Thanks to its three major urban areas (Philadelphia, Allentown, and Reading), retirement-friendly taxes, and a low cost of living, Eastern Pennsylvania is fast becoming a retirement destination for active adults. This is only part of the picture, though, as this region offers many other benefits for baby boomers and their families.
There is a wealth of outdoor attractions here, offering options for skiing, hiking, fishing, boating, bicycling, and more. Allentown stands out for having more parks than any other U.S. city of the same size. The Pocono Mountains are known throughout the entire state for its ski resorts, camping, and other attractions. If you are a golfer, Golf Digest picked two Eastern Pennsylvania golf courses as the top in the state, Merion Golf Club and Aronimink.
Reading has covered bridges, rivers, and sparkling lakes, plus the Greater Reading Trails System, which offers 125 miles of hiking and biking.
Both Allentown and Reading are small compared to Philadelphia, which is also packed with outdoor recreation, not to mention all of the art, culture, health care, shopping, and dining that a big metropolis can provide.
No matter which of these areas you gravitate to, there are many affordable homes for sale in Eastern Pennsylvania and retirement communities that you’d want to live in.
The Village at Upstream Farm – Easton, PA
High $100ks – Mid $200ks
Finding an inexpensive home in a gated community is a win-win and The Village at Upstream Farm checks both of these boxes. There are 124 resale attached homes in this development, with three ranch-style models built from 2002 to 2009. They include one to two bedrooms, one or one-and-a-half bathrooms, and attached one-car garages. Standard features include patios, vaulted ceilings, and central air-conditioning.
The community homeowners’ association fee provides for lawn care and snow removal. The Village has a private clubhouse with activity rooms, plus three gazebos on the property.
This 55+ community is nestled with the Lehigh Valley, which has a vibrant arts and entertainment scene, a dozen wineries, farmers markets, and antique shops. It is also known for its year-round events and festivals, like Musikfest and the annual Food and Wine Festival.
Village of Willow Run – Royersford, PA
Mid $100ks – Low $200ks
Royersford is about the same distance from Allentown, Reading, and Philly, so Village of Willow Run residents have the advantage of being close to all three.
This tight-knit active adult community of 150 resale single-family homes was built from 1999 to 2003. The floor plans range from 1,100 to 1,900 square feet, and have two or three bedrooms, two to three bathrooms, and attached one- or two-car garages.
Neighbors gather at the community clubhouse, which has an exercise room, an outdoor pool, and a gathering room. The homeowners’ association fee covers trash removal, pool and common area maintenance, and parking.
Royersford is part of Limerick Township, in an area that is surrounded by parks and golf courses, including Landis Creek and Waltz Golf Farm.
The Greens at Westover – Norristown, PA
Mid $200ks – High $200ks
Downsizers delight at The Greens at Westover, a mid-sized neighborhood of 306 resale condo homes, built between 1998 and 2004 about 21 miles north of Philly.
These condo units range from 1,025 and 1,054 square feet, with one to two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and adjacent lot parking. The homeowners’ association fee covers lawn care, trash and snow removal, and exterior building maintenance. Homeowners work out at the clubhouse’s exercise room and indoor pool and can head across the street to the links at Westover Golf Club.
Running errands is a piece of cake, as there is a nearby Walmart Superstore and the Audubon Shopping Center just down the road. Some of Norristown’s main perks are the Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown Farm Park, and the attractions along the scenic Schuylkill River.
Manatawny Village – Pottstown, PA
Low $200ks – Mid $200ks
Affordable new and resale attached homes can be found at Manatawny Village, a 55+ community about a mile from downtown Pottstown along the Schuylkill River. This charming suburb has over a dozen parks, the historic Pottsgrove Manor, and Steel River Playhouse.
Manatawny Village offers three attached single-floor models, sized from 1,056 to 1,948 square feet, with two bedrooms, one-and-a-half or two bathrooms, and attached one- or two-car garages. Options include lofts basements, decks, and porches.
A homeowners’ association fee covers exterior building maintenance and landscaping, lawn care, and snow removal, and plans are also underway for a private community clubhouse.
Millbrook Chase – Macungie, PA
High $200ks – High $300ks
The town of Macungie is an Allentown suburb and is home to the established 55+ community of Millbrook Chase. Macungie is the quintessential small town, with a population of around 3,000, a friendly Main Street with local businesses, the family-oriented Brookside Country Club, and Lock Ridge Furnace Museum and Park.
This appealing active adult neighborhood excels at low-key living, with 180 resale attached homes, built from 1998 to 2002. They are in duplexes or groups of four, each with 1,496 to 2,006 square feet, two or three bedrooms and bathrooms, and an attached one- or two-car garage. Most have a large master suite, screened-in porches, and family rooms.
The homeowners’ association fee allows residents to focus more on their daily activities. Millbrook’s clubhouse is a hub for activity, with its fitness center and activity rooms. Residents can also be found bicycling along the community trails or at the putting green.
