When people think of Pennsylvania they often focus on the Eastern half, particularly the south with much thanks to historically rich Philadelphia and the state’s capital of Harrisburg.
While it’s a nice area to live, folks tend to forget about the other side of the state.
The Keystone State’s other half is just as nice. Check out Pittsburgh houses for sale in the area, as Western PA is a fantastic place to settle down.
It’s all about the Steel City.
One of the biggest draws of the west is Pittsburgh, which was just named best place to live in the state and ranked at 26th overall in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
For starters, the city has a strong job market that’s full of innovators – which is no surprise coming from a city that was a major player in the steel industry.
Many people are employed in cutting edge fields like artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, energy, and life science and health.
Its natural beauty includes 15,000 acres of green spaces and 13 state parks in the surrounding area.
Pittsburgh has a robust art scene; there are more than 32 museums, 30 concert venues and 19 libraries.
It’s most notably home to the NFL’s Steelers, a team with a rabid fanbase that bleeds black and yellow.
It’s also an affordable place to live. The median price for a single-family home is more than 40 percent less than the national media price.
Erie is a gem as well.
Heading all the way up north to the border is Erie, a scenic city that sits on Lake Erie.
The cost of living is 24 percent lower than the nation’s average and the median home price clocks in at $89,000.
A typical Erie salary is around $60,000, meaning all that money will stretch far in an area when groceries, utilities, and other amenities are cheaper than the national average.
Residents have access to quality education from the elementary level to higher ed. Add to this the fact that the crime rates are much lower compared to other urban areas and you’ve got a wonderful place to raise a family.
Presque Isle Park is a major area attraction, as is the Erie Zoo and Erie Maritime Museum.
It’s a great place to retire.
When you retire you look to settle in a place that gives you the most bang for your hard earned bucks.
The state is tax friendly for seniors. The 6 percent sales tax excludes pharmaceutical drugs, clothing, residential heating fuels, and food.
There is no tax on pensions, social security, 401Ks, and other retirement income.
There’s great healthcare out there.
Pittsburgh has a high number of doctors per capita and there are overall 45 hospitals in the western part of the state.
Nationally ranked facilities include Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
You’ve got your pick of great education.
The higher education roster is impressive with schools like Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne, Chatham, and various Penn State satellite campuses.
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