The greater Philadelphia area dominated a newly released ranking of best places to live in the United States based on quality of life.
Now in its 12th year, Niche’s 2026 Best Places to Live helps everyone from young people just starting their careers, to families, to retirees decide where they want to live. The report analyzes places of various sizes. Altogether, the ranking includes 230 cities and 18,000 towns, suburbs, and neighborhoods.
Below are the top 25 Pennsylvania communities listed on the Best Places ranking, with their county and overall national rank listed alongside them. The Philadelphia area dominated, with several communities in the Pittsburgh suburbs also ranking high.
Ardmore, Montgomery County (7)Devon, Chester County (8)Penn Wynne, Montgomery County (9)Chesterbrook, Chester County (12)Swarthmore, Delaware County (28)Aspinwall, Allegheny County (32)Paoli, Chester County (50)Bradford Woods, Allegheny County (115)Conshohocken, Montgomery County (131)Point Breeze (Pittsburgh), Allegheny County (132)Rose Valley, Delaware County (161)Mt. Lebanon, Allegheny County (177)Park Forest Village, Centre County (189)Berwyn, Chester County (200)Houserville, Centre County (218)Narberth, Montgomery County (237)Camp Hill, Cumberland County (262)Squirrel Hill North (Pittsburgh), Allegheny County (281)King of Prussia, Montgomery County (290)Regent Square (Pittsburgh), Allegheny County (296)Nether Providence Township, Delaware County (303)Jenkintown, Montgomery County (350)Point Breeze North, Allegheny County (355)Spring House, Montgomery County (418)Blawnox, Allegheny County (452)
Among states overall, Pennsylvania ranks 35th. The report shows there’s work to be done in several categories, including public schools and cost of living.
On the cities list, Pittsburgh was 27th while Philadelphia trailed all the way back at 159th.
The rankings are based on a wide range of public data sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, combined with millions of resident reviews.
Naperville, Illinois, is the best city in America for the third consecutive year, according to Niche’s rankings. Rounding out the top five were Cambridge, Massachusetts; The Woodlands, Texas; Arlington, Virginia; and Bellevue, Washington, respectively.
The top five places to live are Atlantic Station, Georgia; Colonial Village, Virginia; Evergreen Park, California; Downtown North, California; and Clarendon Hills, Illinois, respectively.
Niche said year’s top-ranked places are smaller, walkable communities within major metro areas, giving residents access to jobs, amenities, and transit while maintaining connected neighborhoods. Many have populations under 15,000, as demand grows for places that balance urban convenience with neighborhood livability.
“People are increasingly looking for neighborhoods that offer both access to diverse career opportunities and a strong sense of community,” Allison Shrivatava,an economist at Niche, said in a news release.. “These smaller, walkable communities provide the mix of amenities and livability that families and young professionals both value.”
Many of these communities are located near major economic hubs, including Silicon Valley and large Northeast metros, where robust job markets and high-quality public schools continue to attract residents.
The traditional divide between places for young professionals and families is narrowing, with many communities now ranking highly across both categories. Niche said its 2026 rankings show how quickly preferences are evolving — driven by affordability pressures and demand for dining, entertainment, and walkability.
“Every life stage brings a new set of priorities, and our goal with these rankings is to help make the decision of where to live a lot easier,” Niche founder and CEO Luke Skurman said in the release. “Whether you’re a young professional, raising a family, or planning your next move, Niche gives you a clear, data-driven picture of what a community actually offers.”