Most Americans have never been to small town Pennsylvania. However, as the Pennsylvanian who live there know, small town Pennsylvania is an awesome place to call home.
But is it all roses? Definitely not. Just like any other state, Pennsylvania has its trouble spots. This article aims to determine, using Saturday Night Science, the absolute worst small towns to live in the Keystone State. Don’t freak out, we will use data to show which places have high crime, poverty, and unemployment.
After analyzing more than 681 of Pennsylvania’s smallest cities, we came up with this list as the 10 worst small towns in Pennsylvania where you’d never want to live:
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
These are the worst small towns in Pennsylvania for 2025:
So what is the worst small town to call home in Pennsylvania for 2025? According to the most recent census data, Lansford is the worst small town to live in Pennsylvania.
While many of these small towns have seen better days, they have wonderful communities and people. This report in no way means to knock the folks that call towns like Lansford home. Everyone
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers, or scroll to the bottom to see how your town ranked.
And if you already know about the small towns, check out the best places to live in Pennsylvania or the worst places to live in Pennsylvania.
If you’re looking for something more national, check out the worst cities in America or the worst states in America.
The 10 Worst Small Towns In Pennsylvania For 2025
1. Lansford
/10
Population: 4,144
Median Home Value: $48,700
Median Income: $44,078
Unemployment Rate: 21.3%
2. Renovo
/10
Population: 1,168
Median Home Value: $61,300
Median Income: $30,491
Unemployment Rate: 23.1%
3. Nesquehoning
/10
Population: 3,345
Median Home Value: $105,400
Median Income: $53,571
Unemployment Rate: 13.9%
4. Girardville
/10
Population: 1,094
Median Home Value: $41,200
Median Income: $37,639
Unemployment Rate: 10.6%
5. Shenandoah
/10
Population: 4,256
Median Home Value: $43,500
Median Income: $40,702
Unemployment Rate: 11.2%
6. Honesdale
/10
Population: 4,465
Median Home Value: $180,600
Median Income: $38,469
Unemployment Rate: 9.4%
7. Reynoldsville
/10
Population: 2,622
Median Home Value: $89,000
Median Income: $46,433
Unemployment Rate: 7.9%
8. Mount Union
/10
Population: 2,349
Median Home Value: $99,000
Median Income: $38,947
Unemployment Rate: 13.2%
9. Canton
/10
Population: 1,717
Median Home Value: $120,900
Median Income: $41,629
Unemployment Rate: 8.6%
10. Bobtown
Population: 1,117
Median Home Value: $55,700
Median Income: $49,125
Unemployment Rate: 7.6%
Methodology: How do you decide if a small place in Pennsylvania is lousy or not?
To rank the worst small towns to live in Pennsylvania, we had to determine what criteria people like or dislike about a place. Assuming that people like low crime, solid education, things to do, and a stable economy isn’t a stretch.
We then analyzed the criteria using Saturday Night Science, the thinking you’d use at a bar. It seems like even your crazy Uncle would agree that a town with high crime is worse than a town with low crime; all else the same.
Using FBI crime data and the Census’s 2019-2023 American Community Survey, this is the criteria we used:
- Population Density (The lower, the worse)
- Highest Unemployment Rates
- Low housing costs (meaning there’s no demand)
- Adjusted Median Income (Median income adjusted for the cost of living)
- Education (Number of high school dropouts)
- High Crime
We looked at cities with populations between 1,000 and 5,000 people, of which there were many – 681 to be exact.
We get the crime numbers from the FBI, which gets them from the cities. Dropout numbers are based on the adult population, not just the current graduation rates of teenagers.
We base all our research on facts, which is meant as infotainment. We updated this article for 2025, which is our tenth time ranking the worst small places to live in Pennsylvania.
There You Have It – The Worst Small Towns In Pennsylvania
If you’re analyzing teeny places in the Keystone State with the worst economic situations, where there’s high crime and there’s not a lot to do, this is an accurate list.
The worst small towns in Pennsylvania are Lansford, Renovo, Nesquehoning, Girardville, Shenandoah, Honesdale, Reynoldsville, Mount Union, Canton, and Bobtown.
If you’re curious enough, here are the best small towns to live in Pennsylvania, according to science:
- Village Shires (Pop. 3,360)
- Ne (Pop. 2,234)
- Aspinwall (Pop. 2,866)
For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:
Worst Small Towns In Pennsylvania
| Rank | Town | Population | Unemployment Rate | Home Value | Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lansford | 4,144 | 21.3% | $48,700 | $44,078 |
| 2 | Renovo | 1,168 | 23.1% | $61,300 | $30,491 |
| 3 | Nesquehoning | 3,345 | 13.9% | $105,400 | $53,571 |
| 4 | Girardville | 1,094 | 10.6% | $41,200 | $37,639 |
| 5 | Shenandoah | 4,256 | 11.2% | $43,500 | $40,702 |
| 6 | Honesdale | 4,465 | 9.4% | $180,600 | $38,469 |
| 7 | Reynoldsville | 2,622 | 7.9% | $89,000 | $46,433 |
| 8 | Mount Union | 2,349 | 13.2% | $99,000 | $38,947 |
| 9 | Canton | 1,717 | 8.6% | $120,900 | $41,629 |
| 10 | Bobtown | 1,117 | 7.6% | $55,700 | $49,125 |
| 11 | Rankin | 1,729 | 14.5% | $84,400 | $29,783 |
| 12 | Mahanoy City | 3,522 | 12.8% | $35,300 | $38,047 |
| 13 | Woodland Heights | 1,446 | 17.6% | $110,300 | $51,607 |
| 14 | Hyde | 1,071 | 18.1% | $117,300 | $53,750 |
| 15 | Brownsville | 2,539 | 8.8% | $63,900 | $28,656 |
| 16 | Nemacolin | 1,107 | 15.4% | $92,600 | $17,774 |
| 17 | Farrell | 4,239 | 8.5% | $76,200 | $40,405 |
| 18 | Northern Cambria | 3,515 | 7.5% | $84,400 | $50,448 |
| 19 | Union City | 2,911 | 7.9% | $101,000 | $42,754 |
| 20 | East Uniontown | 2,181 | 9.3% | $107,600 | $45,275 |
| 21 | Collinsburg | 1,278 | 8.2% | $132,900 | $57,440 |
| 22 | Falls Creek | 1,084 | 5.2% | $104,700 | $47,589 |
| 23 | Bentleyville | 2,343 | 5.4% | $135,900 | $56,179 |
| 24 | Glassport | 4,400 | 12.9% | $82,400 | $45,354 |
| 25 | Ashley | 2,599 | 6.2% | $82,800 | $46,655 |
| 26 | North Braddock | 4,255 | 13.7% | $53,400 | $36,563 |
| 27 | Dravosburg | 1,600 | 6.6% | $98,300 | $47,016 |
| 28 | Montrose | 1,427 | 7.0% | $160,000 | $56,484 |
| 29 | Republic | 1,171 | 19.3% | $103,800 | $50,978 |
| 30 | Westfield | 1,241 | 4.0% | $86,000 | $46,875 |
| 31 | Coaldale Borough (Schuylkill County) | 2,353 | 8.9% | $69,300 | $60,982 |
| 32 | Susquehanna Depot | 1,312 | 6.9% | $84,200 | $57,560 |
| 33 | Colwyn | 2,683 | 21.5% | $105,800 | $53,092 |
| 34 | North Warren | 2,074 | 7.0% | $113,200 | $55,551 |
| 35 | Lykens | 1,830 | 7.4% | $101,300 | $69,125 |
| 36 | Glen Lyon | 1,956 | 0.0% | $84,300 | $34,416 |
| 37 | Rochester | 3,445 | 7.4% | $109,300 | $40,710 |
| 38 | Mercer | 1,847 | 7.5% | $130,300 | $44,865 |
| 39 | South Connellsville | 1,848 | 4.2% | $98,000 | $49,821 |
| 40 | Clymer | 1,133 | 10.2% | $74,800 | $43,750 |
| 41 | New Philadelphia | 1,008 | 7.6% | $84,400 | $45,903 |
| 42 | Mcadoo | 2,617 | 6.1% | $84,800 | $45,239 |
| 43 | Braddock | 1,979 | 33.9% | $57,300 | $24,489 |
| 44 | Hallstead | 1,223 | 10.4% | $116,900 | $51,705 |
| 45 | West Mayfield | 1,326 | 12.4% | $141,600 | $51,688 |
| 46 | Wilmerding | 1,781 | 17.0% | $65,000 | $37,764 |
| 47 | Fairchance | 1,429 | 6.9% | $159,000 | $38,427 |
| 48 | Waterford | 1,254 | 10.1% | $163,000 | $58,875 |
| 49 | Donora | 4,536 | 14.1% | $57,700 | $42,851 |
| 50 | Windsor | 1,281 | 6.3% | $179,300 | $58,895 |
| 51 | Eddystone | 2,212 | 13.2% | $117,500 | $53,665 |
| 52 | Hiller | 1,340 | 11.1% | $128,900 | $90,898 |
| 53 | Maso | 3,238 | 17.8% | $116,700 | $49,536 |
| 54 | Cambridge Springs | 2,357 | 6.5% | $107,200 | $57,321 |
| 55 | Everett | 2,150 | 4.6% | $122,000 | $40,903 |
| 56 | Forest City | 1,700 | 10.8% | $138,500 | $58,125 |
| 57 | Sugarcreek | 4,745 | 6.6% | $100,000 | $59,594 |
| 58 | Point Marion | 1,151 | 2.3% | $94,700 | $50,781 |
| 59 | Ashland | 2,495 | 3.0% | $60,000 | $52,283 |
| 60 | Ridgway | 3,991 | 6.8% | $87,000 | $52,059 |
| 61 | Midland | 2,433 | 8.5% | $90,700 | $61,250 |
| 62 | Emporium | 2,005 | 13.2% | $70,800 | $36,167 |
| 63 | Mount Oliver | 3,347 | 7.2% | $84,700 | $50,379 |
| 64 | Arnold | 4,738 | 10.9% | $76,800 | $48,119 |
| 65 | North York | 2,503 | 14.0% | $120,700 | $62,143 |
| 66 | Mansfield | 3,014 | 7.2% | $179,600 | $46,250 |
| 67 | Fairview-Ferndale | 1,721 | 6.4% | $77,000 | $36,429 |
| 68 | Pitcairn | 3,065 | 10.9% | $68,600 | $34,400 |
| 69 | Avonmore | 1,008 | 2.5% | $88,800 | $50,417 |
| 70 | Mcconnellsburg | 1,005 | 11.2% | $173,800 | $36,563 |
| 71 | Linesville | 1,021 | 8.1% | $119,400 | $59,375 |
| 72 | Minersville | 4,391 | 3.1% | $80,400 | $55,938 |
| 73 | Shenandoah Heights | 1,284 | 12.1% | $85,000 | $88,417 |
| 74 | Larksville | 4,248 | 8.5% | $145,700 | $56,620 |
| 75 | Waymart | 1,198 | 4.6% | $187,300 | $54,318 |
| 76 | Paint | 1,031 | 9.3% | $94,900 | $42,679 |
| 77 | Wesleyville | 3,189 | 9.1% | $100,700 | $46,506 |
| 78 | Gallitzin | 1,460 | 4.8% | $88,300 | $56,600 |
| 79 | Knox | 1,032 | 8.0% | $117,800 | $55,380 |
| 80 | Birchwood Lakes | 1,255 | 13.8% | $171,900 | $52,164 |
| 81 | Whitaker | 1,168 | 12.4% | $87,800 | $62,339 |
| 82 | Port Allegany | 2,430 | 9.2% | $105,200 | $57,837 |
| 83 | Nanty-Glo | 2,399 | 3.0% | $81,100 | $47,933 |
| 84 | New Berlinville | 1,745 | 16.1% | $148,300 | $83,827 |
| 85 | Clarion | 4,202 | 9.9% | $155,300 | $42,063 |
| 86 | Mill Hall | 1,313 | 6.6% | $145,500 | $53,750 |
| 87 | New Eagle | 2,148 | 11.2% | $103,100 | $52,612 |
| 88 | Fairhope | 1,113 | 5.6% | $115,600 | $36,917 |
| 89 | Braddock Hills | 1,567 | 2.8% | $108,900 | $38,070 |
| 90 | Biglerville | 1,194 | 9.8% | $212,800 | $51,000 |
| 91 | Youngsville | 1,669 | 12.6% | $105,900 | $55,282 |
| 92 | Susquehanna Trails | 2,219 | 9.6% | $209,800 | $62,011 |
| 93 | Troy | 1,373 | 0.5% | $148,600 | $49,583 |
| 94 | Curwensville | 2,544 | 9.6% | $95,700 | $50,679 |
| 95 | Weatherly | 2,556 | 5.8% | $148,300 | $55,298 |
| 96 | Mcclure | 1,113 | 5.9% | $130,200 | $68,833 |
| 97 | Chevy Chase Heights | 1,094 | 18.7% | $134,800 | $65,288 |
| 98 | Dewart | 1,241 | 5.8% | $157,100 | $53,365 |
| 99 | William | 1,289 | 11.2% | $95,200 | $61,875 |
| 100 | Marcus Hook | 2,236 | 2.6% | $108,000 | $50,952 |