2 Pennsylvania cities named among ‘Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025’
Two Pennsylvania cities were recently named among the ”Top 100 Best Places to Live in the US in 2025” by online publication Livability, which ranks small- to medium-sized cities.
The Livability list did not rank the top 100 cities numerically, but did give each city a quality of life score. You can filter the list by region, population and median home value.
Livability considered factors such as economic data, cost of living, amenities, walkability, environment, safety, education and health to score the cities, including about 100 data points in total. The publication cited “a variety of public and private data” as sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Postal Service, satellite imagery, business establishment files and more.
Pittsburgh made the cut, with a quality of life score of 727 out of 1,000. The city stood out for its amenities, economy and health metrics, according to Livability.
The other Pennsylvania spot to make the list was Bethlehem, which received a quality of life score of 696. Livability highlighted Bethlehem’s rankings for education, amenities and housing and cost of living.
Both Pittsburgh and Bethlehem also made Livability’s 2024 list for top 100 best places to live.
Here’s what else to know about Pittsburgh and Bethlehem and why Livability considers them top places to live.
Pittsburgh
Population: 310,519
Median household income: $100,657
Median home value: $206,135
Median monthly rent: $948
Average commute time: 21 minutes
Pittsburgh offers residents and visitors a wealth of attractions to explore, including the historic Fort Pitt Block House, which offers free admission, the Andy Warhol Museum and the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.
There are also plenty of opportunities to explore the outdoors. Livability reports the Pittsburgh area has 15,000 acres of public parks and green spaces.
Pittsburgh gets an average of 27 inches of snowfall per year, Livability reports, as well as 38 inches of rain annually.
The city has a 19.5% poverty rate, the Census Bureau reports. Pittsburgh’s unemployment rate was 3.9% for March, according to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Here’s how Livability scored Pittsburgh in each of the eight main categories, each scored out of 100:
Amenities: 86
Education: 59
Health: 63
Safety: 38
Economy: 71
Environment: 56
Housing & cost of living: 62
Transportation: 53
Bethlehem
Population: 79,259
Median household income: $99,964
Median home value: $249,745
Median monthly rent: $1,077
Average commute time: 17 minutes
Livability describes Bethlehem as a “vibrant city that blends history and modernity.” The Historic Moravian Bethlehem District is on the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) World Heritage List, and Bethlehem is known as the “Christmas City” for its early adoption of decorating trees for the holiday.
Popular attractions in Bethlehem include the National Museum of Industrial History, perusing Main Street and the Zoellner Arts Center.
Bethlehem gets an average of 33 inches of snow and 47 inches of rain per year, according to Livability.
Bethlehem has a poverty rate of 15.8%, according to the Census Bureau. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the “Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ” metropolitan area had a preliminary unemployment rate of 4.2% in March.
Here’s how Livability scored Bethlehem in each of the eight main categories:
Amenities: 72
Education: 73
Health: 55
Safety: 62
Economy: 61
Environment: 26
Housing & cost of living: 64
Transportation: 52
The Centre Daily Times has reached out to city officials with Pittsburgh and Bethlehem for comment on the 2025 Livability ranking.
This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
