11 PA Towns Among Best Places To Live In U.S., New Report Says

PENNSYLVANIA — A Pennsylvania community was ranked as the best place to live in a new analysis of the 100 best places to live in America. A total of 11 Pennsylvania towns made the list.

The list, compiled by Niche, ranked 228 cities and 17,932 towns and neighborhoods. To compile the ranking, Niche used federal data from the Census Bureau, FBI, Labor Bureau and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as reviews from residents.

Among others, factors considered are affordability, the local housing market, neighborhood diversity, the quality of public schools, crime, and walkability.

The overall Best Place to Live in America is Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, which has claimed the title now for four consecutive years. Rounding out the top five are Colonial Village, Virginia; Ardmore, Pa.; Hyde Park-Spanishtown Creek, Florida; and Penn Wynne, Pa.

Below are the Pennsylvania places that made the top 100 list from Niche, and their overall rating:

1. Chesterbrook
3. Ardmore
5. Penn Wynne
9. Devon
30. Swarthmore
42. Aspinwall
70. Exton
72. Berwyn
73. Narberth
88. Park Forest Village
92. Rose Valley

When just looking at cities, Cambridge, Massachusetts, is the Best City to Live in America for the first time ever, Niche said. Rounding out the top five are Arlington, Virginia; The Woodlands, Texas; Naperville, Illinois; and Columbia, Maryland.

In the top 100, Pittsburgh ranked 23rd on the Best Cities to Live in America, receiving an A grade overall the following grades by category:

Public schools: B-
Housing: B
Good for families: A-
Jobs: B
Cost of living: B+
Outdoor activities: A-
Crime and safety: C
Nightlife: A+
Diversity: A
Weather: C
Health and fitness: A-
Commute: A

The Best Places to Live rankings are a tool to help people find a place to live based on the qualities that matter most to them, Niche said in a news release.

People who want to dig deeper into a specific area can compare cities, suburbs and neighborhoods with specific states, metro areas and counties. Among others, Niche has specialized lists for the best places for families, young professionals, homebuyers and retirees.

Patch's national desk contributed to this report.