the charm and see where you imagine starting this next chapter of life amongst friendly faces and all the amenities of comfortable small-town living.
