Best Places to Start a Business in Pennsylvania
The entrepreneurial spirit thrives in Pennsylvania, a state that several hundred thousand small businesses call home. Nearly half of all private-sector jobs in Pennsylvania fall under the small-business umbrella.
Pennsylvania bounced back after the recession — its unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in seven years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regionally, the Pittsburgh area saw economic recovery sooner than most U.S. metro areas. Pennsylvania’s key industries include energy, technology, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, film and aviation, according to the state’s community and economic development department.
The state has its challenges. The corporate income tax is higher than in most states, and businesses must navigate a difficult permitting and regulatory system to get up and running. But Pennsylvania works to encourage entrepreneurs through state-funded resources such as regional outposts for Small Business Development Centers and Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance as well as programs made available through Ben Franklin Technology Partners.
NerdWallet’s analysis
We looked at 145 places in Pennsylvania, each with a population of at least 5,000, then calculated the overall score for each location based on the business climate and economic health using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. For more details, see the methodology section at the end of this article.
Key takeaways
Land of corporate headquarters. Many places on the top 10 list have at least one corporate headquarters, which provides employment and helps communities prosper. Major corporate headquarters found in places on our list include Ikea USA, David’s Bridal, Rite Aid and Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory.
Prosperous in Pittsburgh. Four communities in the top 10 list are in or just outside the Pittsburgh metropolitan area in western Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh has achieved employment growth year over year, and consistently experiences statistical increases in gross domestic product. Top industries in the area include manufacturing, education, health services and mining, due to the natural gas reserves of the Marcellus shale formation.
Best places to start a business in Pennsylvania
1. West Mifflin
West Mifflin, a borough in Allegheny County, is less than 12 miles southeast of downtown Pittsburgh. West Mifflin’s 1,159 businesses earn an average of $5.14 million per business annually — the highest of any community on our list. Major employers include Allegheny County Airport, U.S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant, Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory, Bombardier Transportation and Kennywood Park, which was founded in 1898, and is one of the country’s oldest amusement parks.
2. Moosic
The borough of Moosic lies just south of Scranton in northeastern Pennsylvania. In Moosic, the about 11 businesses per 100 people see an average annual revenue at just over $3 million. Some of the key retail and entertainment attractions include the Cinemark 20 and XD Movie Theater and the Shoppes at Montage, as well as baseball games at PNC Field, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce is in Moosic and serves Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.
3. Media
Media, which calls itself “Everybody’s Hometown,” is a borough west of Philadelphia in Delaware County. In Media, there are nearly 32 businesses per 100 people, the highest ratio on our list. The Media Business Authority promotes business development in the borough and local businesses are advertised on VisitMediaPA.com. According to the borough, Media was the first place in the Americas to achieve fair trade status.
4. Latrobe
Latrobe is in Pittsburgh’s metro area. The city has over 21 businesses per 100 people, and those businesses earn an average of $2.14 million annually. Latrobe is home to the training camp of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arnold Palmer’s Latrobe Country Club. City Brewing Co. has a plant in Latrobe as well. Fred Rogers of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” got his start here, as did the banana split (though there’s a rival for the claim). The Greater Latrobe-Laurel Valley Community Chamber of Commerce serves city businesses. Latrobe is home to the Small Business Development Center at Saint Vincent College.
5. Uniontown
The city of Uniontown is in Fayette County, about 50 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Uniontown’s 933 businesses bring in average of $1.5 million per business each year. More than 58% of all businesses in Uniontown have paid employees, the highest percentage on our list. Downtown Uniontown and the Uniontown Mall are the main business districts in the city. Main Street Uniontown promotes entrepreneurial options in the historic downtown of the city. The Fayette Chamber of Commerce serves Uniontown businesses.
6. Warren
Warren lies on the banks of the Allegheny River. There are 729 businesses in this city of about 10,000 residents. Annually, businesses here average $3.94 million in revenue per business. Warren is notably the home to the catalog company Blair Corp., United Refining Co. and Northwest Savings Bank. The Warren County Chamber of Business & Industry serves businesses in Warren and the surrounding areas. Downtown Warren Partnership works to promote businesses and events in the city’s downtown.
7. Conshohocken
Conshohocken is a western suburb of Philadelphia that lies on the Schuylkill River. Conshohocken businesses bring in an average of nearly $2.87 million annually. In this borough, there are over 15 businesses per 100 people. The borough, nicknamed “Conshy,” is home to several corporate headquarters including Saladworks, David’s Bridal and Ikea USA.
8. Greensburg
Greensburg, a city in Westmoreland County, is part of the Pittsburgh metro area. There are 2,520 businesses in Greensburg, the highest number on the top 10 list, and 17 businesses per 100 people. Greensburg businesses average nearly $1.42 million in revenue per business per year. The city was awarded a grant in 2014 for revitalization projects through the Revitalizing Westmoreland initiative. The Westmoreland Mall is the largest retail hub in Greensburg. The city is home to the Westmoreland County Prison, Excela Health and Excela Westmoreland Hospital, Seton Hill University and the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. The Westmoreland County Chamber of Commerce is also headquartered in Greensburg.
9. Wyomissing
In Wyomissing, a borough in Berks County near Reading, there are 15 businesses per 100 people. Wyomissing businesses bring in average revenue of $1.92 million per business each year. The top industries in the Greater Reading area include manufacturing, health care and social assistance, as well as government, retail trade and food services. Companies headquartered in Wyomissing include Customers Bank, Penn National Gaming Inc. and SFS intec USA, a fastening systems supplier and manufacturer.
10. Camp Hill
The borough of Camp Hill is just outside Harrisburg. Camp Hill businesses earn an average of $2.68 million per business annually, and there are nearly 17 businesses per 100 people. Camp Hill is home to Rite Aid Corp., the engineering consultant Gannett Fleming Inc. and the industrial services company Harsco. The West Shore Chamber of Commerce serves Camp Hill businesses.
Best places to start a business in Pennsylvania data
Scroll through the table below to see the data on the 145 places analyzed in Pennsylvania.
| Rank | City | Population | Number of businesses | Average revenue per business | Businesses with paid employees | Businesses per 100 people | Unemployment rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Mifflin | 20,307 | 1,159 | $5,141,278 | 48.49% | 5.71 | 5.7% | 61.05 |
| 2 | Moosic | 5,702 | 649 | $3,021,544 | 47.61% | 11.38 | 3.9% | 58.01 |
| 3 | Media | 5,331 | 1,693 | $783,542 | 40.28% | 31.76 | 5.8% | 55.10 |
| 4 | Latrobe | 8,286 | 1,754 | $2,140,533 | 36.72% | 21.17 | 5.1% | 53.90 |
| 5 | Uniontown | 10,320 | 933 | $1,510,736 | 58.63% | 9.04 | 6.8% | 52.80 |
| 6 | Warren | 9,618 | 729 | $3,947,446 | 39.23% | 7.58 | 6.2% | 51.77 |
| 7 | Conshohocken | 7,850 | 1,203 | $2,868,545 | 41.73% | 15.32 | 6.6% | 51.16 |
| 8 | Greensburg | 14,787 | 2,520 | $1,419,518 | 41.83% | 17.04 | 5.1% | 51.08 |
| 9 | Wyomissing | 10,473 | 1,587 | $1,922,170 | 38.63% | 15.15 | 3.5% | 50.17 |
| 10 | Camp Hill | 7,888 | 1,323 | $2,685,546 | 27.66% | 16.77 | 3.6% | 49.63 |
| 11 | Sayre | 5,576 | 609 | $1,539,644 | 40.56% | 10.92 | 3.0% | 49.57 |
| 12 | Carnegie | 7,970 | 786 | $1,970,462 | 46.95% | 9.86 | 6.1% | 49.43 |
| 13 | Oakmont | 6,340 | 587 | $659,421 | 48.89% | 9.26 | 3.0% | 49.35 |
| 14 | Pleasant Hills | 8,278 | 603 | $985,561 | 54.06% | 7.28 | 4.9% | 49.10 |
| 15 | Coraopolis | 5,671 | 720 | $3,586,840 | 31.67% | 12.7 | 6.3% | 49.03 |
| 16 | Dickson City | 6,058 | 744 | $1,816,191 | 36.42% | 12.28 | 3.9% | 48.39 |
| 17 | Doylestown | 8,371 | 1,476 | $940,680 | 40.11% | 17.63 | 3.8% | 48.38 |
| 18 | Bristol | 9,699 | 671 | $2,960,788 | 43.82% | 6.92 | 6.4% | 47.98 |
| 19 | Connellsville | 7,636 | 562 | $624,881 | 47.51% | 7.36 | 2.8% | 47.41 |
| 20 | Wilkes-Barre | 41,374 | 2,582 | $2,123,588 | 43.65% | 6.24 | 4.9% | 47.34 |
| 21 | Chambersburg | 20,360 | 1,516 | $1,885,243 | 45.32% | 7.45 | 5.6% | 46.94 |
| 22 | Gettysburg | 7,639 | 610 | $1,170,746 | 46.07% | 7.99 | 4.5% | 46.63 |
| 23 | Hermitage | 16,262 | 1,894 | $1,035,305 | 40.76% | 11.65 | 4.4% | 46.33 |
| 24 | Kingston | 13,151 | 1,254 | $641,378 | 44.50% | 9.54 | 4.4% | 45.17 |
| 25 | Washington | 13,803 | 1,303 | $1,220,368 | 46.28% | 9.44 | 6.9% | 45.13 |
| 26 | Stroudsburg | 5,565 | 1,918 | $546,616 | 34.93% | 34.47 | 11.5% | 44.99 |
| 27 | St. Marys | 13,020 | 1,192 | $1,281,356 | 37.25% | 9.16 | 4.0% | 44.77 |
| 28 | Castle Shannon | 8,309 | 548 | $648,181 | 44.16% | 6.6 | 3.3% | 44.64 |
| 29 | DuBois | 7,760 | 890 | $860,183 | 42.70% | 11.47 | 5.7% | 44.62 |
| 30 | Somerset | 6,227 | 739 | $1,247,164 | 43.30% | 11.87 | 7.8% | 44.29 |
| 31 | Clarks Summit | 5,118 | 695 | $1,328,922 | 28.78% | 13.58 | 2.5% | 43.99 |
| 32 | Johnstown | 20,740 | 1,590 | $1,433,072 | 45.66% | 7.67 | 7.5% | 43.96 |
| 33 | Lewisburg | 5,759 | 1,359 | $726,777 | 24.87% | 23.6 | 5.1% | 43.59 |
| 34 | Monroeville | 28,361 | 2,755 | $1,184,921 | 35.86% | 9.71 | 4.0% | 43.44 |
| 35 | Wilson | 7,871 | 511 | $713,661 | 51.66% | 6.49 | 5.9% | 43.43 |
| 36 | Meadville | 13,368 | 1,257 | $776,621 | 44.63% | 9.4 | 6.0% | 43.32 |
| 37 | Hanover | 15,332 | 1,760 | $949,023 | 39.94% | 11.48 | 5.6% | 43.10 |
| 38 | Pittsburgh | 306,062 | 24,581 | $2,651,971 | 31.62% | 8.03 | 5.9% | 43.03 |
| 39 | New Holland | 5,400 | 517 | $2,481,563 | 32.30% | 9.57 | 6.0% | 42.84 |
| 40 | Huntingdon | 7,064 | 1,043 | $802,180 | 27.80% | 14.77 | 2.9% | 42.77 |
| 41 | Dunmore | 14,031 | 1,094 | $1,620,676 | 36.01% | 7.8 | 4.7% | 42.76 |
| 42 | Kennett Square | 6,078 | 909 | $804,557 | 31.68% | 14.96 | 2.8% | 41.83 |
| 43 | Bethlehem | 75,030 | 4,890 | $2,688,361 | 30.98% | 6.52 | 5.8% | 40.98 |
| 44 | White Oak | 7,864 | 569 | $295,262 | 41.83% | 7.24 | 4.5% | 40.86 |
| 45 | Lock Haven | 9,861 | 640 | $742,094 | 42.19% | 6.49 | 5.6% | 40.63 |
| 46 | Monaca | 5,740 | 504 | $968,448 | 38.10% | 8.78 | 6.2% | 40.50 |
| 47 | Bloomsburg | 14,655 | 1,035 | $1,007,100 | 35.17% | 7.06 | 3.9% | 40.33 |
| 48 | Waynesboro | 10,622 | 653 | $1,281,237 | 47.01% | 6.15 | 9.1% | 40.11 |
| 49 | Murrysville | 20,136 | 1,930 | $1,105,903 | 28.29% | 9.58 | 3.4% | 39.90 |
| 50 | Palmyra | 7,364 | 906 | $975,461 | 29.80% | 12.3 | 4.7% | 39.58 |
| 51 | Carlisle | 18,816 | 1,840 | $1,545,840 | 32.28% | 9.78 | 6.2% | 39.41 |
| 52 | Pottsville | 14,228 | 972 | $1,349,266 | 34.88% | 6.83 | 5.7% | 39.36 |
| 53 | Punxsutawney | 5,946 | 527 | $555,622 | 37.19% | 8.86 | 5.6% | 39.36 |
| 54 | Franklin | 6,499 | 1,016 | $805,785 | 28.15% | 15.63 | 5.8% | 39.36 |
| 55 | Ellwood City | 7,735 | 613 | $1,938,843 | 29.04% | 7.93 | 5.8% | 39.32 |
| 56 | Hollidaysburg | 5,800 | 776 | $312,755 | 24.74% | 13.38 | 2.0% | 39.10 |
| 57 | Monessen | 7,682 | 582 | $962,653 | 32.65% | 7.58 | 4.4% | 39.06 |
| 58 | Bethel Park | 32,344 | 2,908 | $756,026 | 31.88% | 8.99 | 4.0% | 38.98 |
| 59 | Ephrata | 13,445 | 950 | $743,697 | 38.53% | 7.07 | 5.0% | 38.91 |
| 60 | Quakertown | 8,965 | 1,210 | $584,779 | 34.79% | 13.5 | 5.8% | 38.71 |
| 61 | New Castle | 23,083 | 2,184 | $1,195,240 | 32.33% | 9.46 | 6.1% | 38.67 |
| 62 | Palmerton | 5,397 | 648 | $854,519 | 23.92% | 12.01 | 2.3% | 38.62 |
| 63 | Nazareth | 5,746 | 1,025 | $330,242 | 26.24% | 17.84 | 4.4% | 38.52 |
| 64 | Jeannette | 9,595 | 1,185 | $426,535 | 28.61% | 12.35 | 3.8% | 38.49 |
| 65 | Scranton | 75,982 | 4,620 | $1,291,514 | 35.04% | 6.08 | 5.4% | 38.47 |
| 66 | Elizabethtown | 11,599 | 835 | $1,323,877 | 27.54% | 7.2 | 3.2% | 38.31 |
| 67 | Harrisburg | 49,395 | 3,651 | $2,569,060 | 36.13% | 7.39 | 10.1% | 38.27 |
| 68 | Selinsgrove | 5,654 | 862 | $542,182 | 18.68% | 15.25 | 2.1% | 37.87 |
| 69 | Berwick | 10,429 | 1,035 | $856,094 | 30.53% | 9.92 | 4.9% | 37.63 |
| 70 | Williamsport | 29,429 | 1,619 | $1,909,926 | 38.17% | 5.5 | 8.9% | 37.62 |
| 71 | Lansdale | 16,324 | 1,620 | $1,489,528 | 32.16% | 9.92 | 6.4% | 37.58 |
| 72 | Mechanicsburg | 8,981 | 833 | $2,216,989 | 26.29% | 9.28 | 6.9% | 37.34 |
| 73 | Beaver Falls | 8,897 | 615 | $1,351,330 | 32.85% | 6.91 | 6.8% | 36.68 |
| 74 | Butler | 13,701 | 1,566 | $927,761 | 33.46% | 11.43 | 7.8% | 36.52 |
| 75 | Swarthmore | 6,199 | 908 | $365,230 | 19.16% | 14.65 | 2.0% | 36.52 |
| 76 | Folcroft | 6,617 | 578 | $1,400,062 | 46.37% | 8.74 | 12.1% | 36.43 |
| 77 | Altoona | 46,195 | 3,425 | $930,651 | 32.26% | 7.41 | 6.0% | 36.40 |
| 78 | Lewistown | 8,347 | 515 | $1,028,536 | 38.45% | 6.17 | 7.9% | 36.23 |
| 79 | Emmaus | 11,271 | 1,434 | $679,856 | 27.27% | 12.72 | 5.1% | 36.12 |
| 80 | Bradford | 8,712 | 723 | $1,708,485 | 33.20% | 8.3 | 9.4% | 36.04 |
| 81 | Hatboro | 7,380 | 1,053 | $580,965 | 36.28% | 14.27 | 8.2% | 35.88 |
| 82 | Forest Hills | 6,516 | 858 | $864,277 | 23.31% | 13.17 | 6.0% | 35.54 |
| 83 | Aliquippa | 9,415 | 818 | $565,218 | 31.05% | 8.69 | 6.1% | 35.34 |
| 84 | Fox Chapel | 5,390 | 786 | $339,235 | 18.70% | 14.58 | 3.2% | 35.33 |
| 85 | Crafton | 5,947 | 600 | $322,040 | 24.83% | 10.09 | 3.0% | 35.30 |
| 86 | Sharon | 13,930 | 892 | $973,031 | 36.43% | 6.4 | 8.4% | 35.07 |
| 87 | Erie | 101,324 | 6,245 | $1,423,758 | 30.87% | 6.16 | 7.1% | 34.87 |
| 88 | Indiana | 14,013 | 957 | $1,705,277 | 29.15% | 6.83 | 7.3% | 34.70 |
| 89 | State College | 41,948 | 2,421 | $564,276 | 32.01% | 5.77 | 4.2% | 34.69 |
| 90 | Lebanon | 25,520 | 1,713 | $1,089,465 | 37.83% | 6.71 | 9.2% | 34.62 |
| 91 | Wilkinsburg | 15,943 | 1,035 | $2,718,208 | 21.06% | 6.49 | 7.4% | 34.27 |
| 92 | Brentwood | 9,638 | 587 | $297,051 | 31.69% | 6.09 | 4.6% | 34.04 |
| 93 | Nanticoke | 10,442 | 697 | $361,565 | 31.13% | 6.67 | 5.3% | 33.97 |
| 94 | Lititz | 9,376 | 1,060 | $571,005 | 17.83% | 11.31 | 2.5% | 33.95 |
| 95 | Pottstown | 22,442 | 2,063 | $1,162,990 | 27.82% | 9.19 | 6.6% | 33.90 |
| 96 | Jefferson Hills | 10,844 | 780 | $1,056,329 | 23.08% | 7.19 | 4.1% | 33.89 |
| 97 | Shillington | 5,271 | 570 | $347,795 | 24.56% | 10.81 | 3.5% | 33.87 |
| 98 | Milton | 7,026 | 710 | $1,263,535 | 28.73% | 10.11 | 8.3% | 33.75 |
| 99 | Collegeville | 5,220 | 1,036 | $442,172 | 17.47% | 19.85 | 5.4% | 33.27 |
| 100 | Oil City | 10,466 | 840 | $771,796 | 28.33% | 8.03 | 6.6% | 33.21 |
| 101 | Norristown | 34,330 | 1,759 | $1,346,258 | 37.24% | 5.12 | 8.6% | 33.16 |
| 102 | Downingtown | 7,923 | 903 | $1,075,062 | 25.80% | 11.4 | 7.2% | 32.84 |
| 103 | McKeesport | 19,744 | 1,178 | $874,427 | 33.28% | 5.97 | 8.3% | 32.66 |
| 104 | Hazleton | 25,233 | 2,766 | $958,975 | 29.03% | 10.96 | 8.7% | 32.63 |
| 105 | Chester | 34,011 | 1,191 | $1,809,987 | 37.70% | 3.5 | 10.9% | 32.50 |
| 106 | Tyrone | 5,451 | 825 | $450,896 | 14.30% | 15.13 | 3.9% | 32.43 |
| 107 | New Kensington | 13,050 | 1,101 | $552,985 | 27.52% | 8.44 | 6.7% | 32.40 |
| 108 | Lancaster | 59,335 | 4,332 | $1,251,719 | 35.50% | 7.3 | 10.2% | 32.29 |
| 109 | Red Lion | 6,350 | 608 | $1,100,461 | 19.90% | 9.57 | 5.3% | 31.98 |
| 110 | Kutztown | 5,009 | 607 | $480,044 | 27.35% | 12.12 | 7.8% | 31.95 |
| 111 | Plum | 27,257 | 2,096 | $496,411 | 24.05% | 7.69 | 4.6% | 31.94 |
| 112 | Swissvale | 8,975 | 590 | $281,564 | 31.36% | 6.57 | 6.9% | 31.71 |
| 113 | Lower Burrell | 11,704 | 921 | $199,283 | 26.06% | 7.87 | 5.2% | 31.60 |
| 114 | Phoenixville | 16,480 | 1,871 | $737,274 | 19.78% | 11.35 | 5.0% | 31.36 |
| 115 | Canonsburg | 8,984 | 818 | $572,472 | 24.33% | 9.11 | 6.4% | 31.13 |
| 116 | Sunbury | 9,869 | 793 | $818,353 | 25.60% | 8.04 | 6.9% | 31.00 |
| 117 | York | 43,808 | 2,815 | $2,173,779 | 34.10% | 6.43 | 13.0% | 30.99 |
| 118 | Franklin Park | 13,679 | 1,304 | $218,306 | 18.94% | 9.53 | 2.9% | 30.83 |
| 119 | East Stroudsburg | 9,859 | 1,807 | $576,126 | 24.02% | 18.33 | 10.2% | 30.52 |
| 120 | Shamokin | 7,337 | 518 | $348,122 | 35.14% | 7.06 | 9.8% | 30.37 |
| 121 | Titusville | 5,528 | 581 | $527,153 | 26.68% | 10.51 | 8.9% | 30.24 |
| 122 | Middletown | 8,899 | 623 | $1,554,920 | 17.17% | 7 | 5.5% | 30.16 |
| 123 | Bellevue | 8,352 | 588 | $328,626 | 26.02% | 7.04 | 6.1% | 30.15 |
| 124 | South Williamsport | 6,369 | 655 | $511,789 | 18.47% | 10.28 | 4.9% | 30.01 |
| 125 | Brookhaven | 8,034 | 593 | $324,609 | 25.13% | 7.38 | 5.3% | 29.93 |
| 126 | Carbondale | 8,880 | 842 | $441,097 | 28.15% | 9.48 | 8.7% | 29.65 |
| 127 | Easton | 26,959 | 2,268 | $1,146,482 | 23.72% | 8.41 | 7.8% | 29.30 |
| 128 | Pittston | 7,713 | 824 | $548,335 | 20.02% | 10.68 | 6.8% | 29.26 |
| 129 | Archbald | 7,035 | 770 | $468,190 | 19.48% | 10.95 | 6.7% | 29.19 |
| 130 | Mount Joy | 7,646 | 667 | $792,135 | 17.69% | 8.72 | 5.3% | 28.56 |
| 131 | Philadelphia | 1,536,704 | 88,140 | $1,583,251 | 23.10% | 5.74 | 8.9% | 28.19 |
| 132 | Glenolden | 7,156 | 503 | $535,131 | 16.30% | 7.03 | 4.4% | 27.55 |
| 133 | Souderton | 6,629 | 647 | $489,668 | 17.16% | 9.76 | 5.8% | 27.15 |
| 134 | Allentown | 118,285 | 7,644 | $1,420,252 | 24.91% | 6.46 | 9.6% | 26.94 |
| 135 | Columbia | 10,390 | 511 | $921,012 | 20.94% | 4.92 | 6.7% | 26.43 |
| 136 | Morrisville | 8,731 | 775 | $735,077 | 25.03% | 8.88 | 8.9% | 26.39 |
| 137 | Clifton Heights | 6,649 | 706 | $311,916 | 17.42% | 10.62 | 6.3% | 25.94 |
| 138 | Economy | 9,069 | 759 | $47,192 | 11.86% | 8.37 | 2.6% | 25.87 |
| 139 | Perkasie | 8,530 | 949 | $468,336 | 14.23% | 11.13 | 5.4% | 25.14 |
| 140 | Lansdowne | 10,619 | 951 | $233,516 | 17.35% | 8.96 | 6.8% | 24.23 |
| 141 | Yeadon | 11,479 | 701 | $395,658 | 16.41% | 6.11 | 5.7% | 23.98 |
| 142 | Reading | 87,978 | 4,545 | $1,786,504 | 23.67% | 5.17 | 12.4% | 23.87 |
| 143 | Baldwin | 19,777 | 1,065 | $252,968 | 16.06% | 5.39 | 6.2% | 23.69 |
| 144 | Darby | 10,666 | 571 | $766,067 | 22.42% | 5.35 | 10.4% | 21.01 |
| 145 | Coatesville | 13,104 | 942 | $419,190 | 13.59% | 7.19 | 9.7% | 17.17 |
Methodology
NerdWallet analyzed 145 places in Pennsylvania, each with a population of 5,000 or more. We excluded communities with fewer than 500 businesses, regardless of the population.
NerdWallet calculated the overall score for each location using the following criteria:
Business climate, 65% of the overall score, is based on three metrics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Business Owners.
Average revenue of businesses is 20% of the score. A higher average contributed to a higher score.
Percentage of businesses with paid employees is 25% of the score. A higher percentage contributed to a higher score.
Businesses per 100 people is 20% of the score. A higher number contributed to a higher score.
Local economic health, 35% of the overall score, is based on three metrics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.
Median annual income is 10% of the score. A higher median income contributed to a higher score.
Median annual housing costs are 10% of the score. Lower median costs contributed to a higher score.
Unemployment rate for residents over age 16 is 15% of the score. A lower rate contributed to a higher score.
NerdWallet staff writer Anna Helhoski contributed to this article.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, skyline image via iStock.
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