The Vibe: A Mix Of Everything You’d Ever Want
With huge cities like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, small towns scattered across the countryside, and world-renowned universities like Penn State, Pennsylvania has it all.
The people in this state are also just as diverse as the landscape, with laid back farmers that love living life at a slower pace, city slickers constantly on the move, and an eclectic mix of cultures from around the world that call
Pennsylvania home.
Because of how diverse this state is, it’s hard to summarize the “local vibe” in a few short sentences without saying something cliché like “you can find anything you’re looking for in the Keystone State.” Of course, that statement is totally true.
Local Flavor: There’s Always Something Going On In The Keystone State
Complementing the diverse landscape and mix of people you’ll find in Pennsylvania, the local events are just as varied.
A few of the most popular annual events that must be mentioned include Philly’s “Mummer’s Parade”; a New Year’s Day event filled with tons of live music and lavish costumes’ the original Groundhog Day in Punxsutawaney featuring hayrides and whittling competitions; and Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Regatta, the largest inland regatta in the country, attracting over 500,000 people dead set on watching tons of boat races and air shows.
Cuisine: It’s Not Just Philly Cheesesteaks
You’ve obviously heard about the Philly Cheesesteak, but that’s not all that this state is known for. If you’re willing to take a step away from this delicious regional dish, there are tons of other awesome foods in Pennsylvania fully capable of blowing your mind. This includes more sandwiches at places like Pittsburgh’s Primanti Bro’s, enormous street pretzels in Philadelphia, and a wide variety of snack foods, thanks to a local company called TastyKakes.
Plus, due to the notable Pennsylvania Dutch influence, dishes like the molasses driven shoofly pie and the mysterious mix of meaty ingredients known as scrapple are popular statewide.
The food you’ll find around Pennsylvania is extremely diverse and it’s all delicious.
Nightlife: Something Fun For Everyone
You guessed it, the nightlife around Pennsylvania is pretty diverse, much like everything else in this state. With huge cities that can cater to any taste, it’s easy to have a great night on the town regardless of where you end up.
Philadelphia is known for its Old City district, filled with a diverse nightlife crowd and a great mix of anything you’d want to find. If you’re in Pittsburgh, the South Side Flats area is home to more than 80 watering holes.
Of course, if you want to get a taste for this state as a whole, you can’t miss the college sports bars at Penn State or the homey dive bars scattered across the countryside. Really, it’s hard to go wrong when it comes to a night on the town in Pennsylvania.
Weather: Four Seasons You’re Sure To Love
For how big Pennsylvania is, the weather is relatively consistent across the entire state, with cold winters and hot, humid summers. Expect summer averages to be in the 70s statewide, while winter temps drop to average closer to freezing, giving the residents of this state four distinct seasons every year.
However, it is important to note that the closer you get to the state’s center, the more mountainous the terrain is, bringing colder weather along with the topographic change. Certain areas near Lake Erie are also notable for the snowfall, with some places getting up to 100 inches of snow on an annual basis.
Safety & Crime: No Need To Worry Here
Pennsylvania is a really safe place to call home, with a statewide crime rate of 2,396 reported criminal acts per 100,000 people annually, much lower than the national average of 3,099. Places like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are a little more dangerous, at 4,541 and 4,000 reported acts per 100,000 residents, respectively.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that inflated rates are completely normal for larger population centers and that even the big cities here are very safe when compared to cities of a similar size.
Commute: Driving Here Won’t Drive You Crazy
As you might expect, commute time varies greatly across Pennsylvania. The average tends to stick around 25 minutes statewide, but places like Philadelphia inflate that number with residents here spending over half an hour in the car each way, an average that’s even higher than most cities of comparable size across the country.
It’s also important to mention that Philadelphia is one of the easiest cities to get around on foot, ranked fourth in walkability amongst big American cities.
Cost Of Living: This State Delivers A Great Bang For Your Buck
As a whole, Pennsylvania is slightly more expensive than the national average, scoring a 101 cost of living rating on a scale that places average America at 100. This slight uptick isn’t found everywhere though, as even huge cities like Pittsburgh score an impressively low 89.
Plus, the housing market in the Keystone State is inexpensive, with average homes in Pennsylvania is priced nearly $20,000 less than the national average, at $164,900, with two of the inexpensive markets found in Pittsburgh, with a median home value of $88,000 and Philly, where the average home price hovers around $142,000.
Sports: A Pennsylvanian Is Always Cheering For Someone
You’ll never find fans with more passion towards their local sports than you will in Pennsylvania. Professional sports fandoms are divided between the two huge cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Whether someone is waving a terrible towel, asking when “youse guys” are headed to the Eagles game, or being part of the 100,000 plus fans decked out in navy blue packing Beaver Stadium in University Park, you can’t mess with the sports in this state.
Pennsylvania Dutch: The People That Built The Keystone State
If you’re thinking about moving to Pennsylvania, it’s important to know a little about the history Pennsylvania Dutch population. While this group isn’t made up of a ton of people in the modern era, they played a key role in the formation of the culture found in the Keystone State.
These German-speaking immigrants are known for being the first group of Germans to come to America, originally settling in the Philadelphia County borough of Germantown. From that point, they spread their culture, food, and religion throughout the entire state, living a lifestyle today that’s often compared to that of the Amish. If you see a horse and buggy on the roads here, that’s probably why.
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