The 25 Best College Small Towns in Pennsylvania

Ranked on The Town Files lifestyle rankings among 931 towns of 500–10,000 people in Pennsylvania. #1 is Gettysburg, PA.

1. 25Prospect Park, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 98% of Pennsylvania towns

   

   Prospect Park is a borough of 6,427 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better transit than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and more walkable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.

   6,427 people · Delaware County · median home $244,600 · income $63,077 · Jan low 26°F · 23 in snow

   Full Prospect Park, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Ambler, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 98% of Pennsylvania towns

   Ambler is a borough of 6,807 people in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better transit than 99% of Pennsylvania towns and more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.

   6,807 people · Montgomery County · median home $377,300 · income $77,394 · Jan low 23°F · 25 in snow

   Full Ambler, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 98% of Pennsylvania towns

   Huntingdon is a borough of 6,827 people in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 96% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 87% of Pennsylvania towns.

   6,827 people · Huntingdon County · median home $198,900 · income $67,125 · Jan low 21°F · 31 in snow

   Full Huntingdon, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Grove City, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 98% of Pennsylvania towns

   Grove City is a borough of 7,871 people in Mercer County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 96% of Pennsylvania towns.

   7,871 people · Mercer County · median home $171,600 · income $57,169 · Jan low 17°F · 37 in snow

   Full Grove City, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 98% of Pennsylvania towns

   Canonsburg is a borough of 9,744 people in Washington County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more walkable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns and better for young professionals than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.

   9,744 people · Washington County · median home $213,200 · income $79,227 · Jan low 20°F · 32 in snow

   Full Canonsburg, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Kulpmont, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

   Kulpmont is a borough of 2,758 people in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more walkable than 89% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.

   2,758 people · Northumberland County · median home $84,000 · income $49,785 · Jan low 19°F · 34 in snow

   Full Kulpmont, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19New Britain, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

   New Britain is a borough of 2,836 people in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 97% of Pennsylvania towns and better transit than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.

   2,836 people · Bucks County · median home $407,000 · income $125,227 · Jan low 23°F · 22 in snow

   Full New Britain, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

   Slippery Rock is a borough of 3,081 people in Butler County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 94% of Pennsylvania towns.

   3,081 people · Butler County · median home $255,400 · income $52,262 · Jan low 17°F · 31 in snow

   Full Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Etna, Pennsylvania

   More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

   Etna is a borough of 3,437 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks hipper than 99% of Pennsylvania towns and more walkable than 96% of Pennsylvania towns.

   3,437 people · Allegheny County · median home $135,800 · income $53,654 · Jan low 21°F · 29 in snow

   Full Etna, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16St. Davids, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    St. Davids is a community of 3,604 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and more upscale than 100% of Pennsylvania towns.

    3,604 people · Delaware County · median home $1,001,600 · income $163,173 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

    Full St. Davids, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15Forty Fort, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Forty Fort is a borough of 4,239 people in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more walkable than 91% of Pennsylvania towns and better for young professionals than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.

    4,239 people · Luzerne County · median home $173,000 · income $74,432 · Jan low 20°F · 45 in snow

    Full Forty Fort, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Grantley, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Grantley is a community of 4,524 people in York County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and better for retirees than 96% of Pennsylvania towns.

    4,524 people · York County · median home $429,400 · income $167,069 · Jan low 21°F · 25 in snow

    Full Grantley, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Lemoyne, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Lemoyne is a borough of 4,659 people in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more vibrant than 99% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.

    4,659 people · Cumberland County · median home $241,300 · income $62,086 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

    Full Lemoyne, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Annville, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Annville is a community of 4,759 people in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for first-time buyers than 98% of Pennsylvania towns and better for young professionals than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.

    4,759 people · Lebanon County · median home $199,200 · income $71,321 · Jan low 22°F · 24 in snow

    Full Annville, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Edinboro, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    

    Edinboro is a borough of 4,964 people in Erie County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks hipper than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and better for young professionals than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.

    4,964 people · Erie County · median home $222,700 · income $48,173 · Jan low 16°F · 104 in snow

    Full Edinboro, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Collegeville, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Collegeville is a borough of 5,043 people in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and more vibrant than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.

    5,043 people · Montgomery County · median home $443,000 · income $91,466 · Jan low 20°F · 13 in snow

    Full Collegeville, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Turtle Creek is a borough of 5,114 people in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more walkable than 97% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 93% of Pennsylvania towns.

    5,114 people · Allegheny County · median home $84,900 · income $45,997 · Jan low 22°F · 25 in snow

    Full Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Villanova, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 99% of Pennsylvania towns

    Villanova is a community of 8,213 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and better transit than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.

    8,213 people · Delaware County · median home $946,400 · income $250,001 · Jan low 23°F · 8 in snow

    Full Villanova, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Penndel, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    Penndel is a borough of 2,515 people in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better transit than 99% of Pennsylvania towns and more vibrant than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.

    2,515 people · Bucks County · median home $336,200 · income $75,517 · Jan low 22°F · 20 in snow

    Full Penndel, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Messiah College, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    Messiah College is a community of 2,841 people in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 99% of Pennsylvania towns and better for first-time buyers than 89% of Pennsylvania towns.

    2,841 people · Cumberland County · median home — · income — · Jan low 25°F · 26 in snow

    Full Messiah College, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Kutztown University, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    Kutztown University is a community of 3,094 people in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more vibrant than 98% of Pennsylvania towns and more walkable than 80% of Pennsylvania towns.

    3,094 people · Berks County · median home — · income $18,676 · Jan low 20°F · 18 in snow

    Full Kutztown University, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4East Greenville, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    East Greenville is a borough of 3,166 people in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks more walkable than 97% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 91% of Pennsylvania towns.

    3,166 people · Montgomery County · median home $253,400 · income $87,396 · Jan low 19°F · 26 in snow

    Full East Greenville, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Clarion, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    Clarion is a borough of 3,931 people in Clarion County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks hipper than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and better for young professionals than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.

    3,931 people · Clarion County · median home $163,200 · income $47,181 · Jan low 16°F · 43 in snow

    Full Clarion, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Swarthmore, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    

    Swarthmore is a borough of 6,543 people in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 100% of Pennsylvania towns and more vibrant than 100% of Pennsylvania towns.

    6,543 people · Delaware County · median home $633,800 · income $152,361 · Jan low 26°F · 23 in snow

    Full Swarthmore, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

    More of a college town than 100% of Pennsylvania towns

    Gettysburg is a borough of 7,106 people in Adams County, Pennsylvania. It also ranks better for young professionals than 98% of Pennsylvania towns and hipper than 98% of Pennsylvania towns.

    7,106 people · Adams County · median home $241,500 · income $54,365 · Jan low 21°F · 27 in snow

    Full Gettysburg, Pennsylvania profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

Price vs ranking

More Pennsylvania rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in Pennsylvania
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in Pennsylvania
• 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
• 25 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With the Fewest Tornadoes Since 1950
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania

Same ranking, other places

• The 50 Best College Small Towns in America
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New York
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Michigan
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in Texas
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best College Small Towns in New Jersey