The recent rankings of the best places to live in the country only reaffirms what many already believe. Harrisburg has it all.
The new rankings from U.S. News and World Report show the Harrisburg metropolitan area is Pennsylvania’s top place to live, coming in ranked 44th out of 125 nationally.
The report shows Harrisburg is affordable and has a lot to offer, and for what it doesn’t have, there is quick and easy access to places that do have it.
The ranking takes into account measures of desirability, value, the job market, quality of life and net migration when developing the rankings.
As someone who grew up in the region and chose to stay here, the ranking wasn’t a surprise to Kathy Ludwig, chief executive officer of the Greater Harrisburg Association of Realtors.
“What we heard through the years is the affordable housing does make the area an attractive place to live,” she said.
Harrisburg’s positive showing just reinforces what she’s believed all along.
“We have art, museums, theatre, and we also have quick access to some of the other larger cities,” she said. “We have access to outdoor recreation around the area, and our commute times are relatively below average.”
The affordability of the housing market helps make it an attractive place to live. And that’s good news for the business community, as well. Having an outside, recognizable source like U.S. News and World Report saying this only helps the region by getting it on the national radar, said David Black, president and CEO of the Harrisburg Regional Chamber & CREDC.
“It’s a bit of a bragging point for us, and we’re going to use it,” Black said. “This is a great place to live with a good quality of life, and it’s very reflective of what’s going on here.”
Often, the number one challenge for businesses in the area is attracting workers. When potential employees see national rankings like this one, it goes a long way in bringing people to the area, Black said.
“It’s good news for the region, and we continue to have a great story to tell,” Black said.
For Brad Jones, president and CEO of Harristown, the small-town feel with big-city amenities has been a big draw for Harrisburg for some time, and this study backs that up.
“We’ve always known it’s a tremendous, high-value proposition to live in the Harrisburg area,” Jones said. “I think that’s so evident when you see all of the people who are relocating here.”
He gets calls from all around the country from people who want to live in Harristown’s new apartments.
It’s good news for Harrisburg, he said, which is continuing to grow with more than $700 million of projected construction development in the city this year.
“I’m very optimistic about where we are now,” he said.
Lancaster falls just below Harrisburg as the 48th best place to live in the country. But Lancaster has another bragging point.
U.S. News also ranked the top places to retire, and Lancaster came in as number one in the nation. In that list, Harrisburg is ranked the 29th best place to retire, with Pittsburgh ranked fifth and Allentown in 18th place.