The 10 Most Liberal Cities In Pennsylvania For 2026

The most liberal cities in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia and Chester for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

In this article, we will explore some of the most liberal cities in Pennsylvania, where progressive ideas and inclusive attitudes flourish.

If you’re looking to move to Pennsylvania and want to know where the majority of Pennsylvanians lean left, you’ve come to the right place.

Specifically, we wanted to know which cities have the highest number of liberal voters in the Keystone State.

To do so, we analyzed how the people in each city in Pennsylvania with a population greater than 5,000 voted during the last presidential election. The cities with the highest percentage of voters who voted Democrat were named the most liberal cities in the state.

Not sold on Pennsylvania? Take the two-minute Find Your Place quiz and see which state actually fits you.

1

No. 1 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA

1,579,706 peopleSnackAbility 6/10
6/10
Philadelphia, PA
Source: Wikipedia User en:User:Jleon (Transfered by MSClaudiu/Original uploaded by Jleon) | CC BY-SA 3.0
81.4% Democrat vote · #1 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Philadelphia within Pennsylvania Located in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the sixth-most populous city in the United States, with an estimated population of 1,567,872 and more than 6million in the seventh-largest metropolitan statistical area, as of 2016. Philadelphia is the economic and cultural anchor of the Delaware Valley region, located along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers. The region’s population of 7.2million ranks it as the eighth-largest combined statistical area in the United States.

9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Media, PA

5,870 peopleSnackAbility 7/10
7/10
Media, PA
Source: Public domain
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

The borough of Media is the county seat of Delaware County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is located 13 miles west of Philadelphia. Media was incorporated in 1850 at the same time that it was named the county seat. The population was 5,327 at the 2010 census, down from 5,533 at the 2000 census. Its school district is the Rose Tree Media School District with Penncrest High School and Springton Lake Middle School. In June 2006, it became the first fair trade town in America. Media promotes itself by its motto: “Everybody’s Hometown”.

9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Norwood, PA

5,934 peopleSnackAbility 6/10
6/10
Norwood, PA
Source: Wikipedia User US Census, Ruhrfisch | GFDL
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Norwood within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Norwood is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census.

9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Sharon Hill, PA

6,002 peopleSnackAbility 5/10
5/10
Sharon Hill, PA
Source: Wikipedia User Drew Jacksich from San Jose, California | CC BY-SA 2.0
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Sharon Hill within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Prospect Park, PA

6,417 peopleSnackAbility 7/10
7/10
Prospect Park, PA
Source: Public domain
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Swarthmore, PA

6,550 peopleSnackAbility 7.5/10
7.5/10
Swarthmore, PA
Source: Public domain
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Swarthmore within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Swarthmore is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. Swarthmore was originally named “Westdale” in honor of noted painter Benjamin West, who was one of the early residents of the town. The name was changed to “Swarthmore” after the establishment of Swarthmore College. “Swarthmore” can be pronounced with the first “r” either vocalized or dropped due to differences in rhotic and non-rhotic accents, but locally it is usually pronounced without the first “r”. The borough population was 6,194 as of the 2010 census.

9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Folcroft, PA

6,772 peopleSnackAbility 6/10
6/10
Folcroft, PA
Source: Wikipedia User US Census, Ruhrfisch | GFDL
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Folcroft within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Folcroft is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 6,606 at the 2010 census, down from 6,978 at the 2000 census.

9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Glenolden, PA

7,220 peopleSnackAbility 6/10
6/10
Glenolden, PA
Source: Public domain
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Glenolden within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Clifton Heights, PA

6,832 peopleSnackAbility 5/10
5/10
Clifton Heights, PA
Source: Wikipedia User Spmarshall42 at English Wikipedia | CC BY 3.0
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Clifton Heights within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Clifton Heights is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States, located on Darby Creek 8 miles west of downtown Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census the population was 6,652.

9

No. 9 most liberal place in Pennsylvania

Brookhaven, PA

8,331 peopleSnackAbility 6/10
6/10
Brookhaven, PA
Source: Wikipedia User David Bingeman | CC BY-SA 3.0
62.9% Democrat vote · #9 most liberal in Pennsylvania
Map of Brookhaven within Pennsylvania Located in Delaware County, Pennsylvania

Brookhaven is a borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,006 at the 2010 census.

The receipts

Compare the top ten

Pick a metric. The bars rescale. The red line is Pennsylvania’s statewide median.

City % Democrat vs PA
1 Philadelphia 0.814416956555167
9 Media 0.6294708338034526
9 Norwood 0.6294708338034526
9 Sharon Hill 0.6294708338034526
9 Prospect Park 0.6294708338034526
9 Swarthmore 0.6294708338034526
9 Folcroft 0.6294708338034526
9 Glenolden 0.6294708338034526
9 Clifton Heights 0.6294708338034526
9 Brookhaven 0.6294708338034526
City Population vs PA
1 Philadelphia 1,579,706
9 Media 5,870
9 Norwood 5,934
9 Sharon Hill 6,002
9 Prospect Park 6,417
9 Swarthmore 6,550
9 Folcroft 6,772
9 Glenolden 7,220
9 Clifton Heights 6,832
9 Brookhaven 8,331

On the map

Mapping the liberal strongholds in Pennsylvania

Saturday Night Science

How we determined the most liberal cities in Pennsylvania for 2026

To find the most liberal places in Pennsylvania, we used Saturday Night Science – the argument you’d make at a bar – to find the cities with the most liberals.

We started by making a list of every city in Pennsylvania over 5,000 people based on the 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That left us with 193 cities and towns.

We then measured the voting record and MIT election data to determine which places lean the most leftward in their allegiances by:

  • Percentage Of Votes For Democratic President In 2020

Because no voting data exists at the city level, we used county-level election results from the 2020 election. We assigned every city in a county the percentage of votes that went to the Democrats, effectively extending the county’s results to the city level. In cases where larger cities encompassed an entire county, the election outcomes accurately reflected the city’s political landscape.

The winner, Philadelphia, is “The Most liberal City in Pennsylvania For 2026”. The most conservative place in Pennsylvania was Punxsutawney.

We updated this article for 2026. This report is our eleventh time ranking the most liberal places to live in Pennsylvania.

The full plate

Most Liberal Places In Pennsylvania

Click any column to sort. Search by city name.

RankCityPopulation% Liberal
1Philadelphia1,579,70681.4%
9Media5,87062.9%
9Norwood5,93462.9%
9Sharon Hill6,00262.9%
9Prospect Park6,41762.9%
9Swarthmore6,55062.9%
9Folcroft6,77262.9%
9Glenolden7,22062.9%
9Clifton Heights6,83262.9%
9Brookhaven8,33162.9%
9Collingdale8,89762.9%
9Darby10,68762.9%
9Lansdowne11,12262.9%
9Yeadon12,18162.9%
9Chester33,61962.9%
9Ridley Park7,26162.9%
21Ambler6,84762.6%
21Bridgeport5,17462.6%
21Collegeville5,24762.6%
21Souderton7,18162.6%
21Conshohocken9,28262.6%
21Lansdale19,01162.6%
21Pott23,47662.6%
21Norri35,89362.6%
21Hatboro8,28362.6%
40Bellevue8,12859.6%
40Dormont8,06359.6%
40Carnegie7,97859.6%
40White Oak7,46859.6%
40Oakmont6,70259.6%
40Forest Hills6,28659.6%
40McKees Rocks5,78659.6%
40Crafton5,96159.6%
40Coraopolis5,41759.6%
40Fox Chapel5,24659.6%
40Duquesne5,14959.6%
40Turtle Creek5,00759.6%
40Clairton6,04459.6%
40Castle Shannon8,20959.6%
40West View6,53359.6%
40Swissvale8,41859.6%
40Pittsburgh304,75959.6%
40Alcoa 32,88159.6%
40Plum26,72359.6%
40Baldwin21,05759.6%
40West Mifflin19,19059.6%
40McKeesport17,38059.6%
40Alden 28,29559.6%
40Pleasant Hills8,39959.6%
40Whitehall14,81159.6%
40Wilkinsburg14,02759.6%
40Jefferson Hills12,31759.6%
40Munhall10,54859.6%
40Brentwood9,86659.6%
40Franklin Park15,23559.6%
58Oxford5,82558.0%
58Kennett Square6,24358.0%
58Downin8,25558.0%
58Phoenixville19,45258.0%
58West Chester20,66658.0%
58Coatesville13,35358.0%
67Taylor6,26553.7%
67Olyphant5,38153.7%
67Moosic5,97353.7%
67Dickson City6,02353.7%
67Clarks Summit5,07353.7%
67Blakely6,66253.7%
67Old Forge8,57353.7%
67Carbondale8,78953.7%
67Dunmore14,18153.7%
67Scranton76,03353.7%
67Archbald7,40453.7%
74Harrisburg50,28753.6%
74Middl9,63253.6%
74Steelton6,29653.6%
77Allentown125,97653.2%
77Bethlehem77,95653.2%
77Emmaus11,88953.2%
77Catasauqua6,54153.2%
80Stroudsburg5,89452.6%
80East Stroudsburg9,31952.6%
82State College41,05051.7%
82Bellefonte6,00951.7%
86Bristol9,90251.7%
86Morrisville9,75251.7%
86Quake9,31951.7%
86Perkasie9,21651.7%
86Doyle8,34151.7%
90Erie93,85049.8%
90Corry6,11649.8%
90Edinboro5,44049.8%
94Nazareth6,04349.8%
94Helle6,11849.8%
94Bangor5,16349.8%
94Northampton10,40049.8%
94Easton29,73949.8%
94Wilson8,18349.8%
99Reading95,24245.2%
99Wyomissing11,17245.2%
99Shillington5,49245.2%

Source: county-level 2020 election results, U.S. Census ACS 2020-2024. 193 cities with more than 5,000 residents.

Summary

Summing Up The Liberal Snowflakes in Pennsylvania

Well, there you have it, the places in Pennsylvania that have the highest number of liberals per capita, with Philadelphia ranking as the least conservative in the entire state.

The most liberal cities in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia, Media, Norwood, Sharon Hill, Prospect Park, Swarthmore, Folcroft, Glenolden, Clifton Heights, and Brookhaven.

If you’re curious, here are the least liberal cities in Pennsylvania. Wondering how Philadelphia stacks up against a bigger name? See Philadelphia, PA vs. Jersey City, NJ side by side.

Keep reading

More rankings worth a look

Nick Johnson
About the author

Nick Johnson earned his masters in Business Administration from the Drucker School At Claremont Graduate University. He has written for 39 publications across the country and ran the media relations department at Movoto, a real estate portal based in San Francisco. He has been featured in over 500 publications as an expert in real estate and as an authority on real estate trends.

Nick's the creator of the HomeSnacks YouTube channel that now has over 900,000 subscribers and is an excellent source to learn about different parts of the country.

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