Pennsylvania Tops the List of Best Retirement Destinations | News, Sports, Jobs

Top Retirement Cities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania stands tall in a recent U.S. News & World Report, highlighting the best places to retire in the United States. The list featured seven Pennsylvania cities in the top ten, with the state claiming the entire top five.

Retirement Factors in Pennsylvania

These cities, mostly located in populated areas of Pennsylvania, were evaluated based on a variety of factors. The 2024 Best Places to Retire methodology prioritized affordability, followed by happiness, healthcare quality, retiree taxes, desirability, and job market ratings.

Pennsylvania’s Support for the Elderly

Danell Sowers, the Executive Director of Experience Inc., Warren-Forest Area Agency on Aging, highlights that Pennsylvania channels its lottery proceeds towards programs for individuals aged 60 and above. These programs, along with others such as the PACE prescription drug program and the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program, are managed by the 52 area agencies on aging across Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Pennsylvania’s Growth in Elderly Population

Jason Kavulich, Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary, states that the state’s presence on the U.S. News and World’s list is due to its growing older adult population and initiatives to support them. Census data echoes his claim, revealing that the growth rate of Pennsylvania’s 65 and older population was over 20 times the overall population growth rate between the 2010 and 2020 censuses. In Warren County, the older population increased at a rate of 19.6 percent, while the overall population decreased by 9.5 percent.