Lancaster tops lists of places to retire

Lancaster was recently named the best place to retire in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The area, praised for its variability, was named the 32nd best place to live overall in an earlier ranking this year by the organization. While there is ample farmland, Lancaster also boasts a booming downtown scene. Lancaster is seen as more affordable than other metros across the country, with homes especially being more affordable. The median home price is $179,408, compared to the national median price of $222,408.

The average annual salary, $43,000, is lower than the national average by more than $6,000, but the unemployment rate is lower than the national average, as is the cost of living. Crime is also below the national average, according to the report, the number of crimes committed per 100,000 people is 175.2, compared to 382 nationally.

Lancaster is also accessible to other major metro areas, such as Philadelphia, New York City and Washington, D.C. With a population of just over 500,000, the area has many big city amenities without the crowds.

The Lancaster area also typically offers all four seasons, and boasts a shorter than average commute time, three minutes lower than the national average of 26.1 minutes. More than 40 percent of Lancaster residents are 45 and older, and 16.4 percent are 65 and older.

Fort Myers, Florida, was named the second best city to retire in. Six areas in the commonwealth made the list of the top 100 places to retire. Pittsburgh landed in fifth, followed by Allentown in 18th and Harrisburg in 29th. Philadelphia was named the 31st best city to retire and Scranton was named the 68th.