So, you’re curious about living in Pennsylvania? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
The expert movers, travelers, and worldwide locals that make up the team at Relocalate.com are here to help.
We’ve compiled the ultimate guides to answer the most common questions people just like you have about living in the great state of Pennsylvania.
Dive deep into the topics you’re interested in to make sure your new home in Pennsylvania matches what you’re looking for.
We’ll explore whether Pennsylvania is a good place for YOU to live, and we’ll highlight some of the best cities for you to visit, explore, and ultimately call home.
Pros and Cons of Living in Pennsylvania
You’ve heard it before, and it’s true: no place is perfect. What matters is how good of a fit it is for you.
Relocalate.com is here to help you decide whether Pennsylvania is the best place for YOU to live.
Here are some reasons to love living in Pennsylvania:
- Affordable housing options and average cost of living.
- High quality public schools with excellent test scores.
- Plenty of good jobs available in a wide variety of industries, including finance, insurance, healthcare and more! And many companies can afford to provide employee benefits because it is so affordable here too which means there are plenty of opportunities for professional growth as well.
And, on the flip side, here are some of the downsides of living in Pennsylvania:
- The winters (snowy!).
- High property taxes compared to other states in the Northeast.
Read More: Is Pennsylvania a Good Place to Live?
Best Place to Live in Pennsylvania
So, you’ve got your heart set on living in Pennsylvania? Well, the decision making doesn’t end there. You’ve still got to decide where to live in Pennsylvania!
In some other articles, we’ll dive deeper into some of the best places to live in Pennsylvania.
Our experts have considered a whole bunch of different criteria to select the top locations, including:
- The best places to live for families, retirees, singles, young adults, outdoor lovers, foodies, and more.
- The safest places to live.
- The cheapest places to live.
- The best schools.
- The best job markets.
- The best housing markets.
- And so much more.
Just want a quick list? No worries, here are some of the best cities to live in Pennsylvania:
- Chesterbrook
- Franklin Park
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
Read More: Best Places to Live in Pennsylvania
Checklist for Moving to Pennsylvania
So now you’re preparing for your big move to Pennsylvania. Maybe you’ve even started packing!
As you probably already know, there are a lot of things to take care of when you’re moving. Both in your current state and once you get to Pennsylvania.
Here are some of the major things you’ll want to take care of when you move to Pennsylvania:
- Updating your address with USPS.
- Getting your Pennsylvania driver’s license.
- Transferring your vehicle titles and registrations to Pennsylvania
- Getting Pennsylvania car insurance.
- Signing up for health insurance in Pennsylvania and finding new doctors, dentists, and local hospitals.
- Updating/changing other insurance policies you may need (homeowner’s insurance, renter’s insurance, pet insurance, motorcycle insurance, etc.)
- Registering to vote in your district in Pennsylvania.
- Updating your address with your banks, credit cards, subscription services, loans, investments, phone plans, and bill pay.
- Enrolling your kids in their new school district.
- Licensing your pets and finding a new vet.
- Setting up your utilities for your new home.
- Preparing to file state taxes for Pennsylvania and your previous home state.
Visit your Pennsylvania Moving Checklist for a detailed guide on all of the above.
Read More: Moving to Pennsylvania Checklist
While we’re at it, let’s cover some high-level questions and fun facts about Pennsylvania.
Things to Know About Living in Pennsylvania
As you’re preparing for your move or getting settled into your new home in Pennsylvania, here are some things to know about living there.
Cost of Living in Pennsylvania
One thing to consider when moving to a new state is the relative cost of living.
Pennsylvania ranks 33rd on the Cost of Living Index with an overall rating of 104.3, meaning it’s a slightly above average costing place to live.
Here is how Pennsylvania scores for the cost of living in each specific category:
- Groceries: 109.3
- Housing: 100.6
- Utilities: 109.5
- Transportation: 112
- Health: 95.9
- Miscellaneous: 102.9
The average cost of living in this index is scored at 100. The numbers above represent the percentage of the average. A number higher than 100 represents an above average cost of living, while a number lower than 100 represents a lower cost of living. A lower rank indicates a lower cost of living.
This data comes from the Cost of Living Index prepared by the Council for Economic Research (C2ER), which compiles data from cities across the country to rank and compare the differences in costs of living.
Sales Tax Rates in Pennsylvania
Sales tax is a way that state and local governments collect tax revenue from its residents and visitors.
These taxes are applied when you purchase something. It’ll show up on your receipt or bill. If you’ve recently moved to Pennsylvania from somewhere else, the new sales tax rates may surprise you.
On top of the state sales tax rates, local rates for certain counties and cities may apply and vary as well.
Pennsylvania’s state sales tax rate is higher than the national average at 6%, with an average local rate of .34% (the highest local sales tax rate is 2%). Across the state, the average sales tax rate is about 6.34%.
Check with the Pennsylvania tax office for the most current tax rates.
Real-Estate Property Tax Rates in Pennsylvania
If you own or plan to own real estate in Pennsylvania, you’ll want to think about the property tax rates when you move there.
Pennsylvania ranks 41st (from low to high) for its state property tax rate of 1.58%.
There may be additional property taxes on top of the rate stated here depending on your county, city, and school districts.
Check with the Pennsylvania tax office for the most current tax rates.
Pennsylvania’s Job Market & Economy
Another thing to think about when moving to Pennsylvania is the job market and economic indicators.
Overall, Pennsylvania ranks 6th for Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the United States.
The GDP measures the overall monetary value of all goods and services produced within a certain place over a period of time.
Its top 10 industries (ranked from largest to smallest by economic contribution to the state) are:
- Professional and business services
- Educational services, health care, and social assistance
- Real estate and rental and leasing
- Manufacturing
- Finance and insurance
- Information
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Construction
- Transportation and warehousing
The top employer in Pennsylvania is University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Notable Destinations and Landmarks in Pennsylvania
Our Pennsylvania moving guide wouldn’t be complete without a brief mention of some of the most iconic destinations in the state.
When you get settled in, a road trip may just be in order.
One of the most iconic landmarks in Pennsylvania is the Liberty Bell.
Facts about Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the 2nd state of the United States that lies in the northeast region. To its north is New York, to its south is Maryland, to its east is New Jersey, and to its west is Ohio.
What is the capital of Pennsylvania?
The capital of Pennsylvania is Harrisburg.
Harrisburg has a population of 49,528.
What is the population of Pennsylvania?
The population of Pennsylvania based on 2020 US Census data is 13,002,700.
What is the largest city in Pennsylvania?
The largest city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia.
Philadelphia has a population of 1,603,797, and it is located in Philadelphia County.
What is the size of Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania is 46,054 square miles, making it the 33rd largest state in the U.S.
What is the state motto of Pennsylvania?
The state motto of Pennsylvania is: Virtue, Liberty and Independence
What is the state bird of Pennsylvania?
The state bird of Pennsylvania is the Ruffed Grouse.
What is the state flower of Pennsylvania?
The state flower of Pennsylvania is the Mountain laurel.
What is the state tree of Pennsylvania?
The state tree of Pennsylvania is the Eastern Hemlock.
What is the minimum wage in the state of Pennsylvania?
The minimum wage in Pennsylvania is $7.25 per hour.
What is the median income in Pennsylvania?
The median annual household salary in Pennsylvania is $60,905.