This year, the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton metropolitan area ranked 9 out of 150 places

 

November 22, 2022 – U.S. News & World Report has named the Lehigh Valley one of the 2022-23 Best Places to Retire. The Lehigh Valley ranked #9 in the general rankings.

“The Lehigh Valley is a special place, whether or not you’re in the cities or outside the cities,” said Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds. “We’ve known for a long time it’s a great place to raise a family, come to work, but also to retire. We have so much to do as far as recreation and just being able to shop in the downtowns. So, the ranking is really just an amazing honor.”

This year’s list evaluated the country’s 150 most populous metropolitan areas based on how well they meet Americans’ expectations for retirement, with measures including housing affordability, health care, desirability and overall happiness.

“Choosing a place to spend your retirement years is a big decision for many retirees,” said Emily Brandon,

U.S. News senior editor for retirement. “The Best Places to Retire rankings spotlight places that most meet the wants and needs of people in, or entering, retirement age.”

“We’re so thrilled with this recognition,” said Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk. “Allentown is the urban center of the Lehigh Valley, and part of what makes the Lehigh Valley such a special place. Whether you’re choosing Allentown, Bethlehem or Easton for retirement, or even to live and start a family, we’re happy to welcome you.”

The six measures factored into this year’s rankings were weighted based on a public survey of individuals across the U.S. who are nearing retirement age (ages 45-59) and those who are of retirement age (60 or older) to find out what matters most when considering where to retire. Data sources include the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Sharecare, as well as U.S. News Best Hospitals rankings.

This year, housing affordability is most heavily weighted out of the six factors in the 2022-2023 Best Places to Retire methodology, which also includes happiness, health care quality, retiree taxes, desirability, and job market ratings.

U.S. News & World Report had previously ranked the Lehigh Valley as the 11th best place in the country to retire in last year’s list, meaning the region jumped up two spots in this year’s rankings.

“We all know how special the Lehigh Valley is, but our golden citizens are now finding out it’s a great place to retire because of our culture, our history, and all the wonderful things that are happening in the Lehigh Valley as a whole,” said Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr.

Although U.S. News & World Report identifies the region as Allentown in its listing, the ranking is for the Lehigh Valley as a region, and Allentown is listed because the region’s metropolitan statistical area is known as Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton.

Information provided to TVL by:
Genesis Ortega
Communications Manager
Office of the Mayor
http://www.AllentownPA.gov

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