Pennsylvania · best for young professionals · #33 of 50 states

Best Cities for Young Professionals in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania ranks #33 of 50 for young professionals, with a young professionals score of 49.4. Bethel Park is its best city for young professionals at 65.0.

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#1 city in PA for young professionals

Bethel Park65.0

Young Professionals score out of 100

Pennsylvania, all states: #33 of 50
Population: 32,881

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Unemployment

4.3%

BLS LAUS

Median income

$77,545

Census ACS

Pop. growth

+0.1%

Census estimates

Cost of living

97.6

BEA RPP · 100 = avg

Livability

34/100

Dining, arts, nightlife

Pennsylvania for Young Professionals: The Full Picture

Pennsylvania ranks #33 out of 50 for young professionals, suggesting some tradeoffs for career-focused relocators. The state's economy scores 39/100, though with 4.3% unemployment and a median household income of $77,545. Modest population growth of 0.1% suggests a stable but not booming market.

For young professionals, the equation comes down to earning potential versus cost of living. With a cost-of-living index of 97.6, expenses are near the national norm — what you earn is roughly what you keep. Growth metrics are moderate, so career advancement may depend more on specific industries than broad market expansion.

Beyond the paycheck, livability matters. Pennsylvania's livability score of 34/100 is modest, which may matter to young professionals who value nightlife, dining, and cultural events. Transportation infrastructure scores well (56/100), with options beyond car dependency.

All 20 Cities Ranked for Young Professionals

# City	Grade	Young Professionals score	Overall	Economy	Growth	Walkability	Population
1Bethel Park	A+	65.0	72.4	73	39	49	32,881
2Pittsburgh	B+	60.6	60.7	51	46	73	304,759
3Drexel Hill	B+	58.7	59.5	46	—	72	30,451
4Easton	B+	57.4	61.8	50	41	75	29,739
5Bethlehem	B+	57.4	60.7	48	43	72	77,956
6Levittown	B+	57.0	62.1	61	—	51	50,926
7State College	B+	56.4	62.0	40	35	74	41,050
8Norristown	C+	54.5	55.0	51	42	73	35,893
9Lancaster	B	53.0	56.1	47	45	45	57,719
10Allentown	C+	51.7	53.9	36	38	78	125,976
11Erie	C+	51.7	52.5	36	34	70	93,850
12Altoona	C+	51.6	54.6	42	35	47	43,196
13York	C	51.0	50.4	29	40	78	44,938
14Scranton	C+	50.1	53.3	39	37	44	76,033
15Philadelphia	D	50.0	47.8	39	38	73	1,579,706
16Harrisburg	D	49.7	47.3	31	34	78	50,287
17Wilkes-Barre	D	48.1	48.5	34	39	43	44,423
18Hazleton	C	47.2	49.0	31	38	46	30,111
19Chester	D	46.2	44.8	22	36	72	33,619
20Reading	D	45.4	45.8	29	36	43	95,242

City young professionals scores use each city's own data, with the category weights rescaled over the categories the city has; outdoor access has no city-level measure and is left out.

Compare: States with Similar Young Professionals Rankings

Also See: Pennsylvania for Other Lifestyles

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pennsylvania a good state for young professionals?

Pennsylvania ranks #33 out of 50 for young professionals with a persona-weighted score of 49.4/100. Its strongest relevant category is Safety (78/100) and its weakest is Growth (27/100).

What is the best city for young professionals in Pennsylvania?

Bethel Park ranks #1 in Pennsylvania for young professionals with a score of 65.0/100, followed by Pittsburgh and Drexel Hill.

What factors are most important for young professionals in Pennsylvania?

Rankings weighted toward job market strength, economic growth, affordable living, transportation, and vibrant community life — the factors that attract ambitious young professionals.