For savvy buyers looking for the right combination of budget-friendly cost of living and people-friendly communities, this ranking of the 10 cheapest places to live in PA has the information you’re looking for. We used data from AreaVibes to get the details on median home price, income, food costs, and other common expenses.
Bradford, PA, is the birthplace of the Zippo lighter and the most affordable town in Pennsylvania. The median home price in Bradford is $55,300, far less than the state-wide median of $180,200. The overall cost of living is 21% less than in the rest of the state.
The University of Pittsburgh’s Bradford campus offers more than 40 majors. The town also has an Office of Economic and Community Development to help small businesses get a foothold, and a Main Street Program makes downtown more welcoming.
Next up is Shamokin, which has a median home price of $38,400 and lower-than-average food and utility prices. The area has seen a considerable amount of revitalization in recent years, which has resulted in new businesses in the downtown area and a strong sense of community.
Connellsville has an unemployment rate of 4%, slightly lower than the national average. Its overall cost of living is 19% lower than the national average.
Nearly 7,000 people call Connellsville home, making it the second largest city in Fayette County. Connellsville is a nature-lover's dream, as it's close to many state parks and trails.
Warren also has a lower-than-average unemployment rate and a very affordable median home price of just $38,716. The town is the county seat of Warren County and offers its residents plenty of amenities, such as Music in the Park, a farmers' market, and miles of hiking trails.
Mount Carmel is tied with Connellsville and Warren, having a cost of living that's 19% lower than the national average. It also has a lower-than-average unemployment rate and very affordable housing. The median home price is $48,800.
Once a coal town, Mount Carmel has begun to reinvent itself in recent years as a hot spot for renewable energy. It's a business incubator for companies working with solar, geothermal, wind, and other forms of sustainable energy.
Food, utilities, housing, and other goods and services are all cheaper than average in Uniontown, the county seat of Fayette County. Located 46 miles to the southeast of Pittsburgh, the town is home to two of architect Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpieces, Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. It also has a thriving downtown.
Buying a house in Corry will cost you about 48% less than buying a house in the rest of the country. The city is the second largest in Erie County. Over the years, it's evolved from a railroad boomtown to a quiet place to live. The unemployment rate in Corry is just 2.8%, much lower than the national average.
Johnstown is a former steel town that's seen a fair amount of revitalization recently. Still, it remains an affordable place to live, with an overall cost of living that’s 17% lower than the national average.
One of the highlights of Johnstown is its accessibility. It has an Amtrak station and Greyhound bus stations. There are also regular flights from its airport to Washington, D.C., which can connect you to the rest of the world with ease.
Erie prides itself on being a welcoming, diverse community. The city offers high-quality schools and family-sustaining jobs. There's also a thriving downtown and attractive waterfront area.
Overall, the cost of living in Erie is 17% lower than the national average. The median home price is $86,700. Food, utilities, and other goods and services are also below average cost-wise.
10. DuquesneA Pittsburgh suburb, Duquesne has affordable housing and one of the country's top Catholic universities. The city has put a lot of effort into revitalizing the business corridor in recent years. A Shop Duquesne Initiative encourages residents to patronize local businesses and help bolster the area's economy even more.
This is just a small overview of what these 10 boroughs and cities have to offer their residents. Nevertheless, if you’re looking to put down roots in the Keystone State, these 10 towns are sure to take good care of your budget, and good care of you.
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