Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Declared the Best Retirement Location

Considering Retirement in Pennsylvania

Planning your retirement? Pennsylvania, also known as the Keystone State, may be the retirement destination you’ve been searching for.

Best Places to Retire Ranking in 2024

The annual Best Places to Retire rankings for 2024 were released by U.S. News & World Report. The ranking team studied 150 of the most significant metropolitan areas in the U.S., including Puerto Rico, to identify the best places for retirees.

Ranking Criteria

The analysis was based on six indexes: affordability, happiness, desirability, retiree taxes, job market (for those wishing to work in retirement), and health care quality. Each location was scored on a 10-point scale. U.S. News surveyed individuals nearing retirement, collecting 3,500 responses to identify the most critical attributes of a retirement destination.

Top City in Rankings

After thorough analysis, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania emerged as the top retirement destination.

According to U.S. News & World Report, Harrisburg won due to its excellent healthcare, low tax rates, and the overall happiness of its residents.

“Life in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, offers excellent quality,” Joy Daniels, a broker and owner at Joy Daniels Real Estate Group in Harrisburg, told U.S. News & World Report. “It’s a fantastic place to retire as there’s always something to do.”

The report also highlighted that Harrisburg provides a variety of seasonal attractions, sports teams, and beautiful summer weather, perfect for outdoor activities.

“We also have a lot of creeks, beautiful views, and wildlife that all funnel into the Susquehanna,” said Catherine Azeles, a partner at Conrad Siegel. “This includes biking, music, arts, and plenty of birdwatching opportunities.”

Pennsylvania Dominates Rankings

The top 5 retirement destinations were all in Pennsylvania, with Reading, Lancaster, Scranton, and Allentown securing positions two to five. New York City took the sixth spot, with York, Pennsylvania, following closely in seventh. The takeaway? Don’t overlook Pennsylvania as a viable retirement option.

See the full ranking of all 150 metropolitan areas on realestate.usnews.com.