Baldwin, Whitehall Among PA's Top Places For Families: Study

BALDWIN, PA - Five of the 10 best communities in Pennsylvania for families to live can be found in southwestern Pennsylvania, a new study reveals. Fifteen area communities finished in the top 50; Baldwin was seventh, Whitehall 26th.

Financial analytics website WalletHub compared municipalities in the state across 21 key indicators of ideal family conditions. The data set ranged from the share of families with young children to median family income to housing affordability.

Key categories considered included:

• Family life and fun: Playgrounds per capita; number of attractions (zoos, museums, theaters, parks); share of families with children under 18.

• Education, health and safety: Quality of school system, high school graduation rate, violent crime incidents.

• Affordability: Housing and general affordability.

• Socioeconomics: Separation and divorce rate, share of families below the poverty line and unemployment rate.

Baldwin ranked 9th in education, health and safety, 14th in affordability, 19th in socioeconomics and 65th in family life and fun. Whitehall ranked 15th in affordability, 19th in education, 30th in socioeconomics and 81st in family life and fun.

The top 10 communities for families in the state, according to the WalletHub study:

1. Franklin Park
2. Upper St. Clair
3. Carnot-Moon
4. Montgomeryville
5. Bethel Park
6. Jefferson Hills
7. Baldwin
8. St. Mary’s
9. Mountaintop

10.Ephrata

Other southwestern Pennsylvania communities in the top 50:

12. Murrysville
13. Plum
15. Allison Park
17. South Park
21. Lower Burrell
26. Whitehall
28. Monroeville
32. West Mifflin
38. Munhall
48. Pittsburgh

Photo via Shutterstock.