Want to know where there is no shortage of rugrats to hang out with your rugrats in the Keystone State? Look here. Yes, HomeSnacks has done every parent looking to move to this Mid-Atlantic state a favor by creating a list of the best places for families in Pennsylvania for 2024 and listing them below.
And because our goal here at HomeSnacks is to look at the latest trends and provide our readers with the most current data to compile our lists, we looked at the most recent Census for places in Pennsylvania with at least 10,000. This left us with 27 Pennsylvania places that any family would be lucky to call home. We also looked at how many households have children and how close a place is to one of the state’s biggest cities. This research led us to multiple conclusions. One, there are currently 12.8 million people, 1.4 million families with 2.6 million children: that’s plenty of little people to keep your little people entertained. Secondly, if you currently live close to Pittsburgh, Lancaster, and Philadelphia, our data says that your family is living their best life.
And, folks, it’s no mystery that families are flocking to Pennsylvania because it is so safe: it’s currently one of the safer states in America. So, we are not at all surprised that many of Pennsylvania’s best places for families are also the state’s safest.
More importantly, if you’re looking for places in Pennsylvania with lots of kiddos, safe neighborhoods and schools, and boatloads of fun, keep reading.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Best Cities To Raise A Family In Pennsylvania For 2024
We analyzed 27 cities in Pennsylvania and determined which cities are the best of the best for families based on our family-friendliness factors. What makes a city family-friendly, you might ask? Easy: low crime, good schools, and fun things to do.
So which city reigned supreme as the best place for families? Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Located just outside Allentown and near enough to Philadelphia and New York City for weekend trips, this town is a winner for families.
Interested to see what makes each city so great families? Read on to learn more about our methodology and a detailed look at our top 10.
More reading about Pennsylvania and the best places for families in the country:
- Best Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Cheapest Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Best Cities To Raise A Family In America
- Best States To Raise A Family In America
The 10 Best Places To Raise A Family In Pennsylvania For 2024
/10
Population: 18,727
Median Income: $84,985
Average Home Price: $455,524
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Philadelphia
Households with kids: 31.9%
More on Lansdale: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 20,846
Median Income: $55,756
Average Home Price: $293,109
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 56
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 25.4%
More on Carlisle: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,009
Median Income: $56,413
Average Home Price: $247,625
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 41
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 33.5%
More on Waynesboro: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,051
Median Income: $70,283
Average Home Price: $252,844
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 50
Closest Major City: Philadelphia
Households with kids: 25.4%
More on Lansdowne: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 50,055
Median Income: $46,654
Average Home Price: $230,686
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 67
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 29.3%
More on Harrisburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 19,506
Median Income: $64,314
Average Home Price: $148,759
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 40
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 22.8%
More on West Mifflin: Data | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 14,082
Median Income: $40,013
Average Home Price: $178,749
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 60
Closest Major City: Pittsburgh
Households with kids: 18.5%
More on Indiana: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 11,067
Median Income: $86,786
Average Home Price: $339,512
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 36
Closest Major City: Philadelphia
Households with kids: 17.1%
More on Wyomissing: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 21,917
Median Income: $53,493
Average Home Price: $257,534
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 61
Closest Major City: Baltimore
Households with kids: 28.2%
More on Chambersburg: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
/10
Population: 76,119
Median Income: $48,776
Average Home Price: $158,353
Family Friendly Amenities Score: 53
Closest Major City: Newark
Households with kids: 27.4%
More on Scranton: Data | Crime | Cost Of Living | Real Estate
Methodology: How do you determine which place is best for families in Pennsylvania anyways?
To give you the places in Pennsylvania that are best for families, we must look at a handful of metrics. We want to measure the criteria people want in a family-friendly city utilizing Saturday Night Science.
After researching U.S. Census data produced for the state of Pennsylvania, we looked at the data for every single city in the state. We paid particular attention to:
- Crime (Both violent and property)
- Quality of local schools
- Distance to a major city without necessarily being in it
- % of households with children
- Family-friendly amenities nearby (museums, libraries, and colleges)
We then gave each city a “Family Score.”
The higher the score, the better the city is for families. We also limited our results to cities with over 10,000 people. For Pennsylvania, that meant a total of 27 cities.
We updated this article for 2024. This is our tenth time ranking the best cities for families in Pennsylvania.
Summary: The Best Places To Raise A Family In Pennsylvania
If you’re looking for a breakdown of cities in Pennsylvania ranked by criteria that most agree make a place a great spot for families, this is an accurate list.
The best places for families in Pennsylvania are Lansdale, Carlisle, Waynesboro, Lansdowne, Harrisburg, West Mifflin, Indiana, Wyomissing, Chambersburg, and Scranton.
Here’s a look at the best cities for singles Pennsylvania according to the data:
- McKeesport
- Chester
- Wilkinsburg
For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:
- Safest Places In Pennsylvania
- Cheapest Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Most Dangerous Cities In Pennsylvania
Best Places For Families In Pennsylvania
| Rank | City | Population | Median Income | Average Home Price | Amenities Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansdale, PA | 18,727 | $84,985 | $455,524 | 52 |
| 2 | Carlisle, PA | 20,846 | $55,756 | $293,109 | 59 |
| 3 | Waynesboro, PA | 11,009 | $56,413 | $247,625 | 57 |
| 4 | Lansdowne, PA | 11,051 | $70,283 | $252,844 | 61 |
| 5 | Harrisburg, PA | 50,055 | $46,654 | $230,686 | 81 |
| 6 | West Mifflin, PA | 19,506 | $64,314 | $148,759 | 35 |
| 7 | Indiana, PA | 14,082 | $40,013 | $178,749 | 63 |
| 8 | Wyomissing, PA | 11,067 | $86,786 | $339,512 | 56 |
| 9 | Chambersburg, PA | 21,917 | $53,493 | $257,534 | 46 |
| 10 | Scranton, PA | 76,119 | $48,776 | $158,353 | 76 |