All lists of this type, will depend on the criteria used to evaluate these locations. All of us have various individual criteria we would use, to decide if we want to relocate at retirement.
it also depends on whether those locales paid to be added to the list. Call me a cynic, but i can’t see PA being on this list at all. I would say places that have lower taxes and less government interference would be higher. ESPECIALLY if you are retiring and need to shepherd your funds.
Pennsylvania has a flat (and low) state income tax rate, and doesn’t tax retirement account distributions or pensions. That’s the only reason these places are on this list.
You bet it does. Unless the detailed criteria are revealed, this should be ignored. From this list, Reading, PA is a crap house for quality of life. Another questionable place on this list is Lancaster, PA. That place has problems with drugs, the Amish surrounding the area notwithstanding. (Even the Amish are having problems.)