Welcome to the happiest places in Pennsylvania.
Using Saturday Night Science and data, we determined the cities and towns with the most rainbows, butterflies, puppies, and unicorns.
You know, the places where people have jobs, white-picked fences, and friendly neighbors – unicorn cities.
After analyzing the 192 largest cities, we happily present the happiest cities in the Keystone State.
Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table
The 10 Happiest Places In Pennsylvania
Read on below to see how we crunched the numbers and how your town ranked. If you have a smile on your face, you probably live in one of these cities.
Oh, and by the way, Darby is the most miserable place in Pennsylvania.
For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:
The 10 Happiest Places In Pennsylvania For 2025
/10
Population: 40,669
Poverty Level: 39.1%
Median Home Price $414,400
Married Households 7.0%
Households With Kids 12.6%
More on State College: Data
State College is by far the happiest place in the state of Pennsylvania. Let’s see why.
First off, having a solid family life is a good indication of how happy someone is. Lots of the residents of State College aren’t missing out on love; more than 7% of them are married. Plus, the average commute time here is only about 15 minutes each way. That means a lot more time with the spouse and kids.
/10
Population: 5,303
Poverty Level: 24.6%
Median Home Price $211,300
Married Households 20.0%
Households With Kids 14.56%
More on Edinboro: Data
Things look to be pretty pleasant in Edinboro. Crime is really low here, and the percentage of married residents (20%) mean there’s lots of stability at home.
In addition to those factors, there is a thriving amount of community involvement. Studies have shown that a key factor to happiness is when people volunteer, especially in their own neighborhoods.
/10
Population: 6,022
Poverty Level: 16.3%
Median Home Price $232,500
Married Households 30.0%
Households With Kids 16.73%
More on Bellefonte: Data
The people who live in Bellefonte have a lot going for them. 37% of them have college degrees, and they command some of the highest salaries in PA. 30% of the people here are married.
Most of these all tops in the entire state.
/10
Population: 5,247
Poverty Level: 19.5%
Median Home Price $234,100
Married Households 10.0%
Households With Kids 10.97%
More on Lewisburg: Data
Lewisburg is where you can bet there are lots of smiley and happy people all over town. Crime is essentially something that just doesn’t happen here very often. And when you can let your guard down and relax a little, the lack of stress really makes a difference.
Same goes on the job front. Only 1.3% of residents here are out of work. Sounds like there are jobs for just about everyone who wants one. Which must be a good feeling to have.
/10
Population: 5,058
Poverty Level: 2.8%
Median Home Price $236,900
Married Households 32.0%
Households With Kids 20.52%
More on Clarks Summit: Data
If you want to see a bunch of happy people, go to Clarks Summit. It seriously looks like something out of a commercial.
They have a 17 minute commute time, which means lots more time with the kids.
/10
Population: 11,100
Poverty Level: 6.0%
Median Home Price $326,800
Married Households 31.0%
Households With Kids 18.85%
More on Wyomissing: Data
For those who say that money doesn’t buy happiness, you’re half right. Studies have shown that people are happy up to a certain point when it comes to annual salaries, somewhere around $72,000 a year. After that, it doesn’t matter how much you make, you’re not going to be much happier.
The residents of Wyomissing have that covered. Plus about 31% of households are married.
/10
Population: 5,581
Poverty Level: 6.6%
Median Home Price $190,500
Married Households 39.0%
Households With Kids 24.85%
More on Hollidaysburg: Data
Most of the people in Hollidaysburg have to be âplum’ happy. True happiness is âHome Sweet Home’ with your kids and spouse, being reminded to do chores, run errands and fold the clothes right.
/10
Population: 7,531
Poverty Level: 8.3%
Median Home Price $232,800
Married Households 35.0%
Households With Kids 23.14%
More on New Cumberland: Data
Less than 4.7% of the residents in New Cumberland are jobless, which is just about as low as you’ll see.
Incomes are steady, and commute times are really low as well. That really takes away the stress factors that stop folks from relaxing and enjoying their âdown time’ to do the little things that matter: Walks in the park, time alone with a book and extra face time with the children.
/10
Population: 16,132
Poverty Level: 10.1%
Median Home Price $187,600
Married Households 42.0%
Households With Kids 20.89%
More on Hermitage: Data
About 36% of residents in Hermitage, PA have a college degree. While we’ve all heard the saying, âIgnorance is bliss,’ our argument is: Ignorance is also broke.
Not only are most of the residents of Hermitage smart, they’re safe, too.
/10
Population: 9,599
Poverty Level: 2.6%
Median Home Price $264,600
Married Households 37.0%
Households With Kids 26.09%
More on Lititz: Data
In Lititz, most of the population is married, and most own their own homes.
The commute times (22 minutes each way) might eventually start to turn the corners of those smiles sideways.
But for now, it’s all roses in Lititz.
Methodology: How We Measured The Happiest Cities In The Keystone State
To rank the happiest places in Pennsylvania, we had to determine what criteria make people happy. It isn’t a stretch to assume that happy people earn great salaries, are relatively stress-free, and have a stable home life.
So we went to the Census’s American Community Survey 2019-2023 report for the happy criteria, added some Saturday Night Science, and generated the answer.
Here are the criteria we used to measure happiness:
- Percentage of residents with a college degree
- Average commute times
- Unemployment rates
- Cost of living
- % of married couples
- % of families with kids
- Poverty rate
After we decided on the criteria, we gathered the data for the 192 places in Pennsylvania with over 5,000 people.
We then ranked each place from one to 192 for each of the seven criteria, with a score of one being the happiest.
Next, we averaged the seven rankings into a Happy Index for each place with the lowest overall Happy Index “earning” the title “Happiest City In Pennsylvania.”
If you’d like to see the complete list of cities, happiest to saddest, scroll to the bottom of this post to see the unabridged chart.
We updated this article for 2025, and it’s our tenth time ranking the happiest cities in Pennsylvania.
There You Have It – The Happiest Cities In Pennsylvania
As we said earlier, trying to determine the most miserable cities in Pennsylvania is usually a subjective matter.
But if you’re analyzing cities where people are not stable, where you’re stuck in traffic, and no one spent the time to go to college, then this is an accurate list.
The happiest cities in Pennsylvania are State College, Edinboro, Bellefonte, Lewisburg, Clarks Summit, Wyomissing, Hollidaysburg, New Cumberland, Hermitage, and Lititz.
If you’re curious enough, here are the most miserable cities in Pennsylvania, according to science:
- Darby
- Duquesne
- Reading
For more Pennsylvania reading, check out:
- Best Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Cheapest Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Most Dangerous Cities In Pennsylvania
- Richest Cities In Pennsylvania
- Safest Places In Pennsylvania
- Worst Places To Live In Pennsylvania
- Most Expensive Places To Live In Pennsylvania
Happiest Cities In Pennsylvania For 2025
| Rank | City | Population | Poverty Level | Median Home Value | % Married | % Kids |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State College, PA | 40,669 | 39.1% | $414,400 | 7.0% | 12.6% |
| 2 | Edinboro, PA | 5,303 | 24.6% | $211,300 | 20.0% | 14.56% |
| 3 | Bellefonte, PA | 6,022 | 16.3% | $232,500 | 30.0% | 16.73% |
| 4 | Lewisburg, PA | 5,247 | 19.5% | $234,100 | 10.0% | 10.97% |
| 5 | Clarks Summit, PA | 5,058 | 2.8% | $236,900 | 32.0% | 20.52% |
| 6 | Wyomissing, PA | 11,100 | 6.0% | $326,800 | 31.0% | 18.85% |
| 7 | Hollidaysburg, PA | 5,581 | 6.6% | $190,500 | 39.0% | 24.85% |
| 8 | New Cumberland, PA | 7,531 | 8.3% | $232,800 | 35.0% | 23.14% |
| 9 | Hermitage, PA | 16,132 | 10.1% | $187,600 | 42.0% | 20.89% |
| 10 | Lititz, PA | 9,599 | 2.6% | $264,600 | 37.0% | 26.09% |
| 11 | Moosic, PA | 5,954 | 7.5% | $235,500 | 30.0% | 26.06% |
| 12 | Camp Hill, PA | 8,149 | 5.8% | $290,300 | 34.0% | 34.96% |
| 13 | Dunmore, PA | 14,123 | 11.4% | $186,900 | 32.0% | 25.49% |
| 14 | Selinsgrove, PA | 5,655 | 7.7% | $195,400 | 15.0% | 13.8% |
| 15 | West Chester, PA | 19,235 | 18.3% | $481,300 | 12.0% | 14.31% |
| 16 | Conshohocken, PA | 9,235 | 3.9% | $414,700 | 32.0% | 16.72% |
| 17 | Gettysburg, PA | 7,929 | 12.6% | $237,000 | 12.0% | 18.54% |
| 18 | Castle Shannon, PA | 8,237 | 8.4% | $182,400 | 34.0% | 16.03% |
| 19 | Somerset, PA | 5,984 | 19.5% | $144,400 | 32.0% | 23.0% |
| 20 | Carlisle, PA | 21,335 | 17.4% | $212,400 | 18.0% | 22.77% |
| 21 | Archbald, PA | 7,348 | 8.5% | $211,400 | 52.0% | 33.39% |
| 22 | Oakmont, PA | 6,712 | 3.9% | $317,700 | 42.0% | 24.19% |
| 23 | Millersville, PA | 8,711 | 24.5% | $265,500 | 15.0% | 26.27% |
| 24 | Mount Joy, PA | 8,310 | 10.7% | $241,300 | 40.0% | 26.71% |
| 25 | Swoyersville, PA | 5,014 | 9.7% | $137,000 | 43.0% | 14.12% |
| 26 | Doyle, PA | 8,322 | 6.0% | $491,700 | 23.0% | 22.02% |
| 27 | Economy, PA | 9,042 | 4.3% | $244,700 | 50.0% | 22.1% |
| 28 | South Williamsport, PA | 6,216 | 9.5% | $186,000 | 40.0% | 21.93% |
| 29 | Perkasie, PA | 9,176 | 7.8% | $338,700 | 39.0% | 26.18% |
| 30 | Warren, PA | 9,273 | 11.7% | $101,600 | 31.0% | 21.15% |
| 31 | Blakely, PA | 6,661 | 7.7% | $183,600 | 32.0% | 19.34% |
| 32 | Pittsburgh, PA | 303,620 | 19.5% | $193,200 | 18.0% | 17.57% |
| 33 | Elizabet, PA | 11,857 | 7.5% | $222,600 | 34.0% | 26.54% |
| 34 | Bloomsburg, PA | 12,906 | 30.6% | $186,100 | 12.0% | 18.31% |
| 35 | West View, PA | 6,582 | 6.8% | $209,800 | 39.0% | 27.4% |
| 36 | Dubois, PA | 7,449 | 10.6% | $114,900 | 31.0% | 22.2% |
| 37 | Mechanicsburg, PA | 9,535 | 5.2% | $227,600 | 31.0% | 25.69% |
| 38 | Grove City, PA | 7,861 | 8.5% | $165,900 | 21.0% | 23.98% |
| 39 | Bridgeport, PA | 5,085 | 16.7% | $303,800 | 21.0% | 37.92% |
| 40 | Duryea, PA | 5,054 | 21.4% | $142,900 | 35.0% | 26.11% |
| 41 | Downin, PA | 8,163 | 7.1% | $322,500 | 29.0% | 30.48% |
| 42 | Indiana, PA | 14,170 | 19.8% | $123,300 | 18.0% | 19.54% |
| 43 | Nazareth, PA | 6,032 | 15.9% | $236,900 | 28.0% | 26.68% |
| 44 | Greensburg, PA | 14,777 | 14.0% | $177,000 | 30.0% | 18.72% |
| 45 | Bellevue, PA | 8,186 | 10.4% | $177,900 | 23.0% | 17.88% |
| 46 | Carnegie, PA | 8,015 | 10.5% | $168,800 | 28.0% | 16.57% |
| 47 | Phoenixville, PA | 19,062 | 8.4% | $348,200 | 22.0% | 24.56% |
| 48 | Olyphant, PA | 5,370 | 10.0% | $143,400 | 31.0% | 24.21% |
| 49 | Lower Burrell, PA | 11,659 | 7.5% | $189,700 | 47.0% | 26.69% |
| 50 | Dormont, PA | 8,120 | 8.4% | $204,800 | 30.0% | 20.1% |
| 51 | Crafton, PA | 5,995 | 8.4% | $193,600 | 35.0% | 16.96% |
| 52 | Coraopolis, PA | 5,464 | 15.1% | $151,500 | 26.0% | 22.42% |
| 53 | Ephrata, PA | 13,729 | 9.3% | $215,100 | 35.0% | 28.31% |
| 54 | Brookhaven, PA | 8,288 | 3.4% | $265,500 | 37.0% | 28.58% |
| 55 | Media, PA | 5,868 | 4.1% | $398,400 | 17.0% | 15.37% |
| 56 | Franklin, PA | 6,026 | 17.2% | $109,200 | 35.0% | 22.91% |
| 57 | Old Forge, PA | 8,533 | 7.4% | $169,700 | 40.0% | 23.39% |
| 58 | Berwick, PA | 10,291 | 21.7% | $135,000 | 31.0% | 25.89% |
| 59 | White Oak, PA | 7,520 | 6.3% | $145,000 | 40.0% | 13.86% |
| 60 | Middl, PA | 9,567 | 14.6% | $159,800 | 25.0% | 23.4% |
| 61 | Collegeville, PA | 5,226 | 6.9% | $431,200 | 22.0% | 23.1% |
| 62 | Greenville, PA | 5,533 | 11.6% | $98,200 | 32.0% | 26.89% |
| 63 | Whitehall, PA | 14,863 | 8.2% | $229,200 | 37.0% | 23.16% |
| 64 | St. Marys, PA | 12,612 | 8.4% | $143,900 | 44.0% | 17.83% |
| 65 | New Holland, PA | 5,743 | 11.2% | $225,500 | 35.0% | 33.84% |
| 66 | Jefferson Hills, PA | 12,313 | 2.0% | $309,600 | 51.0% | 30.54% |
| 67 | Ridley Park, PA | 7,245 | 5.4% | $261,900 | 41.0% | 26.86% |
| 68 | Ambler, PA | 6,822 | 6.1% | $360,200 | 31.0% | 36.18% |
| 69 | Birdsboro, PA | 5,090 | 18.1% | $216,400 | 45.0% | 27.11% |
| 70 | Williamsport, PA | 27,629 | 25.2% | $146,500 | 22.0% | 27.64% |
| 71 | Prospect Park, PA | 6,402 | 13.4% | $239,700 | 36.0% | 31.67% |
| 72 | Bethlehem, PA | 77,069 | 15.8% | $236,500 | 16.0% | 23.13% |
| 73 | Shippensburg, PA | 5,811 | 11.6% | $163,200 | 21.0% | 24.27% |
| 74 | Hatboro, PA | 8,219 | 6.5% | $340,100 | 36.0% | 33.07% |
| 75 | Palmyra, PA | 7,769 | 13.8% | $211,900 | 29.0% | 31.72% |
| 76 | Plum, PA | 26,873 | 3.1% | $218,600 | 47.0% | 30.42% |
| 77 | Kingston, PA | 13,333 | 19.3% | $164,200 | 23.0% | 26.38% |
| 78 | Baldwin, PA | 21,159 | 10.4% | $191,700 | 37.0% | 30.26% |
| 79 | New Kensington, PA | 12,072 | 16.9% | $132,400 | 35.0% | 21.9% |
| 80 | Columbia, PA | 10,217 | 17.4% | $174,200 | 32.0% | 19.63% |
| 81 | Franklin Park, PA | 15,273 | 0.9% | $467,700 | 37.0% | 42.35% |
| 82 | Souderton, PA | 7,215 | 10.9% | $298,300 | 37.0% | 33.09% |
| 83 | Corry, PA | 6,162 | 29.2% | $99,800 | 30.0% | 22.44% |
| 84 | Pleasant Hills, PA | 8,418 | 3.0% | $235,500 | 42.0% | 29.69% |
| 85 | Tyrone, PA | 5,421 | 13.9% | $122,000 | 42.0% | 23.82% |
| 86 | Brentwood, PA | 9,927 | 17.5% | $143,700 | 31.0% | 28.61% |
| 87 | Ellwood City, PA | 7,575 | 10.2% | $120,400 | 37.0% | 21.85% |
| 88 | Huntingdon, PA | 6,884 | 11.7% | $189,400 | 25.0% | 26.08% |
| 89 | Shillington, PA | 5,462 | 14.2% | $190,600 | 33.0% | 31.37% |
| 90 | Fox Chapel, PA | 5,264 | 1.3% | $880,100 | 33.0% | 39.04% |
| 91 | Bradford, PA | 7,738 | 24.4% | $76,400 | 24.0% | 26.08% |
| 92 | Lansdale, PA | 18,865 | 9.5% | $319,000 | 26.0% | 31.3% |
| 93 | Northampton, PA | 10,366 | 7.1% | $225,400 | 32.0% | 24.33% |
| 94 | Forest Hills, PA | 6,332 | 4.4% | $182,200 | 38.0% | 20.26% |
| 95 | Manheim, PA | 5,028 | 13.1% | $218,100 | 44.0% | 37.53% |
| 96 | Munhall, PA | 10,633 | 13.7% | $118,900 | 33.0% | 22.88% |
| 97 | Helle, PA | 6,119 | 5.5% | $242,500 | 31.0% | 26.14% |
| 98 | Emmaus, PA | 11,727 | 5.8% | $244,300 | 37.0% | 33.5% |
| 99 | Scranton, PA | 76,074 | 22.0% | $141,700 | 22.0% | 27.34% |
| 100 | Sayre, PA | 5,444 | 11.3% | $166,000 | 23.0% | 26.1% |