Cons Of Retiring In Pennsylvania
Even the best places to retire in Pa have their disadvantages. Lets take a look at them.
1. Winters
Cold weather prevails in Pennsylvania during the winter, with low temperatures frequently dropping into the teens. Because of the states mountainous terrain and proximity to the Great Lakes, snow is common throughout the year. Pennsylvania receives an average of 38 inches of snow per year, compared to the national average of 28 inches. This snow may be pleasant for the snow resorts , but it may not be pleasant for retirees who are looking to relax. Some of the best places to retire in Pa can be cold too.
2. The Imposition of Inheritance Tax
Pennsylvania is well-known for providing retirees with favorable tax treatment , but unfortunately, those tax benefits are not passed on to heirs. Inheritance wealth is subject to state taxation at rates ranging from 0 percent to 15 percent. It is important for retirees living in Pennsylvania to carefully plan their estates in order to minimize the impact of this inheritance tax on their heirs.
3. Traffic
Retirees will be grateful that they no longer have to make the daily commute because Pennsylvania is ranked as the 6th worst state for drivers, according to AAA. The traffic congestion problem does not only affect major metropolitan regions such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but it also affects smaller villages. This is common with some of the best places to retire in Pennsylvania.
Best Places To Retire In Pennsylvania In 2022
- 9 minute read
The low cost of living in some Pennsylvania communities, as well as numerous prestigious cultural organizations and healthcare facilities, have earned them a place among the finest places to retire. Pensioners will benefit from tax policies that the state of California has developed.
Tax-free withdrawals from retirement accounts, such as Social Security, as well as distributions from IRAs and 401 plans Property taxes in Pennsylvania are quite inexpensive, especially when compared to the neighboring states of New York and New Jersey, and certain tax rebates are given to eligible homeowners and renters over the age of 65 who own or rent their house.
With a population of 13 million people, the state of Pennsylvania is fifth among the most populated states in the United States.
More than half of the states citizens live in the densely populated urban centers of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with the remaining half dispersed throughout the states more rural sections.
Pennsylvania is home to breathtaking beauty, historic charm, vibrant cities, and Scranton, which is known as Americas Favorite Office.
People in their retirement years who wish to be active but are not interested in a hot, humid climate will appreciate Pennsylvanias four seasons and its convenient position along the East Coast.
This article will provide you with information regarding the best places to retire in Pennsylvania.
Access To Quality Healthcare
There is access to quality healthcare when living in Pennsylvania. Some of the best hospitals, like The University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Hershey Medical Center, are a short drive away and offer the best medical care. The University of Pennsylvania ranked number one when comparing all the hospitals in the state.
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You Love History The Arts Or Domestic Tourism
Pennsylvania has an array of historical monuments for those interested, including the Liberty Bell. Furthermore, there are towns and parks of historical significance. With Pennsylvanias museums, history meets the arts. And the arts have stayed alive and thrive in Philadelphia among other cities within the state.
So whether you love contemporary art or you enjoy witnessing the greatness of the past immortalized, Pennsylvania, presents you with plenty of opportunities to pass your time.
Of course, if the above is of no interest to you, the states art and history present neither an advantage nor a drawback.
Great Outdoors And Plenty To Do
Retirement is often painted as a bleak picture of having little to do, no social life, and minimal human contact. That can be a reality of many retirees who rely too much on their existing social circle for their pastimes. Retiring in different states or away from family can create isolating bubbles, which may discourage retirees from being active. A sedentary lifestyle can often lead to a decrease in mobility and quality of life.
In Pennsylvania, you have plenty to do outdoors, including activities enjoyed by active seniors. Activities that match retirees age group present opportunities for forming new friendships, social connections, and relationships. The friendships you will make golfing in one of Pennsylvanias numerous golf courses and trekking by the rivers will be with people who match your interests. If you love nature, there are plenty of forests, mountains, and farmlands to please your eyes.
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What Is The Cost Of Living In Pennsylvania
The cost of living in Pennsylvania is 1.5% higher than the US average. According to MIT, the required living wage for a family of four with two working parents in Pennsylvania is $91,069 vs the national average for a family of four with two working parents of $89,744. The median income of a Pennsylvania household is $63,627.
The cheapest housing market in Pennsylvania is Johnstown. The average home value in Johnstown is $37,000, the lowest in the state. The average home value in Pennsylvania is $187,500, almost 5.1 times higher than Johnstown.
Pennsylvania Cities Ranked In Top 100 Places To Retire
Presbyterian Senior Living | CCRC
The latest rankings on the best places to retire are out from U.S. News and World Report, and six Pennsylvania cities made it on the list, with three landing in the top 20. Based on data like the happiness of local residents, housing affordability, tax rates, healthcare quality, and more, these were the PA cities that were ranked highest:
- 2nd – Lancaster
- 38th – Harrisburg
- 52nd – Scranton
With communities in five out of these six cities, Presbyterian Senior Living is poised to provide you with the best options for retirement and assisted living in Pennsylvania in some of the best cities in the country.
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Best Cities To Retire In Pennsylvania
What are 10 best cities to retire in Pennsylvania? Keystone State has become one of the most popular destinations among seniors for a few reasons. First, it does not tax social security income, federal, state or local pensions, thus leaving its residents with fuller wallets. Although it has one of the greatest effective real estate tax rates in the country, housing prices are not as high as in neighboring New Jersey, for instance. With the median home value of 164,900, the Mid-Atlantic state occupies 26th place in the US. Moreover, Americas health ranking shows that Pennsylvanias older residents receive quality healthcare unlike many other states, it does not have an alarming geriatricians shortfall, the majority of seniors receives recommended hospital care and undergoes necessary screenings while total community support expenditures are kept at high levels. Finally, in terms of costs of living, many PA cities, including metro areas such as Pittsburgh, are well below national average.
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Who Should Retire In Pennsylvania
As you may have noticed, whether a state is great for a retiree or a nightmare depends on the person retiring. The key question to ask when planning your retirement is who the state is good for. After all, the scenic outdoors wont matter to the person who loves urban life.
And inheritance taxes wont discourage someone who has already taken care of their children and leaves the inheritance to a charity. Lets have a more in-depth look at the type of person who is the best fit for the Keystone state.
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Affordable Housing And Cost Of Living
Another reason why Lancaster County is one of the best places to retire in Pennsylvania is the rise of affordable homes. While you should enjoy your retirement savings, which you likely worked hard for all your life, you should also be wise in spending them. Living in an affordable town can help ensure that your savings will last for a longer time.
Meadow View Farmsoley Pa
High $200s High $300s
Construction was started on Meadow View Farms in 2009 by Judd Builders. When the community is finished, there will be 117 single-family homes total. Just eight miles away from Reading, Meadow View Farms offers its residents a welcoming great room that includes a fireplace, as well as a community center and fitness center.
There are six models to choose from, which all offer two-car garages and two to three bathrooms. The homes offer two or three bedrooms, while some also include a den. Homes at Meadow View Farms range from 1,561 to 2,434 square feet.
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You Vibe With Your Age Group
If you get along with people your age, Pennsylvania is great for you because of the states laws, landscape, and culture that attract active retirees. That is why over 15% of the states population is older than 65 years of age. As mentioned above, the area is potent for being active with golf courses, mountains, and parks.
With zero sales tax on leisure, the most fun-loving active retirees from all over the east coast pour into the state. You will make a lot of friends have more than just memories to look back at.
Village Grande At Millers Runlancaster Pa
Mid $300s Mid $400s
Village Grande at Millers Run is a newer active adult community of 241 single-family resale homes built by D.R. Horton between 2006 and 2014. The neighborhood features a modern clubhouse with a fitness center, an outdoor pool, putting green, tennis and bocce ball courts, and nature trails. It has a slew of activity groups and frequent special events, theres even a full-time activities director who keeps the social calendar full.
There are four home models ranging from 1,558 to 2,261 square feet with two bedrooms, two or more bathrooms, and attached two-car garages. One model also has a den.
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You Have People Willing To Visit You
Are you the type of person who looks forward to thanksgiving because you enjoy the time you spend with your family? Do you ditch online screen time to go hang out with your friends? If you like being around your friends and family now, chances are you will continue to prefer this proximity even in your retirement. And if your friends and family are located in eastern states, Pennsylvania is a great retirement destination for you.
Pennsylvania is located near the east coast with transportation hubs that make for relatively short travel to New York, New Jersey, and even Washington DC. Your friends will be able to visit you every few weeks, and you will get to see your family often because Pennsylvania is one of the most accessible states on the East Coast.
You Love Community Life
Pennsylvania is mostly suburban, and most retirement homes and communities are based in rural regions. While this does decrease the hustle and bustle of urban life, everyone seems to know everyone else because of a strong community focus.
This may be appealing to you or a drawback from your perspective, depending on how introverted or extroverted you are. If your day to day leisure involves friends and family, then the chances are that you will enjoy the community-oriented lifestyle offered by Pennsylvania.
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What County In Pennsylvania Has The Lowest Cost Of Living
The county in Pennsylvania with the lowest cost of living is Juniata County. The average living wage in Juniata County is $80,011 according to MIT data. Juniata County has the lowest cost of living because it has relatively less expensive childcare and housing costs compared to Pennsylvania as a whole. Childcare costs $11,398 a year in Juniata County for two children compared to the Pennsylvania average of $17,440. Housing costs, defined as a blend of the average rent and average mortgage payment, are $8,688 per year in Juniata County compared to $12,350 on average in Pennsylvania.
Tips For Saving For Retirement
- Whether youre planning to retire in four years or four decades, talking to a financial advisor can help you solidify your plan. SmartAssets financial advisor matching tool can help connect you to an advisor thats right for you. Simply, answer a few questions, and the tool will pair you with up to three qualified financial advisors in your area. From there, you can chart a course for your dream retirement.
- If you want to retire in style, youll need to save. Make sure youre taking advantage of a workplace retirement account like a 401 plan if you have one. Contributing as much as you can now, especially if your employer matches contributions, can benefit you exponentially down the line thanks to compound interest. Heres a guide to how much you should contribute to your 401.
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What Is The Retirement Age In Pennsylvania
The retirement age is the same in every state. For those born in 1960, the full retirement age according to the Social Security Administration is 67. This means you can receive 100 percent of your social security benefits without any reductions. Beneficiaries receive 50 percent of their spouses retirement benefits when they reach 67 years of age.
If needed, the earliest someone can begin receiving social security retirement benefits is at 62. However, the rate is reduced, and they will only get 70 percent of their own monthly benefits and 32.5 percent of their spouses retirement benefits. As each month passes, the percentage of their retirement benefits grows until it reaches the full amount at age 67.
The Best Places To Retire In Pa Based On Medical Care Tax Burden Social Opportunities: Study
To find the best place to retire, consider medical care, tax burden, and social opportunities.
A number of central Pa. communities are among the best places in the Commonwealth to retire, according to the personal finance website, SmartAsset.com.
According to its most recent study, the best places were determined based on analysis driven by three factors: tax-friendliness, medical care, and social opportunities, all of which impact the quality of life after retirement.
To determine the best places, SmartAsset looked at state and local tax rates, considering both income and sales taxes. Then, for each location, it determined how many doctors offices, recreation centers, and retirement centers there were per thousand residents. Lastly, it calculated the number of seniors in each city as a percentage of the total population.
SmartAssets methodology in determining the best places to retire, as well as its data sources, can be found here.
Based on the above criteria, here are the 10 locations, ranked in reverse order, that SmartAsset has determined to be the best places to retire in Pa.:
No. 10 Canonsburg, Pa.
- Tax: 15.3%
- Doctors offices per 1,000 people: 11.2
- Recreation centers per 1,000 people: 2.3
- Retirement centers per 1,000 people: 0.2
- Percentage of Seniors: 17.1%
No. 9 Blue Bell, Pa.
- Tax: 15.3%
- Doctors offices per 1,000 people: 4.7
- Recreation centers per 1,000 people: 1.8
- Retirement centers per 1,000 people: 0.8
- Percentage of Seniors: 22.1%
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Best Places To Retire In Pennsylvania: Affordable And Senior Friendly
If you are considering retirement soon, it is good to know the best places to retire in Pennsylvania. As experts with decades in the field, we can help you prepare to make this critical move. You might be wondering, Is Pennsylvania a good place to retire? Retirement is all about being happy and having the time to do things you love while feeling comfortable with your financial situation and living in a safe environment.
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The cost of a potential retirement spot is a top concern for many retirees, but they are also looking for a high quality of life, explained Emily Brandon, U.S. News senior retirement editor.
To rank each of the 150 ranked metro areas, U.S. News looked at housing affordability, happiness of its residents, health care, employment, and taxes to come up with its rankings in 2021 and 2022.
It also used data from sources such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Census Bureau and the Tax Foundation.
Here are the top 10 places for retirees, according to U.S. News & World Report 2021 rankings:
1. Sarasota, Florida
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Wondering Where To Retire 5 Reasons To Choose Ambler Pa
When it comes to places to retire, theres no lack of great cities, towns, and neighborhoods across the country. In fact, there are so many great places to live out your retirement that it can be difficult to choose exactly which one is best for you! One of these great places, however, is undoubtedly Amber, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia thats a charming spot and a real Mecca for retirees from all over the country.
But why choose Ambler over any number of other fantastic places to retire? Well, weve got plenty of reasons you should consider this little corner of paradise. Five reasons, actually, though there are plenty more than that. Lets get started uncovering how Ambler, Pennsylvania is one of the best choices as a retirement town with our list of five reasons to retire there!
