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Why New York Professionals Retire to Brandywine Valley in Pennsylvania

Seniorly couple walking together through a forest in the fall

Did you know the Keystone State could also be key to a more fulfilling retirement? That’s especially true if you want to stay in the northeast to be close to family and friends and when you compare it to other states in the area, many of which are high cost and high tax. Data gathered by Bankrate ranks Pennsylvania 25 in affordability, 20 in health care cost/quality, 14 in well-being, 32 in weather and 12 in crime. 

For 2024, U.S. News & World Report ranked the “Best Places to Retire” by looking at qualitative and quantitative data to identify the largest U.S. municipalities that would be most appealing to retirees. Pennsylvanian towns captured the top five rankings and seven of the top 10 including Harrisburg (1), Reading (2), Lancaster (3), Scranton (4) and Allentown (5). York ranked seventh and Pittsburgh came it at number 10.  

Plus, in a 2023 study conducted by WalletHub, which focused on three criteria of health care: cost, access and outcomes, Pennsylvania landed in the top half of all states at 21 in the country.  

Let’s take a deeper look at all the reasons you might want to retire to Pennsylvania. 

Why Retire to Pennsylvania?

Affordable cost of living versus other retirement hotspots: The cost of living index of 94.6 in Pennsylvania is more than 5 percent lower than the national average. When you look at other popular retirement destinations — like Delaware and Florida — you’ll see those numbers are a lot higher. According to the MERIC cost of living index for 2023, Pennsylvania ranked about 27 in the nation, which is better than New York (ranked 47) and New Jersey (40). According to Yahoo! Finance, you would need nearly $817,000 saved up to retire and maintain the average cost of living in Pennsylvania.  

Four season fun: Pennsylvania gets to experience each of the four seasons throughout the year. 

Top-notch health care: As noted above, Pennsylvania is known for its quality physicians, affordable insurance costs, access to coverage and more.  

Tax-friendly to retirees: In Pennsylvania, all income from social security is tax-exempt on the state level. You also won’t see tax on retirement account withdrawals, public and private pensions, or 401(k)s and IRAs. However, Pennsylvania does have among the highest property tax rates in the entire country. Fortunately, there are property tax relief programs available to help lower some of the costs.  

Ideal location: Atlantic City, New York City and Baltimore are a few examples of nearby major cities with a lot to explore. Freedom Village is also close to Bethlehem, PA: the Christmas City of America. They have a massive Christmas village and decorate the city to be festive and jolly, great to visit with families or by yourself! 

Abundant history: History buffs can take the time to explore the Gettysburg National Military Park, catch a train into the mountains at No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum, or learn about the history of anthracite coal at the Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum – just to name a few things. Of course, there’s always the “must sees” of the Liberty Bell and where the Declaration of Independence was signed in Philadelphia. 

More Fun Facts to Know About Pennsylvania

  • King of Prussia Mall is Pennsylvania’s biggest shopping mall, and overall, the third biggest mall in the country. From luxury designer brands to local, small businesses, the 30-minute drive would be well worth the trip for anyone. Make sure to bring an appetite as the mall has been expanding with a wide variety of options. 
  • There are 20 state forests and over 100 state parks in the Keystone State. 
  • The oldest golf course in the U.S. is in Clarion, Pennsylvania. 

Why Retire to Brandywine Valley?

While a lot of the “Best Places to Retire” research focused on Pennsylvania’s larger metropolitan areas, not everyone wants to be in all the hustle and bustle (or congestion and pollution) of major cities. If you’re looking for small-town charm that offers lots of outdoor activities, look no farther than Brandywine Valley.   

Discover the Beautiful Benefits of Life at Freedom Village at Brandywine

When you’re ready to explore Brandywine Valley to see way you should retire to Pennsylvania, come visit our active and engaging senior living community. You can schedule a visit by using our Community Assistant chat feature or contacting us here. We’d love to show you around.