U.S. News and World Report Rankings Recognize Philadelphia as 13th Best Retirement Location, Pennsylvania Dominates
Why Pennsylvania is Becoming the New Favorite Among Retiring Americans
Move aside, sun-kissed Florida. The U.S. News and World Report’s 2024 Best Places to Retire in the U.S rankings reveal that Pennsylvania is the new favorite among Americans reaching retirement age.
Pennsylvania Dominates the Best Places to Retire Rankings
A total of seven Pennsylvania locales broke into the top ten. Harrisburg took the crown as the best place in the U.S. to retire, with Reading, Lancaster, Scranton and Allentown also making it into the top five. York and Pittsburgh earned the 7th and 10th spots respectively.
Philadelphia’s Rising Popularity Among Retirees
The City of Brotherly Love is also making waves in the retirement-friendliness rankings, rising six spots to rank 13th on the 2024 list. Its rich culture, relative affordability, vibrant food scene, museums and public parks are cited as its main draws. Despite a rise in housing costs, U.S. News notes that it remains only slightly above the national average.
Philadelphia’s Youthful Demographics
Even as it climbs the retirement-friendly rankings, Philadelphia remains a relatively young city. According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, only 14.5% of the city’s residents were 65 years or older as of 2022, with over 21% of the population under the age of 18.
How the Best Places to Retire Rankings Are Calculated
U.S. News and World Report use a combination of self-gathered survey results and data from the United States Census Bureau and other federal agencies to rank 150 different metropolitan areas. The rankings focus on quality-of-life metrics such as housing affordability, healthcare, retiree tax rates, job market health, and overall desirability.
The Top Ten Places to Retire in 2024
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
- Reading, Pennsylvania
- Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- Scranton, Pennsylvania
- Allentown, Pennsylvania
- New York, New York
- York, Pennsylvania
- Daytona Beach, Florida
- Youngstown, Ohio
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Methodology and Popularity Trends Among Retirees
The list’s methodology focuses on more populated metropolitan areas in the U.S, thus excluding smaller towns and municipalities that may still be popular among retirees, according to U.S. News’ website.
Despite its reputation as a top retirement destination, Florida only managed one spot in the top ten this year, with Daytona Beach at number 8. Compared to the previous year when Florida held four of the top ten spots, the Sunshine State appears to be losing ground to Pennsylvania.
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