Pennsylvania
Among the top 22% of US states for safety & wellbeing.
AffordabilityAffordability: grade C, better than 39% of US states
WeatherWeather: grade B, better than 63% of US states
Safety & WellbeingSafety & Wellbeing: grade B+, better than 78% of US states
Getting AroundGetting Around: grade C, better than 45% of US states
Lifestyle & ConnectivityLifestyle & Connectivity: grade B, better than 65% of US states
- top 4% for violent crime
- top 16% for school quality
- bottom 20% for monthly owner costs
Pennsylvania is a U.S. state with about 12,989,000 residents. It grades B+ for safety & wellbeing and C for affordability. Standout strengths include violent crime, school quality, and property crime. It rates lower on property tax rate and monthly owner costs.
Official websitepa.gov (opens in new tab)
- The median home value in Pennsylvania is $236k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median household income in Pennsylvania is $76k, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Median gross rent in Pennsylvania is $1k a month, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
- Pennsylvania has a violent crime rate of 759/100k, per the FBI Uniform Crime Reports.
- The average one-way commute in Pennsylvania is 27 min, per the U.S. Census ACS (5-Year).
Livability factors
Affordability
Median Household Income$76k63rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Cost of Living$49kbetter than 62% of US states
Home Value$236k39th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Monthly Rent$1kbetter than 49% of US states
Monthly Owner Costs$154kbetter than 20% of US states
Property Tax Rate1.44%better than 22% of US states
Income Tax4.08%better than 78% of US states
Sales Tax6.34%better than 66% of US states
Estimated total tax burden10.56%better than 48% of US states
Unemployment5.4%better than 35% of US states
Weather
Winter Temp (Jan)30°F45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Summer Temp (Jul)75°F41st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Precipitation46.1 in59th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Annual Snowfall31.1 inbetter than 39% of US states
Sunny Days214 daysbetter than 45% of US states
Summer Humidity63°Fbetter than 57% of US states
Comfortable Days86 daysbetter than 60% of US states
Safety & Wellbeing
Natural Disaster Risk87.4better than 29% of US states
Air Quality48 AQIbetter than 36% of US states
School Quality88.4better than 84% of US states
Violent Crime759/100kbetter than 96% of US states
Property Crime1201/100kbetter than 82% of US states
Community
Population12,989,20892nd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Median Age41.086th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Racial Diversity0.3437th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Male/Female Ratio0.9835th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Political LeaningEven45th percentile — neutral, not ranked
White (%)74.5%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Black (%)10.4%61st percentile — neutral, not ranked
Hispanic (%)8.1%43rd percentile — neutral, not ranked
Asian (%)3.6%65th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Other / Multiracial (%)3.4%14th percentile — neutral, not ranked
Getting Around
Commute Time27 minbetter than 25% of US states
Walkability9.8/20better than 67% of US states
Airport Distance48 mibetter than 65% of US states
Lifestyle & Connectivity
Broadband Access87.2%better than 37% of US states
Amenities Nearby5.01better than 67% of US states
Park & Nature AccessGoodbetter than 73% of US states
Data sources
- EPA Air Quality (AQI)
- EPA Smart Location Database
- EPI Family Budget Calculator
- FAA airport enplanements
- FBI Uniform Crime Reports
- FEMA National Risk Index
- MIT Election Data Lab (2020)
- NCES School Finance Survey
- NOAA Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA nClimGrid
- OpenStreetMap
- Tax Foundation + state revenue depts
- U.S. Census ACS (5-Year)
- USGS Protected Areas (PAD-US)
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pennsylvania an affordable place to live?
- Pennsylvania is relatively affordable. Its cost-of-living index is $49k, better than 62% of comparable areas. Median rent is $1k.
- Is Pennsylvania safe?
- Pennsylvania is safer than most comparable areas, with a violent crime rate of 759/100k (better than 96%). Property crime is 1201/100k.
- What is the weather like in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania averages 75°F in July and 30°F in January, with 46.1 in of annual precipitation and about 214 sunny days a year.
- How are the schools in Pennsylvania?
- Public-school quality in Pennsylvania is above average, scoring better than 84% of comparable areas on a composite of graduation rates, spending, and student-teacher ratio.
- How long is the commute in Pennsylvania?
- The average one-way commute in Pennsylvania is 27 min.