Moving to Pennsylvania

Are You Moving To Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania, a northeastern U.S. state and one of the 13 original colonies, has a diverse terrain, which includes wide stretches of farmland, national forests, and mountains. Philadelphia, the Keystone State’s largest city, displays its rich history in Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, an enduring symbol of American freedom. Pennsylvania is downright beautiful. It is home to some of the country’s richest history, incredible culture, and, yes, picturesque scenery.

The Appalachian Mountains sit here, and the state has more than 120 state parks, with over 100 miles of coastline, and a varied selection of great towns and cities, each with its own character. Mountain climbers will love this state, so will surfers, skydivers, and skiers even, depending on where you are in the state.
Little wonder the Keystone State is widely considered one of the best states to retire.

The natural allure aside, this is a notion mostly driven by other key factors for anyone interested in the hard data: economic vibrancy (this is the sixth-largest state economy), good health care, school districts that are a cut above the other states, affordability, low rate of homelessness and high quality of life.

If you’re moving to Pennsylvania, there are a lot of things you’re going to need to know. Luckily, you’ve come to the right place.

Moving to Pennsylvania

Moving to PA Pros and Cons

Here are a few pros and cons to consider as you make your move to The Keystone State

Pros.
  • Cost of living: Your dollar goes a long way here, especially in the city. Rent can be up to 50% lower, while real estate prices are currently two-thirds lower than in New York City.
  • Sale tax exceptions: Though many goods are taxed, items that are not subject to sales tax include food, clothing, amusement parks, parking lots, and even tattoo services.
  • High quality of life: The long list of benefits includes breathtaking nature, rich history, four distinct seasons, world-class education, greater career fulfillment, and much more.
  • Education: K–12 education in Pennsylvania is top-notch! Not to be outdone, there are 85+ institutions of higher learning, including the prestigious University of Pennsylvania.
  • Chocolate capital of America: Hershey, PA is “the sweetest place on earth,” and for a good reason! It’s home to Hershey chocolate, Hersheypark, and Hotel Hershey.
Cons.
  • Property taxes: Coming in at #12 in the nation (more on taxes below), Pennsylvania’s effective property tax rate is quite high. Public education funding is also expensive.
  • Snow: Loathe it or love it, be prepared for frigid winters with plenty of snowfall. Weather can also vary wildly, one day sunny and the next cold and snowy.
  • Traffic: Due to its proximity to Washington DC and New York City, parts of the state can experience miserable traffic congestion daily.
  • Finding a job: Those moving here without a job lined up might be in for a shock. If you don’t have a lot of experience in your field, it may take some time to find employment.
  • Accents: This isn’t necessarily a con, but it’s good to note that there’s a variety of difficult-to-understand dialects. Regional vernacular includes a mixture of English, Dutch, and Swedish in Philly.
Tax Rates
  • Property Tax: 1.51%. The effective real-estate tax rate is the 11th highest in the US.
  • Sales Tax: 6.34%. Combined with local taxes, the total tax rate can top out at 8%.
  • Income Tax: 3.07%. Pennsylvania employs a flat personal income tax rate.
Housing Market

The typical home value of homes in Connecticut is $288,089 according to Zillow. This value is seasonally adjusted and only includes the middle price tier of homes. Connecticut home values have gone up 16.0% over the past year.

What Should I Know In 2021?

Economy Outlook

Pennsylvania is known as the “Snack Food Capital of the World.” With major producers of pretzels, potato chips, confectioneries, and chocolate, Pennsylvania’s snack food and confectionery industries generate more than $5.1 billion in sales annually.

Almost 70% of Pennsylvania’s agricultural income is generated by livestock and livestock products. Milk is the state’s most important livestock product and Pennsylvania is a leading state in the production of milk. … Pennsylvania is a leading egg-producing state.

At $815 billion, Pennsylvania has the sixth biggest economy in the U.S. and is home to close to 50 of the 1,000 largest public and private companies in the U.S. by sales. With top-caliber schools like Swarthmore, Haverford, and the University of Pennsylvania based in the state.

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Traffic & Transportation

Public transportation is available in every county in Pennsylvania, with a wide range of services including:

Fixed-route transit service in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, 21 small urban areas, and 22 rural areas, 44 systems offering shared-ride services in all Pennsylvania counties, 13 intercity bus routes Keystone Corridor Amtrak service, running from Harrisburg to New York by way of Philadelphia, and Pennsylvanian Amtrak service running from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia

Pennsylvania offers programs to make transportation accessible to everyone, including seniors and persons with disabilities. Learn about state-offered services.

Public Transportation Fact: People who ride public transportation can save, on average, $10,160 annually based on the national average gas price and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.

Cost of living

Currently ranked #32 in the United States for the cost of living, the state of Pennsylvania offers an extremely reasonable cost of living compared to several other states.Philadelphia rents are higher than many cities and will command most of your budget.

The average rent in Philadelphia rose to $978 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,133 for a two-bedroom apartment. Like many metro areas around the country, rents in Philadelphia are rising again after a sharp decline during the pandemic. To live comfortably in a one-bedroom apartment in Philadelphia, you should have an income of at least $29,340 per year or $8.15 per hour. For a two-bedroom apartment, you’ll need to earn at least $33,990 per year or $17 per hour.

  • Family of four estimated monthly costs are 3,759.23$ without rent.
  • A single person estimated monthly costs are 1,043.67$ without rent.
  • Philadelphia is 20.62% less expensive than New York.
  • Rent in Philadelphia is, on average, 51.39% lower than in New York.
Moving to Pennsylvania

Things to Know When Moving To Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Climate

Although mainly within the humid continental zone, Pennsylvania’s climate varies depending on elevation and region. Southeast and southwest areas experience warmer weather. The rest of the state (including the Northern mountainous region) sees colder winters and cooler summers.

Employment

Pennsylvania's unemployment rate was down two-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 6.9% in May. The U.S. rate fell three-tenths of a percentage point from April to 5.8%. Pennsylvania's civilian labor force – the estimated number of residents working or looking for work – decreased 6,000 over the month as employment rose 10,000 and unemployment fell 16,000.

Real Estate

The median home value in Pennsylvania is $203,769 and the average market rent $1,119/ per month.

Average Income

As of Jul 3, 2021, the average annual pay for the Average jobs category in Pennsylvania is $58,583 an year.

Industries

According to U.S News, the top industries in Pennsylvania include Healthcare, Architecture & Engineering, Legal, Education, Administrative support, Community & Social Services, Production & Manufacturing, Computer Technology, Business & Financial Operations, Life, Physical & Social Science.

Crime Rankings

Pennsylvania’s violent crime rate is 3.1 incidents per 1,000 people, which is lower than the national rate of 3.7.

Fewer people reported a run-in with property crime as well as —24% of Pennsylvanians reported experience with property crime over the past year, compared to the national average of 26%.

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