Affordable College Towns in Pennsylvania You Should Know.
Affordable College Towns in Pennsylvania: If you are a college student, then you probably know the importance of saving a dollar. As a result of the huddles of college, students often need affordable college towns.
Fortunately, as a student, you have a number of options for saving some money and living well during college. These options include studying in an affordable state or town.
Please note that Pennsylvania is a much more affordable place to live. This is good news for you.
What to Consider in a Town as a College Student
To figure out which college towns are most affordable, always look at the following;
- Costs of house.
- Food and health.
- Transportation.
- Utilities.
- Amenities.
- Crime rates.
- Public transportation.
- Overall quality of Life.
Affordable College Towns in Pennsylvania You Should Know
1. Johnstown
This is one of the most affordable college towns in Pennsylvania you should know. It has the University of Pittsburgh. Cost of living here is at 26.5%. This is lower than the national average as well as the state average.
The school is ranked among the best in the northern United States, so Johnstown is a popular choice of place for students to spend their college years. Housing costs are 80% lower than the national average.
The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is about $560 per month. Food, healthcare, utilities, and transportation costs are also below the national average, while costs for entertainment average right at the national norm.
2. Wilkes-Barre
This is another affordable college town in Pennsylvania you should know about. It is home to Wilkes University, Kings College and Misericordia University.
Cost of living is at 26%, lower than the national average and the state average.
King’s College, Misericordia University, and Wilkes University are all located in Wilkes-Barre.
All three campuses are active around the community, and the large student population gives Wilkes-Barre a fun and vibrant college town feel. Homes in the area sell for a median price of $52,700. Rental average is about 30% of the national norm.
3. Scranton
Another affordable college town in Pennsylvania you should also know is Scranton. Scranton has the University of Scranton, Marywood University and Lackawanna College. Cost of living is 19.3% lower than the national average and 19.6% lower than the state average.
Despite being a metropolitan area, Scranton has a laid-back college town feel to it. It is very affordable, even for those on a college budget.
Healthcare, transportation, and food costs are all significantly below those of the national average, while housing is less than half that of similarly sized towns in the United States.
4. Reading
Despite having fewer than 90,000 residents, Reading is home to an amazing four colleges. They are: Albright College, Alvernia University, the PACE Institute, and the Reading Area Community College.
It is important you know that food, utilities, and entertainment are on par with the national average. Also housing in Reading is a whopping 73% lower than the national average.
Cost of living here is 18% lower than the national average and 18.3% lower than the state average.
5. Grove City
This is also an affordable college town in Pennsylvania you should know. Grove City is home to Grove City College. Grove College is a small liberal arts school well known for the Christian education it provides its students.
Please note that residents here enjoy a cost of living that is well below that of the national average.
Much of Grove City’s lower cost of living deals with a rural community located in northwestern Pennsylvania. Cost of living here is 15.6% lower than the national average and 15.9% lower than the state.
6. Lewisburg
Situated between the Susquehanna River and the Allegheny Mountains, Lewisburg is a place where residents live well. The whole town is listed on the National Historic Register thanks.
Lewisburg has the Bucknell University. The cost of living here is 9.4% lower than the national average; 9.7% lower than the average.
7. Allentown
Allentown is the largest city in Pennsylvania’s beautiful Lehigh Valley. It is a desirable community known for its long-held traditions, proud culture, rich history, and award-winning parks system.
It is home to Muhlenberg College and Cedar Crest College. Allentown is also a great place to spend one’s college years.
Also, the cost of living is 4.6% lower than the national average and 4.9% lower than the state average.
8. Gettysburg
Gettysburg is one of the affordable college towns in Pennsylvania. It is home to the highly selective Gettysburg College.
Cost of living is at 3.2% lower than the national average and 3.5% lower than the state average.
9. Swarthmore
Swarthmore, better known as “The Ville,” is another affordable college town in Pennsylvania you should know. Most part of the town is made up of upscale neighborhoods.
However, a small downtown provides students with grocery store, pizza parlor, a few restaurants, and a Target.
Here we have the Swarthmore College. Cost of living: 23.4% higher than the national average; 23.7% higher than the state average.
10. Villanova
Villanova, home to Villanova University, is another affluent Philadelphia suburb located on the Main Line. It is a quaint town chock-full of charm. Students need of a little big-city action leave the Villanova campus and reaches Philadelphia in a matter of minutes via train.
Costs of food, healthcare, utilities, transportation, and miscellaneous are all par with the national average.
The cost of living here is 122.7% higher than the national average; 123% higher than the state average.
In a Nutshell
If you are a college student hoping to school at an affordable town, then you can make a choice from the above.
