York Area, PA 55+ Active Adult Retirement Communities

The York area is located in the south central Pennsylvania area. South central Pennsylvania is known for being home to many Amish communities and is mostly agricultural land. Active adults who are looking for rural or small town living will enjoy the surroundings and still have large city amenities nearby. Pennsylvania is popular with retirees due to a lower cost of living, abundant activities, and excellent resources for staying healthy and active.

York PA Area Cost of Living

While cost of living varies by town, the cost of living will be roughly 2% to 11% lower than the national average. Much of the lower cost of living is due to low housing prices as compared to the rest of the country. Groceries and utilities are a bit above the U.S. average, transportation costs are lower. The standout price difference is in healthcare, on a 100 point scale with 100 being the national average, the region's average healthcare costs are 116.7, some areas are higher at 128. 

Pennsylvania's state income tax is a flat 3.07% but Social Security and retirement benefits are not taxed. Property taxes are on the high end although there are some programs to help low income seniors. Pennsylvania does have an estate inheritance tax that retirees should be aware of.

York Area PA Climate and Geography

Summers in the area tend to be hot and humid with average high temperatures in the 80's and 80% humidity. Winters are generally cold and snowy; temperatures range from 26 to 38 with an average of six inches of snow. 

The Susquehanna River bisects the area with Harrisburg, and Lancaster to the east of the river and York on the west. Other large towns in the area include Mechanicsburg and Hanover west of the river and Ephrata on the east side.  

Recreation, Culture and Entertainment Near York PA Area

South Central Pennsylvania is home to many historic Civil War battle sites and monuments, including the infamous Gettysburg field. Other Civil War museums and monuments are The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum, The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, and the William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum in York. 

Golf courses in the area include the Armitage Golf Club near Good Hope, South Hills Golf Club and Flatbush Golf Course near Hanover. There are five other courses within 10 miles of York.  

The York area is full of places for active adults to enjoy hiking, biking, fishing, and other outdoor adventures. Hiking the Mason Dixon Trail, fishing at Fuller Lake, birdwatching and kayaking at Holtwood Environmental Preserve, or enjoying the many parks along the banks of the Susquehanna River are all popular activities. 

Culture and art activities in the area include the Ephrata Performing Arts Center, Eichelberger Performing Arts Center in Hanover, Appell Center for the Performing Arts in York, Lancaster Museum of Art, and the Susquehanna Art Museum in Harrisburg.  

There are vineyards in the area for adults to enjoy among them are Weathered Vineyards in Ephrata, J&P Winery north of Grantville, and the Mount Hope Estate & Winery near Hershey. Other adult oriented activities include the Hollywood Casino York or one of several area car racing tracks.  

York PA Area Healthcare

There are several hospitals and medical centers in the York area. Highly rated hospitals include: 

• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey is a teaching hospital and a Level I trauma center.
• UPMC Harrisburg is a Level II trauma center.
• Lancaster General Hospital
• WellSpan York is a Level I trauma center and certified Comprehensive Stroke center.