MAIN Home Life House & Home Moving Pennsylvania

With its central location along the Mid-Atlantic, the Keystone State has been almost from its colonial beginnings a manufacturing center, later becoming an industrial powerhouse in the 19th century.

Today, Pennsylvania is home to almost 50 of the nation's largest Fortune 500 companies among them PPG Industries, U.S. Steel, Alcoa,, H.J Heinz and candy maker Hershey. Its two largest cities - Philadelphia and Pittsburgh - act as the state's two economic centers.

Away from major metro areas, the state offers spectacular Pocono Mountain scenery and ski resorts, along with a true taste of rural charm with a trip back in time to Lancaster, home to the largest Amish population in the country.

• Demographics : (Pennsylvania Census Data)
  Major cities: Harrisburg (capital), Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading
  Population : 12,440,621
  White : 86%
  Black, African American : 10.6%
  Hispanic : 4.1%
  High school graduates : 81.9%
  Bachelor's degree or higher : 22.4%
  Average household income: $43,714
  
  
• Crime : see Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System
  
  
• Cost of Living: Sperling's Best Places - Pennsylvania - Compared to the rest of the country, Pennsylvania's cost of living is 10.55% lower than the U.S. average.
  
  
• Property Taxes : Pennsylvania Tax Climate - Pennsylvania ranks 24th highest nationally in property taxes with collections totaling $1,010 per capita.
  
  
• Housing & Real Estate Overview : also see Zillow - Pennsylvania Real Estate
  Home ownership rate : 71.3%
  Average home price : $165,300
  Average travel time to work : 25.2 minutes
  
  
• Schools : see Pennsylvania Department of Education
  
  
• Weather : While summer temperatures are uniformly warm throughout Pennsylvania, low lying areas and those nearer the Atlantic coast are milder in winter compared to the state's colder and snowier mountain regions.
  

More about relocating to Pennsylvania around the Web:

Living in Pennsylvania - Resident and newcomers guide with links to information on vital stats & demographic data, schools, health care, shopping, driving maps, senior resources, tourism and major attractions.

PhillyBlog.com - Busy forum posts including Q&A on Philadelphia neighborhoods, suburbs, jobs, real estate and apartment renting, cost of living, schools & healthcare, local events and entertainment.

Moving to Philadelphia - Berkeley Parents Network message board posts with tips & advice on family-friendly neighborhoods, schools, real estate costs and home buying.

Pittsburgh Community Information - Carnegie Mellon employee guide to Pittsburgh relocation with helpful links to neighborhood information, area public & private schools, health facilities and hospitals, houses of worship.

Pennsylvania Real Estate, Apartments & Job Classifieds:

• Philadelphia : Inquirer
• Philadelphia : phillyBurbs.com
• Pittsburgh : Post-Gazette
• Pittsburgh : Tribune-Review

also see -> Pennsylvania Taxes | Pennsylvania Eviction Laws

Pennsylvania Beaches | Pennsylvania Fall Foliage

Pennsylvania Wine Tours | Christmas in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Tourist Attractions