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Living in York, PA

Small city in Pennsylvania

York is a small city in Pennsylvania, home to about 45,000 people, with 759,000 living within 31 mi. Day to day, you can walk or take transit almost everywhere. Life moves at a fast pace, and homes are mostly apartments.

Is York a good place to live? Pros and cons

👍 Pros

  • Affordable housing: a typical 3-bedroom home is about $272k and rents for $1,800 a month
  • Strong healthcare: 12 top-rated (4–5★) hospitals within 31 mi
  • Low natural disaster risk: 6 federally declared disasters since 2000
  • Easy flying: BWI is 55 mi away

👎 Cons

  • Fewer graduates: 17% of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
  • Higher taxes: about $1,376 state income tax per resident, 2.81% property tax
  • Quieter on culture: few museums and attractions nearby
  • Cloudier than most places

Whether it's a good place for you depends on what you value. Take the quiz to see how York ranks against your own priorities.

Key facts

Population
45,000
759,000 within 31 mi
Winter / summer highs
44°F / 86°F
Average daily highs · 25″ snow a year
3-bedroom home
$272k
Typical value (Zillow)
3-bedroom rent
$1,800/mo
Incl. utilities (HUD)
Cost of living
96
US average = 100 (BEA)
Taxes
$1,376
State income tax per resident · 2.81% property tax
Safety
No data
Not in FBI 2019 city table
Natural disasters
6 since 2000
Declared in the county · mainly flooding, hurricanes
Top-rated hospitals
12
4–5★ within 31 mi (CMS)
Adults with a degree
17%
No research university within 31 mi
Nearest major airport
BWI
55 mi away

Living in York: common questions

What is the cost of living in York?

A typical 3-bedroom home is worth about $272k, and a 3-bedroom rents for about $1,800 a month including utilities. Overall living costs are below the US average (index 96, where the US is 100).

What are taxes like in York?

Pennsylvania collects about $1,376 in state income tax per resident, and homeowners here pay about 2.81% of their home's value in property tax each year.

Is York safe?

York isn't in the FBI's 2019 city crime table, so Best Life Fit Me counts its safety as average.

What is the weather like in York?

York has cold winters: winter days average around 44°F and summer days around 86°F, with roughly 25″ of snow a year.

Does York get natural disasters?

Natural disaster risk is low, mainly from flooding and hurricanes: 6 federally declared disasters have hit the county since 2000, and FEMA expects about 0.3 deaths or injuries per 100,000 residents a year.

What is the nearest major airport to York?

The nearest major airport is BWI, about 55 mi away.

How York scores

Each bar compares York with the other 1143 places in Best Life Fit Me. A dot shows where it sits between two ends, such as major metro and small town; neither end is better. Coloured bars run from poor (red) to excellent (green).

🏙️City size Small city Major metroSmall town
🏘️Urban or quiet Urban Dense & urbanQuiet / rural
🚶Getting around Walk & transit Walk & transitCar essential
🌲Culture or nature Nature on the doorstep Culture & nightlifeNature on the doorstep
🌡️Climate Cold winters Warm all yearLong, snowy winters
💰Cost of living Affordable Very expensiveVery affordable
⏱️Pace Fast-paced Very fast-pacedSlow & calm
🤝Community Some community feel AnonymousTight-knit community
🏡Housing Apartments ApartmentsHouses with yards
🏷️Affordable housing Excellent
💸Low taxes Below average
💼Job market Below average
🏥Healthcare Excellent
🎓Education Poor
🧸Kids & family Good
🐕Dog-friendly Average
⛰️Outdoors Average
🎭Culture Below average
🛡️Safety No crime data (counted as average)
🌪️Few natural disasters Excellent
☀️Sunny Below average
🌤️Mild summers Good
✈️Airport Good

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Is York right for you?

Answer 27 quick questions and see how it ranks against your priorities.

Take the free quiz →

Sources: US Census ACS 2019–2023, Census State Tax Collections FY2025, Zillow 3-bedroom ZHVI, HUD Fair Market Rents, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, FBI 2019, FEMA National Risk Index v1.20, OpenFEMA disaster declarations, NOAA Normals 1991–2020, NASA POWER, CMS, NCES IPEDS 2023, IMLS, OpenStreetMap. How scores work.