10 Healthiest Cities in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has several famous landmarks and is rich in history. From crayons and chocolate to dinosaurs and the nation’s building blocks, this state has something for everyone! With everything the state has to offer, deciding where to live in The Keystone State might seem overwhelming.

Here is our list of the healthiest cities to help take some of that stress away!

10. Scranton

Niche fitness score: B-

Smoking rate: 23.4

Physical inactivity rate: 35.0

Air quality rate: 27

Scranton is the cultural and economic center of Northeastern Pennsylvania and is the seat of Lackawanna County. The Lackawanna River runs through Scranton, opening a whole world of outdoor activities including kayaking, paddle boarding, and fishing. The entrance at Sweeney’s Beach has walking paths down to the river shoreline and boat launches, making it a great spot to set up camp and enjoy the day. Along the river is the Lackawanna River Heritage Trail. This 70+-mile trail connects over 30 communities within four counties. Residents enjoy walking, hiking, and, thanks to the BikeLackawanna bike-share program, biking along the trail. In the winter, Montage Mountain is the place for snow sports. It has the second steepest slope in the east and the longest snow tubing lane in Pennsylvania! In the summer, the resort turns into the Meltdown Waterpark with a lazy river, waterslide complex, and a wave pool. Of course, you can’t live in Scranton without running into a couple of fans of the show, The Office. The city hosts The Office 5K run annually. The race passes iconic locations from the show and participants are encouraged to dress as their favorite character!

9. Easton

Niche fitness score: B-

Smoking rate: 18.9

Physical inactivity rate: 27.2

Air quality rate: 36

On the eastern border of Pennsylvania is Easton, a historical city known for being the confluence of the Lehigh and Delaware Rivers. Experience the beauty of both rivers either on the water using the boat launches or on land at the city parks (Scott Park and Riverside Park) that sit along the shore. Connected by a pedestrian bridge, both parks have multi-activity playgrounds, bike trails, and amphitheaters for live entertainment. The Karl Stirner Arts Trail combines Easton’s love of nature and art. The 1.75-mile trail follows Bushkill Creek and features more than 15 art exhibits by contemporary artists. It also features the Young Master’s Wall which showcases young, local artists. Easton is home to the oldest, continually running open-air farmers market in the United States! The year-round market is open on Saturday mornings and has a variety of fresh produce, bakery and dessert items, arts and crafts, and flower and plant shops.

8. Sharon

Niche fitness score: B

Smoking rate: 21.6

Physical inactivity rate: 24.8

Air quality rate: 35

Sharon sits on Pennsylvania’s western border in the “Shenango Valley” area along the Shenango River. The river provides lots of water-based fun activities including the annual Paddle Fest. Sharon shares Buhl Farm Park with its neighbor, Hermitage. The park has an outdoor swimming pool, an off-leash dog park, and access to fishing in Lake Julia. It is also home to the only free 9-hole golf course in the nation! The park has year-round clinics and sports instruction classes such as tennis, swimming, and kayak lessons. Around the park is the Fitness Trail, a 9/10-mile-long trail with exercise stations along the way.     

7. Bloomsburg

Niche fitness score: B

Smoking rate: 16.6

Physical inactivity rate: 23.2

Air quality rate: 31

Bloomsburg is located along the Susquehanna River in the northeast region of the state. It is best known for being the only “town” in Pennsylvania, but there are many other reasons to put Bloomsburg on your map like its welcoming and inclusive environment, its historic downtown, and its commitment to arts and culture. The Bloomsburg Town Park sits on the shoreline of the Susquehanna River and provides the town with a mix of outdoor activities. The park has a skate park, baseball and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, and an 18–hole disc golf course. There are picnic pavilions with barbeque pits within the park and it is surrounded by a fitness trail. The Bloomsburg Fair is the largest and longest-running fair in the country! This annual event lasts one week and hosts a variety of live music, food vendors, and pop-up shops as well as events like a livestock show and a demolition derby.         

6. Nanticoke

Niche fitness score: C+

Smoking rate: 18.9

Physical inactivity rate: 22.5

Air quality rate: 28

A little further up the Susquehanna River is Nanticoke. It is a small, close-knit community within driving distance of other great cities like Harrisburg, Scranton, and Wilkes-Barre. Nanticoke’s Quality Hill Park keeps residents active with a basketball court and a playground. It is also the hot spot for weekly community gatherings and events. Take a drive to the Flood’s Nursery and Farm Market for a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, farm-fresh eggs, and homemade baked goods!

5. Harrisburg

Niche fitness score: C+

Smoking rate: 17.7

Physical inactivity rate: 24.3

Air quality rate: 35

Harrisburg is Pennsylvania’s capital and a social hub of the Susquehanna Valley. It is full of parks, playgrounds, and green spaces, making it a great destination to enjoy Pennsylvania’s natural beauty. In fact, there are about 25 parks and playgrounds in town and 96% of Harrisburg residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park! You can almost always find a walking trail wherever you are in Harrisburg thanks to the Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile loop that cuts in and around the city connecting neighborhoods and parks. One such park is Wildwood Park right on the edge of the city. It has a nature center, over six miles of trails, and a mile-long boardwalk over the wetlands. Spend some time on the water at Italian Lake or on its walking paths which are great for running, biking, and birdwatching.

4. Saint Marys

Niche fitness score: B

Smoking rate: 19.8

Physical inactivity rate: 25.1

Air quality rate: 29

Saint Marys is in Elk County and is one of the state’s least dense cities, meaning there is plenty of wide open space to take in the Pennsylvania beauty. On the outskirts of Saint Marys is Elk State Park. This 3,192-acre park is surrounded by rugged mountains and has access to the Maple Trail for walking, jogging, and biking. East Branch Lake provides the park with warm-water fish in the summer and cold-water fish in the winter months. Bendigo State Park is the perfect spot to get together and enjoy the great outdoors. There are over 150 picnic tables equipped with barbecue pits all throughout the park. There is also a swimming pool and enough lake for boating and fishing.     

3. Bethlehem

Niche fitness score: B

Smoking rate: 14.9

Physical inactivity rate: 19.3

Air quality rate: 42  

Bethlehem is in the Lehigh Valley, about 10 miles from Allentown. There are over 30 parks within the city including Monocacy Park and Southside Greenway. All the parks in town have special events throughout the year, like Movies in the Park during the summer. South Bethlehem Greenway is connected to Southside Bethlehem, the city’s hotspot for art, food, and culture. Golfers of all levels can tee up at the Bethlehem Golf Club to play a full 18 holes, a quick 9, or just hit off the driving range.        

2. Lower Burrell

Niche fitness score: B

Smoking rate: 16.0

Physical inactivity rate: 23.6

Air quality rate: 36

Lower Burrell sits in the Appalachian Plateau region of Pennsylvania and is about 24 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. This small and welcoming community provides a nice getaway from the busy city while still getting all the perks of the metropolitan area. There are five parks within the city equipped with basketball courts and playgrounds. Lower Burrell hosts community events year-round, including a farmers market. The market is open Saturday mornings in the summer and fall and hosts over 30 vendors. You can usually find free samples and there is a weekly raffle for gifts and prizes.

1. Hermitage

Niche fitness score: B+

Smoking rate: 15.4

Physical inactivity rate: 21.3

Air quality rate: 34

Hermitage sits on the Pennsylvania-Ohio border, right down the road from Sharon. Like its neighbor, Hermitage residents enjoy the beauty of the Buhl Farm Park. In addition to the free golf, Buhl Farm Park also has tennis courts, a fitness trail with exercise stations, a bike pump track, and an outdoor pool. Up north, the Shenango River Lake Recreation Area is the perfect spot for picnicking and camping. The lake is stocked with warm-water fish and has six boating ramps available. During the summer and fall, Hermitage hosts a night market with booths for local growers, artists, and food vendors. Each night, the market also opens up the stage for a live musical performance.

Want to learn more about living in Pennsylvania? Check out the most affordable cities, or the top retiree-friendly cities in the state. And if you’re moving to the Keystone State from a distance, be sure to read up on how to shop for a home online. For new daily listings across the country, check out NewHomeSource.