Last updated 2026-06-12 ยท MovePlan Editorial Team
Deep history, two great cities, and affordable towns with four real seasons.
1. Pittsburgh: Best overall
2. Philadelphia: Best for jobs
3. State College: Best college town
4. Lancaster: Best for character
5. Harrisburg: Best capital value
6. Bethlehem: Best Lehigh Valley pick
7. Wayne: Best for families
8. Erie: Best lakeside value
9. Doylestown: Best historic small town
Pennsylvania pairs the big-city options of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with a deep bench of affordable suburbs, college towns, and historic small cities. Four genuine seasons and a lower cost of living than the coastal Northeast draw plenty of movers. Here are the 9 best places to live in Pennsylvania, ranked.