About Pennsylvania Area
Retirement Living in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is a northeastern U.S state and one of the 13 original colonies. It’s dubbed as the “Keystone State” because of its key position – more specifically, it was the middle colony among the original 13 colonies.
This state attracts dozens of retirees every year, thanks to the state’s rich history and modern amenities. In addition, it’s considered as the friendliest state for retirees, thanks to some tax exemptions they get for their retirement income. And because of this, Pennsylvania is making it on the list of Top Retirement Destinations in the U.S.
Dozens of Active Adult Communities dot the region. These age-restricted communities range from small, tight-knit neighborhoods to huge, 500-home ones. Plus, most of these provide their residents with world-class, on-site amenities and convenient locations that’s close to every day essentials.
Pennsylvania Climate and Geography is Ideal for Active Retirement
Pennsylvania is the 33rd biggest and 5th highly populated state in the U.S. This state has a diverse terrain, which features wide stretches of farmlands, national forests and mountains. It has five regions: the Allegheny Plateau, Ridge and Valley, Atlantic Coastal Plain, Piedmont and the Erie Plain.
A lot of the Retirement Communities in Pennsylvania are located in the suburban areas of Lebanon, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and in the major city of Philadelphia.
Because of the diverse topography of this state, the climate also varies here. Generally, the entire state has cold winters and humid summers. A big part of it, except the southeastern corner, has a humid continental climate while in Philadelphia, they have a humid subtropical climate. The average temperature here is 49.80°F with approximately 179 sunny days per year. In July, the temperature can rise up to 83°F while in January, temperatures can drop as low as 18°F. But in areas near the mountainous regions of the state, winter is definitely much cooler.
Pennsylvania offers Plenty of Recreation, Culture and Entertainment for Active Adults
Also known as the Keystone State, Pennsylvania has played a very significant role during the advancement of the country’s economic, social and political development. As one of the original 13 colonies, it features a great number of iconic monuments, museums and historical hotspots like the Independence National Park, which is home to the iconic Liberty Bell, an enduring symbol of the American Freedom. There’s also the Independence Hall, the place where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were first signed.
In Philadelphia, you can visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art and see amazing art collections and exhibits from both America and Europe.
Retirees who love to go fishing can visit Lake Erie, the 4th largest lake among the 5 Great Lakes found in North America. It’s the perfect getaway spot for the whole family.
History geeks will have so much fun going around Pennsylvania and learning about its long and great history. Also, you can visit the Valley Forge National Historic Park to learn about the history and the story of the Valley Forge. At the Gettysburg National Military Park, visitors can see the actual site where the Battle of Gettysburg happened back in 1863 during the American Civil War.
Furthermore, several national parks and small parks are scattered around the state. There’s the Nescopeck State Park, where visitors can go hiking and fishing. At the Nay Aug Park, you’ll see a treehouse along with a couple of stunning waterfalls. While at the Hickory Run State Park, retirees can go camping, hiking, hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities.
Active Adult Communities in Pennsylvania get to enjoy greater access to all of these amazing tourist spots, modern conveniences and historic places.
Cost of Living and Taxes to Consider when Retiring to Pennsylvania
The average cost of living in Pennsylvania is $96.60, which is 3.40% lower than the U.S average. This is great news for baby boomers who’re thinking of moving into this great city. However, ironically, this city also has the 10th highest tax burden in the country, with the personal income tax rate of a flat 3.07%.
Nevertheless, Pennsylvania is a friendly city for retirees since there are no taxes for retirement income, including pensions, social security income, 401Ks, IRAs, and so on. But for those who’re still working, the flat tax rate applies to them.
Pennsylvania Healthcare for those in Retirement
Pennsylvania has a healthy physician to patient ratio of 243, as compared to the U.S national average of 210. Overall, this city is ranked as the 29th healthiest state according to the 2013 United Health Foundation’s Health Rankings. This means awesome news for retirees living in different 55+ Communities here.
The UPMC Susquehanna Divine Providence provides residents with an array of medical services which include general medicine and surgery, laboratory and other in-patient and out-patient care and treatment.
The Geisinger Jersey Shore Hospital is a rural health care facility with 25 inpatient beds. Other existing hospitals and medical centers located in this city are the Healthsouth-Geisinger Rehabilitation Hospital, the Williamsport Hospital, and the VA Medical Center.
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