Pennsylvania county rankings
Best Counties to Live in Pennsylvania, Ranked by Public Data
Pennsylvania has very different county types: high-income Philadelphia suburbs, Pittsburgh-area counties, smaller college and government regions, rural counties, and fast-growing relocation markets. This article uses public-data scores to compare the tradeoffs.
Key takeaways
- The best Pennsylvania counties are not all the same type of place.
- Philadelphia-area counties may score well on income and schools but can be expensive.
- Central Pennsylvania counties can offer a stronger affordability and space tradeoff.
- Western Pennsylvania counties can offer lower housing costs with different economic tradeoffs.
- The right county depends on whether a household prioritizes schools, taxes, affordability, commute access, safety, or peace and quiet.
Pennsylvania county rankings at a glance
Best overall PA county
Montour County
73.4
Schools
96.9
Affordability
62.4
Typical home
$274,764
Best for families
Clarion County
83.1
Schools
81.6
Affordability
83.6
Typical home
$137,888
Best value tradeoff
Clarion County
72.7
Schools
81.6
Affordability
83.6
Typical home
$137,888
Best peace & quiet
McKean County
88.3
Schools
66.3
Affordability
92.5
Typical home
$106,463
Strongest tax score
Bedford County
64.7
Schools
71.1
Affordability
65.8
Typical home
$207,380
Best overall counties to live in Pennsylvania
The overall ranking blends economy, affordability, schools, safety, taxes, and peace and quiet. It is a starting point, not a final relocation answer.
| Rank | County | Overall | Economy | Afford. | Schools | Safety | Taxes | Peace & Quiet | Typical home |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Montour County FIPS 42093 | 73.4 | 74.2 | 62.4 | 96.9 | 70.4 | 49.6 | 87.2 | $274,764 |
| 2 | Clarion County FIPS 42031 | 72.6 | 46.7 | 83.6 | 81.6 | 100 | 46.2 | 81.6 | $137,888 |
| 3 | Butler County FIPS 42019 | 72.4 | 73.9 | 65.3 | 97.7 | 65.3 | 47.1 | 71.9 | $309,403 |
| 4 | Cumberland County FIPS 42041 | 72.1 | 77.5 | 55.4 | 96.2 | 81 | 45.5 | 59.4 | $345,528 |
| 5 | Elk County FIPS 42047 | 72 | 54 | 86.4 | 90.9 | 70.5 | 37.6 | 87.8 | $135,582 |
| 6 | Somerset County FIPS 42111 | 71.5 | 48 | 75.3 | 91.5 | 84 | 57.4 | 79.9 | $173,654 |
| 7 | Union County FIPS 42119 | 71.4 | 65.3 | 57.5 | 99.1 | 79.5 | 45.9 | 86.3 | $288,804 |
| 8 | Washington County FIPS 42125 | 71.3 | 66.5 | 73.6 | 90.9 | 67.6 | 43.4 | 71.9 | $234,812 |
| 9 | Chester County FIPS 42029 | 71 | 82.8 | 41.6 | 99.5 | 100 | 30.7 | 38.5 | $571,120 |
| 10 | Westmoreland County FIPS 42129 | 69.9 | 59.4 | 79.6 | 96.7 | 61 | 34 | 65.8 | $203,720 |
| 11 | Fulton County FIPS 42057 | 69.6 | 57.4 | 67.6 | 90.4 | 75.2 | 48.6 | 82.4 | $226,139 |
| 12 | Bucks County FIPS 42017 | 68.6 | 77.6 | 42.9 | 98.3 | 100 | 29 | 18.2 | $517,600 |
| 13 | Armstrong County FIPS 42005 | 68.1 | 54.4 | 87.8 | 80.7 | 66.7 | 24.8 | 79.5 | $151,383 |
| 14 | Sullivan County FIPS 42113 | 68.1 | 51.4 | 68.9 | 77.8 | 93.1 | 48.7 | 72.7 | $206,445 |
| 15 | Clearfield County FIPS 42033 | 67.3 | 51.2 | 88.2 | 71.3 | 63.7 | 44.3 | 83.1 | $132,928 |
| 16 | Adams County FIPS 42001 | 67.1 | 68.9 | 58.6 | 85.8 | 71.4 | 36.1 | 74.9 | $330,293 |
| 17 | Centre County FIPS 42027 | 66.8 | 62.1 | 41.5 | 98.1 | 88.4 | 38.8 | 83.3 | $345,529 |
| 18 | Jefferson County FIPS 42065 | 66 | 44.8 | 87.4 | 78 | 58.4 | 43.7 | 83.6 | $122,665 |
| 19 | McKean County FIPS 42083 | 66 | 47.1 | 92.5 | 66.3 | 74.1 | 22.7 | 88.3 | $106,463 |
| 20 | Columbia County FIPS 42037 | 65.8 | 50.8 | 60.6 | 93.9 | 69.5 | 45.8 | 82.5 | $238,280 |
Top Pennsylvania counties by category
A single overall ranking can hide why different counties stand out. These category winners show several ways Pennsylvania counties can be a strong fit.
Best overall
Montour County
Overall score
73.4
Strongest current all-category blend
Best for families
Clarion County
Family score
83.1
Schools, safety, affordability, taxes, peace and economy
Best affordability
Cambria County
Affordability
93.3
Housing cost and income tradeoff
Best schools
Chester County
Schools
99.5
Public education achievement signal
Best safety
Clarion County
Safety
100
Reported and modeled safety inputs
Best taxes
Bedford County
Taxes
64.7
Lower estimated tax burden
Best peace & quiet
McKean County
Peace & Quiet
88.3
Density and built-environment proxies
Pennsylvania tradeoff map: schools vs affordability
School-first counties are not always the most affordable counties. This view groups selected Pennsylvania counties by how they balance school score and affordability score.
Each dot is a Pennsylvania county. Counties farther right score better on affordability. Counties higher up score better on schools. The chart shows why the best county depends on whether a household prioritizes school strength, price, or balance.
What the chart shows
- School-first counties are not always the most affordable.
- Some central and western Pennsylvania counties rank well because they balance schools, affordability, safety, and quieter living.
- Philly-area counties may score strongly on schools and income, but often carry a higher cost tradeoff.
- The best county depends on whether a household prioritizes schools, price, commute access, or overall balance.
Best Pennsylvania counties for families
Families usually do not just want the cheapest county. They want a balance of schools, safety, housing costs, taxes, and everyday quality of life.
#1
Clarion County
Family score
83.1
Schools
81.6
Safety
100
Taxes
46.2
#2
Somerset County
Family score
81.3
Schools
91.5
Safety
84
Taxes
57.4
#3
Union County
Family score
80.3
Schools
99.1
Safety
79.5
Taxes
45.9
#4
Elk County
Family score
80.1
Schools
90.9
Safety
70.5
Taxes
37.6
#5
Montour County
Family score
78.9
Schools
96.9
Safety
70.4
Taxes
49.6
#6
Centre County
Family score
78.1
Schools
98.1
Safety
88.4
Taxes
38.8
#7
Chester County
Family score
77.7
Schools
99.5
Safety
100
Taxes
30.7
#8
Fulton County
Family score
77.5
Schools
90.4
Safety
75.2
Taxes
48.6
#9
Cumberland County
Family score
77.1
Schools
96.2
Safety
81
Taxes
45.5
#10
Butler County
Family score
76.8
Schools
97.7
Safety
65.3
Taxes
47.1
Best value counties in Pennsylvania
Value does not always mean cheapest. Here, value means a county gives a stronger overall package for the cost, blending affordability, taxes, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
#1
Clarion County
Value score
72.7
Schools
81.6
Safety
100
Taxes
46.2
#2
Venango County
Value score
71.0
Schools
53
Safety
84.5
Taxes
40.9
#3
Somerset County
Value score
69.6
Schools
91.5
Safety
84
Taxes
57.4
#4
Elk County
Value score
69.6
Schools
90.9
Safety
70.5
Taxes
37.6
#5
Clearfield County
Value score
69.4
Schools
71.3
Safety
63.7
Taxes
44.3
#6
McKean County
Value score
68.3
Schools
66.3
Safety
74.1
Taxes
22.7
#7
Jefferson County
Value score
67.3
Schools
78
Safety
58.4
Taxes
43.7
#8
Bedford County
Value score
66.8
Schools
71.1
Safety
68.5
Taxes
64.7
#9
Greene County
Value score
66.6
Schools
44.6
Safety
63.1
Taxes
28.6
#10
Montour County
Value score
66.5
Schools
96.9
Safety
70.4
Taxes
49.6
Best Pennsylvania counties for New York and New Jersey families considering a move
Pennsylvania often comes up for New York and New Jersey households looking for more space or a different cost structure. The tradeoff is that families still need to weigh commute distance, school district differences, job access, and lifestyle fit.
Cumberland County, PA
Economy
77.5
Schools
96.2
Safety
81
Typical home
$345,528
York County, PA
Economy
68.3
Schools
85.3
Safety
36.2
Typical home
$305,195
Lancaster County, PA
Economy
75
Schools
86.7
Safety
44.8
Typical home
$381,587
Bucks County, PA
Economy
77.6
Schools
98.3
Safety
100
Typical home
$517,600
Chester County, PA
Economy
82.8
Schools
99.5
Safety
100
Typical home
$571,120
Montgomery County, PA
Economy
82.3
Schools
99.2
Safety
70.2
Typical home
$486,540
Northampton County, PA
Economy
67.1
Schools
75.3
Safety
49.8
Typical home
$363,989
Lehigh County, PA
Economy
60.4
Schools
65.4
Safety
43.3
Typical home
$358,001
Dauphin County, PA
Economy
59.5
Schools
46.1
Safety
18.1
Typical home
$275,929
How Pennsylvania's top counties differ
Cumberland County
Cumberland County stands out as a central Pennsylvania option with strong overall balance, but it is a different lifestyle than the Philadelphia suburbs.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Chester County
Chester County is one of Pennsylvania's strongest suburban markets, often appealing to households prioritizing schools, income, and access.
It scores best on Safety and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Montgomery County
Montgomery County is a major Philadelphia-suburban county with strong incomes and access, but affordability is often the central tradeoff.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Peace & Quiet.
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Bucks County
Bucks County is a high-interest Philadelphia suburb with strong access and established communities, but housing and taxes can be part of the tradeoff.
It scores best on Safety and faces its clearest tradeoff on Peace & Quiet.
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Allegheny County
Allegheny County anchors the Pittsburgh region, so its appeal is tied to jobs, universities, healthcare, and urban-suburban variety.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Lancaster County
Lancaster County combines a strong regional identity, smaller-city access, and surrounding rural communities with its own growth pressures.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Dauphin County
Dauphin County includes Harrisburg and state-government access, giving it a mix of employment, affordability, and urban-suburban tradeoffs.
It scores best on Affordability and faces its clearest tradeoff on Safety.
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York County
York County often appeals to households looking for south-central Pennsylvania affordability and space while staying near larger job markets.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Lehigh County
Lehigh County is part of the Lehigh Valley, a common search area for households comparing eastern Pennsylvania with New York and New Jersey.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Northampton County
Northampton County gives the Lehigh Valley another option for households comparing affordability, access, and lifestyle fit.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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Centre County
Centre County stands out as a college-region county shaped by Penn State, a different economy, and a different lifestyle than the big metro suburbs.
It scores best on Schools and faces its clearest tradeoff on Taxes.
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What many best-counties lists miss
A static ranking can be useful, but the more useful question is which county fits the household. School-first households, lower-tax households, affordability-first households, quiet-living households, and job-first households can reasonably pick different counties.
Popular comparisons
Compare Cumberland County vs Chester County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
Compare Cumberland County vs Montgomery County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
Compare Bucks County vs Montgomery County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
Compare Chester County vs Lancaster County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
Compare Allegheny County vs Cumberland County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
Compare York County vs Cumberland County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
Compare Lehigh County vs Northampton County
Compare scores, housing, taxes, schools, safety, economy, and peace and quiet.
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Pennsylvania rankings
See the full state ranking page.
Compare counties
Choose two counties and compare them directly.
Interactive map
Explore county scores across the country.
Sources
- Best Counties to Live generated public-data county scores.
- U.S. Census ACS for household, housing, commute, and demographic baseline fields.
- BLS unemployment data and BEA regional economic data.
- FBI reported crime data, SEDA education data, Zillow home value data, and tax burden estimates where available.