The most affordable places to live in Pennsylvania in 2025

See how far a dollar stretches in these 12 affordable places to live in Pennsylvania.

Sometimes it feels like everything is getting more expensive—probably because most everything is, actually, getting more expensive. Today, prices are roughly 26% higher than they were before the start of the pandemic in 2020, according to the consumer price index, which tracks the cost of goods and services over time.

However, where you live plays a major role in what you spend, not to mention what you earn. Some places in Pennsylvania are far more affordable than others, and a few of these might surprise you.

Using data from the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator, we ranked the 12 most affordable metro areas in the state. The tool measures the typical costs a family would need to spend in different cities and counties across the country for a “modest yet adequate standard of living,” according to EPI. Those costs include essentials like housing, transportation, health care, child care, food, taxes, and miscellaneous costs like clothing, household items, and school supplies.

We didn’t just look for places with the lowest costs—we also focused on where typical incomes are high enough to comfortably cover basic needs. We ranked the affordability of each metro area by comparing area median income for a family of four (two adults and two children) against a total estimated family budget.

Of course, every family is different, so your own costs will likely vary. But consider this list a helpful guide to where your dollars may stretch the furthest in Pennsylvania.

If you want to explore EPI’s data yourself, you can check out the calculator to see different budget estimates by location and family size. And if you’re curious to learn where your money goes furthest, read on to find out which places to live in Pennsylvania offer the best balance of income and cost.

Pittsburgh 

Annual costs for a family of four: $100,650

Median income for a family of four: $101,993

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 101.3%

Pittsburgh tops the list as the most affordable metro area in the state—and it’s also one of the most affordable in the country. It’s the only city on our list where the median family income completely covers the estimated annual household budget, and there’s even room to spare. Housing plays an outsized role in the city’s affordability: Pittsburgh’s housing market is regularly touted as one of the most accessible for a large city, with typical home prices within reach for families earning the median income. As of April, the median sales price for a Pittsburgh house was $240,660.

State College

Annual costs for a family of four: $114,396

Median income for a family of four: $108,006

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 94.4%

The college town of State College, the core of the State College metro area, ranks second on our list. While some costs like health care and child care tend to be higher than other areas in the state, the metro area’s relatively high median income makes up the difference.

Greater Philadelphia

Annual costs for a family of four: $119,614

Median income for a family of four: $112,641

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 94.2%

Another relatively affordable city nationally, the Philadelphia metro area has some of the highest estimated costs of any metro area in the state, but the highest median income in the state nearly covers them.

Altoona

Annual costs for a family of four: $88,722

Median income for a family of four: $83,069

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 93.6%

Altoona isn’t usually written about as attracting families looking for more affordable living, but annual costs here are lower than nearly every other metro area in Pennsylvania. That’s largely thanks to low housing costs and low health care costs.

Lancaster

Annual costs for a family of four: $108,884

Median income for a family of four: $100,685

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 92.5%

The Lancaster metro area is not far from Philadelphia and offers rural beauty with urban attractions like music and theater. The overall cost of living is much lower than bigger cities like Philly and New York, though housing prices tend to be higher than many of the cities on our list. In April, the median sales price of a Lancaster home was $338,430.

Greater York

Annual costs for a family of four: $107,584

Median income for a family of four: $99,386

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 92.4%

Not too far from both Philadelphia and Baltimore, the York-Hanover metro area offers small-town charm adjacent to bigger cities and all of their amenities. York is also one of the oldest cities in the country, making it full of history. But you don’t need to break the bank to buy one of these charming older houses—housing costs in the metro area are much lower than the national average, with a single-family home selling for a median price of $280,770, as of April.

Greater Harrisburg

Annual costs for a family of four: $109,475

Median income for a family of four: $100,397

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 91.7%

In the first quarter of 2025, the median sales price of a house in the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area was roughly $281,690—much lower than the U.S. median price of $414,000. That means the state capital has some of the most affordable housing in the state.

Johnstown

Annual costs for a family of four: $87,468

Median income for a family of four: $79,651

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 91.1%

The Johnstown metro area’s affordability lies largely in its low housing costs, which are due in part to the declining population after the steel industry collapsed. But Johnstown is on its way back, and it’s a great area, especially for people interested in outdoor activities like hiking and biking.

East Stroudsburg

Annual costs for a family of four: $106,247

Median income for a family of four: $96,613

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 90.9%

The East Stroudsburg metro area may be a hidden gem in the Pocono Mountains, where residents enjoy the quiet of the mountains, outdoor adventure opportunities, and relatively low costs.

Reading

Annual costs for a family of four: $105,575

Median income for a family of four: $95,578

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 90.5%

Reading is the fourth-largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philly, Pittsburgh, and Allentown. The Reading metro area is close to Philadelphia, hosts a vibrant and diverse population, and has relatively low costs, especially for housing in the region. As of April, the median sales price of a single-family home was $284,380.

Gettysburg

Annual costs for a family of four: $109,140

Median income for a family of four: $98,269

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 90%

This historic town is not just for visiting Civil War buffs, as it also has relatively affordable housing prices. While it can get busy during the tourist season, Gettysburg is a walkable, suburban community not far from the beautiful Pennsylvania wilderness.

Allentown

Annual costs for a family of four: $109,124

Median income for a family of four: $97,935

How far does the median income go? Median family income as a percentage of annual costs: 89.7%

With Allentown—the third-largest city in Pennsylvania—at its heart, the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metro area is home to a diverse population and low housing prices. The Lehigh Valley community is also conveniently located near Philadelphia, making it an attractive home base for commuters. Still, proximity to the big city means higher housing prices than many of the cities on our list. In April, the median sales price of a home in the metro area was $359,040.