Pennsylvania is a state located in the northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. It is the 33rd most populous and the 6th most densely populated of the 50 states. The state has an area of 46,055 square miles (119,279 km2) and a population of approximately 12.8 million people. The capital city is Harrisburg, while Philadelphia is its largest city. Pennsylvania’s diverse geography ranges from forests to farmland, mountains to coastal plain, and it has four distinct seasons.
Pennsylvania’s economy is highly diversified with major industries including manufacturing, agriculture, mining, finance and insurance as well as healthcare services. Due to its location in the Middle Atlantic region of the country it also serves as a hub for transportation and logistics. Pennsylvania is home to several major universities including University of Pennsylvania, Carnegie Mellon University, Lehigh University and Drexel University among others.
The state is divided into 67 counties with Philadelphia being the most populous county in the state with 1.6 million residents followed by Allegheny County with 1.2 million residents according to 2019 estimates from the US Census Bureau. The median household income in Pennsylvania stands at $62,078 which is slightly higher than that of other states across the country according to 2017 census data from the US Census Bureau.
The climate in Pennsylvania varies depending on location but generally features warm summers with temperatures reaching up to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) during July and August while winters are cold with temperatures dropping below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 degrees Celsius).
Pennsylvania has a rich history dating back to colonial times when it was one of the original 13 colonies that declared their independence from Britain during the American Revolutionary War in 1776. Today, it remains an important part of American history as many key battles were fought here during both world wars as well as other military conflicts throughout history such as Gettysburg during 1863 Civil War battle between Union forces and Confederate forces led by General Robert E Lee.
Population of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is the sixth most populous state in the United States with a population of approximately 12.8 million people, according to 2019 estimates from the US Census Bureau. The majority of Pennsylvania’s population, around 81%, is of European descent with German, Irish and Italian being the three largest ancestries reported. Around 8% of the population identifies as African American and around 5% identify as Hispanic or Latino. The remaining 6% is made up of Asian Americans, Native Americans and other ethnicities.
The largest city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia with 1.6 million residents followed by Pittsburgh with 304,000 residents and Allentown with 120,000 residents. Other major cities include Erie, Reading, Scranton and Bethlehem among others.
The median age in Pennsylvania is 41 years old which is slightly lower than that of other states across the country according to 2017 census data from the US Census Bureau. The gender ratio in Pennsylvania stands at 48% male and 52% female which is similar to that of other states across the country according to 2017 census data from the US Census Bureau.
Education levels in Pennsylvania are higher than average compared to other states across the country according to 2017 census data from US Census Bureau which shows that 87% of adults aged 25 years and above have completed high school while 35% have a bachelor’s degree or higher level qualification.
The unemployment rate in Pennsylvania stood at 4.1% as per 2019 estimates from US Bureau of Labor Statistics which was lower than that of other states across the country during this period according to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Pennsylvania has seen an increase in its population over recent years due to immigration from overseas countries such as India and China along with migration from other parts of America such as New York City and Washington D.C., according to census data from 2018 released by US Census Bureau estimates show that between 2010-2018 nearly 300 thousand people moved into Pennsylvania making it one of America’s fastest growing states during this period due largely due to its diversified economy and strong job opportunities.
House Income in Pennsylvania
The median household income in Pennsylvania as of 2017 was estimated to be $60,856 according to the US Census Bureau which is slightly higher than the national median of $57,652. The richest county in Pennsylvania is Chester County with a median household income of $89,943 while the poorest county is Fulton County with a median household income of $40,637.
The state also has a large disparity between rural and urban incomes. According to the US Census Bureau, in 2017 the median household income for urban areas was estimated to be around $54,527 while for rural areas it was estimated to be around $50,483. This gap is largely due to the fact that most of Pennsylvania’s major cities are located in the eastern part of the state where wages tend to be higher than those found in rural areas.
Income inequality is also a major issue in Pennsylvania with some parts of the state having significantly higher incomes than others. For example, according to US Census Bureau estimates from 2017, Montgomery County had an average household income of $103,295 while Philadelphia had an average household income of just $37,460 showing how some parts of Pennsylvania are far wealthier than others.
Income taxes are also relatively high in Pennsylvania compared to other states across America with residents paying a flat 3.07% rate as well as local taxes depending on where they live ranging from 0% up to 4%. Sales tax also varies by county ranging from 6% up to 8%.
Pennsylvania has seen an increase in its population over recent years due largely due to its diversified economy and strong job opportunities resulting in an increase in overall wages across the state making it one of America’s fastest growing states during this period according to census data from 2018 released by US Census Bureau estimates show that between 2010-2018 nearly 300 thousand people moved into Pennsylvania.
Cost of Living in Pennsylvania
The cost of living in Pennsylvania is slightly higher than the national average. According to the Council for Community and Economic Research, the overall cost of living index in Pennsylvania is 106.6 (with 100 being the national average). The most expensive city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia with an index of 111.6 while Pittsburgh has an index of 101.5 making it one of the least expensive cities in the state.
Housing costs are one of the biggest expenses for residents living in Pennsylvania with a median home price of $194,800 according to Zillow which is slightly higher than the national median home price of $184,700. Renters can also expect to pay more than average with a median rent price of $1,400 per month according to Zillow which is again higher than the national median rent price of $1,395 per month.
Transportation costs are also on par with other states across America with gasoline prices averaging around $2.50 per gallon and public transportation fares varying from city to city but generally starting at around $2 per ride according to SEPTA’s website.
Food costs are also slightly higher than average with groceries costing around 8% more than other states across America according to Numbeo’s Cost of Living Index and eating out costing roughly 10-15% more than other states as well due largely to higher taxes on food and beverages in Pennsylvania compared to other states across America.
Utility costs including electricity, water, heating and garbage disposal are all slightly higher than average as well due largely to high taxes on these services as well as increased demand due to colder winters compared to other parts of America resulting in increased heating bills for many households during this period each year.