Best Counties in Pennsylvania — 2026 Rankings
67 of 67 counties scored across 12 dimensions
67
67 scored
52/100
composite score
62.1/100
28.6—62.1
lowest to highest
Rankings
Top Counties in Pennsylvania
State Overview
Understanding County Scores in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Ranks Slightly Above the National Median
Pennsylvania earns a composite livability score of 51.8, placing it just above the national median of 50.0. With all 67 counties reporting data, the Commonwealth offers a competitive quality of life that holds its own against many peers in the Northeast.
Strong Health Outcomes and Solid Income Levels
The state performs best in health, securing a strong dimension score of 64.6. Additionally, its income score of 58.6 outpaces the national average, reflecting a workforce with decent earning power relative to the rest of the country.
High Taxes and Environmental Risks Hinder Scores
A low tax score of 21.9 indicates a relatively high tax burden compared to many other states. Combined with a risk score of 32.6, residents face a mix of financial pressures and environmental vulnerabilities that lower the state's overall ceiling.
Affordable Rural Living in Cameron and Elk
Cameron County leads the state with a 61.1 composite score, driven by a remarkable 85.0 affordability rating. Elk and Jefferson counties follow closely at 60.8, proving that Pennsylvania's most livable areas currently favor rural regions with lower costs.
A Balanced Choice for Health-Conscious Residents
Pennsylvania is an ideal fit for families who prioritize access to healthcare and stable income over low taxation. While urban centers like Philadelphia struggle with lower scores, the state's rural counties provide a high-value alternative for budget-conscious living.
All County Rankings in Pennsylvania
Search, sort, and filter all 67 ranked counties
Showing 1–25 of 67 counties
| Rank | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jefferson County | 62.1 | 35.4 | 77.7 | 29.9 | 78.6 | 51.3 | 79.8 | 42.1 | 29.7 | 60.5 | 37.7 | 56.6 | |
| 2 | Cameron County | 61.9 | 8.5 | 87.7 | 12.8 | 70 | 48.9 | 89.1 | 87.4 | 86 | 54.8 | 69.5 | ||
| 3 | Sullivan County | 61.8 | 33.8 | 69 | 61.4 | 65.1 | 50.5 | 92 | 89.3 | 8.5 | 56.3 | 62.8 | ||
| 4 | Elk County | 61.1 | 20.3 | 81.8 | 52.9 | 62.1 | 71.7 | 74 | 54.8 | 29.8 | 57.8 | 67 | ||
| 5 | Butler County | 60.2 | 34.8 | 25 | 90.3 | 79.1 | 90.1 | 80.7 | 20.7 | 51.2 | 54.4 | 44.7 | 63.7 | |
| 6 | Somerset County | 60 | 37.4 | 70.2 | 38.4 | 65.3 | 55.5 | 83.3 | 35.8 | 47.5 | 58.5 | 39.3 | 50.7 | |
| 7 | Montour County | 59.3 | 34.7 | 26.4 | 76.9 | 68.9 | 76.3 | 94.6 | 85.4 | 32.1 | 57.8 | 48.8 | 45.6 | |
| 8 | Clearfield County | 58.9 | 29.2 | 66.7 | 40 | 75.5 | 60.2 | 70.3 | 32.9 | 46.5 | 58.7 | 35.4 | 59.7 | |
| 9 | Clarion County | 58.5 | 38.6 | 67.1 | 41.6 | 66.3 | 53.8 | 71.6 | 70 | 22.2 | 55.7 | 42.2 | 52.5 | |
| 10 | Huntingdon County | 58.4 | 40.5 | 61 | 49.5 | 62.7 | 69.8 | 63.5 | 49.8 | 44 | 59.8 | 45.1 | 64.8 | |
| 11 | Potter County | 58.3 | 23 | 67.2 | 31 | 75.2 | 64.5 | 66.3 | 71.9 | 24.1 | 54.6 | 52.4 | 55.3 | |
| 12 | Bedford County | 58 | 49.9 | 68.3 | 33.7 | 55.1 | 60.1 | 79.5 | 31.8 | 9.2 | 55.9 | 45.1 | 59.1 | |
| 13 | Centre County | 57.8 | 32.2 | 17.4 | 71.8 | 78.1 | 82 | 91.8 | 32 | 43.3 | 56.1 | 41.4 | 58 | |
| 14 | Juniata County | 57.7 | 36.7 | 66.7 | 52.5 | 70.2 | 45.5 | 71.6 | 61.2 | 15 | 56.7 | 64.7 | ||
| 15 | Susquehanna County | 57.7 | 29.3 | 47.2 | 58.6 | 68.6 | 66.4 | 85.8 | 46.4 | 29.1 | 54.6 | 62.3 | 64.4 | |
| 16 | Armstrong County | 57.4 | 15.7 | 69.6 | 48.1 | 74.5 | 61.4 | 76.8 | 30.7 | 10.3 | 52.3 | 52.1 | 67.1 | |
| 17 | Cambria County | 57.4 | 22 | 75.3 | 29 | 74.1 | 61.2 | 68.2 | 23.6 | 20.8 | 59.5 | 37.8 | 58.6 | |
| 18 | Westmoreland County | 56.8 | 22.2 | 42.9 | 71.3 | 62.6 | 83.3 | 80.3 | 12.2 | 65 | 60 | 44.5 | 68.2 | |
| 19 | Clinton County | 56.5 | 25.2 | 54.8 | 36.2 | 73.4 | 57 | 82 | 48.2 | 28.9 | 53.9 | 39.2 | 59.3 | |
| 20 | Venango County | 56.5 | 20.4 | 71.8 | 38.6 | 55.6 | 59.4 | 86 | 44.4 | 26.6 | 55.4 | 44.2 | 54.3 | |
| 21 | Wyoming County | 55.8 | 18.8 | 35.3 | 67.7 | 70.1 | 66 | 96.4 | 55.2 | 9 | 54.6 | 67.7 | 63.1 | |
| 22 | Union County | 55.5 | 26.4 | 32.3 | 76 | 68.9 | 65.8 | 84.9 | 44.8 | 49.3 | 53.8 | 45.6 | 60.2 | |
| 23 | Fulton County | 55.4 | 34.2 | 59.5 | 50.4 | 41.4 | 68.1 | 63.1 | 92.3 | 86 | 55.9 | 50.8 | 60.8 | |
| 24 | Columbia County | 55.2 | 28.2 | 43.3 | 47.3 | 72.1 | 69.1 | 70 | 38 | 48.1 | 58.3 | 51.4 | 48.6 | |
| 25 | Greene County | 55.2 | 20.1 | 65.5 | 57.4 | 68.4 | 58.3 | 64.7 | 44.9 | 19.2 | 57.3 | 76.5 |
Jefferson County
Cameron County
Sullivan County
Elk County
Butler County
Somerset County
Montour County
Clearfield County
Clarion County
Huntingdon County
Potter County
Bedford County
Centre County
Juniata County
Susquehanna County
Armstrong County
Cambria County
Westmoreland County
Clinton County
Venango County
Wyoming County
Union County
Fulton County
Columbia County
Greene County
Frequently Asked Questions about Counties in Pennsylvania
Common questions about county rankings and scores in Pennsylvania.
What is the best county in Pennsylvania?
Jefferson County is the top-ranked county in Pennsylvania with a CountyScore of 62.1/100. It leads the state across the available scoring dimensions, which include Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate.
How many counties are ranked in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 67 counties in total. Of those, 67 have been ranked with a composite score based on available data dimensions. The remaining 0 counties do not yet have enough data for a full score.
What factors determine a county's score?
Each county is scored 0–100 across up to nine baseline data dimensions: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, and Weather & Climate. The composite score is a weighted average of whichever baseline dimensions have data. Currently available baseline dimensions are: Property Tax, Cost of Living, Income & Jobs, Safety, Health, Schools, Disaster Risk, Water Quality, Weather & Climate. Higher scores are always better — a score of 100 represents the best possible performance for that dimension.
What is the average county score in Pennsylvania?
The average composite CountyScore across all ranked counties in Pennsylvania is 52/100. The national average is 50/100, so Pennsylvania counties score 2 points above the national average.
How does Pennsylvania compare to other states?
Pennsylvania's average county score of 52/100 is 2 points above the national average of 50/100. You can compare Pennsylvania counties to counties in any other state using the county detail pages or the CountyScore compare tool.
Explore County Data by Category
Dive deeper into specific dimensions for counties in Pennsylvania.
Best counties in other states
Data: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, FBI UCR, CDC, FEMA NRI, NCES, EPA SDWIS, 2019–2023 ACS — Informational only. Not financial or legal advice.