Little League Capital Gains Attention As an Affordable Scenic Retirement Destination

Williamsport might be the home you’re looking for if your vision of an ideal retirement is a bike ride overlooking rocky outcrops and an occasional waterfall. It was recently named one of Investopedia’s top 100 US cities for retirees.

Located in Pennsylvania’s Susquehanna Valley, Williamsport offers cultural and outdoor relaxation options with a historical flair. It boasts a storied past, from “Lumber Capital of the World” to the birthplace of Little League baseball. Williamsport is the county seat of Lycoming County and home to over 27,000 residents.

Williamsport Is Affordable

Choosing a retirement location begins with consideration of dollars and cents. Williamsport’s cost of living is solid, 1% less than the national average, and housing prices are 9% less. The median home price here is $485,099. Note: “median” means that half of all homes will cost you less than this.

Zillow indicates that the average rent for a house is $3,300 a month here, dropping to $1,375 for a two-bedroom apartment.

Some of your expenses will be higher here, however. Utilities run 20% more than the national average. You can expect your energy bill to average about $261 a month. This is north-central Pennsylvania, after all. Grocery prices run about 4% higher.

But your state tax budget will be a little lower, freeing up some income. Pennsylvania doesn’t tax Social Security, 401(k), or IRA income. It doesn’t tax pension income, either, if you’re age 60 or older, and it has the lowest flat tax rate in the United States at 3.07%.

Williamsport has a property tax rate of 17.55 mills, or 1.755%. If you buy a home at the median home price as a retiree, you’d pay $8,513.49 in property taxes.

Enjoy a Scenic Outdoor Lifestyle

Now, about that bike ride, or perhaps you’re thinking of taking a leisurely walk. You’ll have a nice view in Williamsport with the Alleghany Mountains to the north and the West Branch of the Susquehanna River bracketing the city to the south. Pine Creek Gorge, the “Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania,” is just 20 miles away.

Then there’s Timber Trail if you want to mix a little artwork and history into your walk. It makes up a notable portion of the Susquehanna River Walk, a 4.2-mile stretch along the north and south shores of the river’s West Branch. The West Branch also offers kayaking and canoeing opportunities.

Loyalsock Creek awaits you if fly-fishing sounds like a good way to spend some of your newfound free time, and the 62-mile Pine Creek Rail Trail offers horseback excursions through the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon if you’d rather not pedal a bike or walk. 

The Williamsport Community

Williamsport began as a logging community in the late 1800s, growing into a significant component of the industry and producing more millionaires per capita than any other area of the world. Its timber was largely depleted by the early 1900s, but the legacy lives on.

Williamsport became the Little League capital of the world when it founded the youth baseball organization in 1939. Carl E. Stotz, a clerk with a local oil company, created the concept. The first Little League World Series was played at Original Field in Memorial Park in 1947. It’s still played here annually. Hundreds of thousands of players, coaches, and fans celebrate the event each August, and it’s commemorated by Bases Loaded statues decorating the downtown streets.

You’ll have the opportunity to attend numerous other annual events if baseball isn’t your thing, from the Ways Garden Art and Craft Show to the Victorian Christmas celebration, Mummers Parade, and Polar Express Train Excursions during the winter months.

Daily Living and Getting Around Town

Williamsport offers plenty of other ways to pass your time if spending it in the great outdoors doesn’t appeal to you. Take in a meal at the award-winning Bullfrog Brewery downtown, or visit Williamsport’s numerous and unique artisan shops and themed boutiques. Otto Bookstore is the oldest independently owned bookstore in the U.S.

You might prefer walking or biking here because gas prices and bus fares in Williamsport are more expensive than the national average, although just a wee bit at 1%. Gasoline costs $2.94 a gallon in Lycoming County, vs. the national average of $2.88, as of February 2026. But it’s just a three-hour drive to Philadelphia or to New York City if you want to get out of town and take in some big-city adrenaline and lights.

Walk Score ranks Williamsport as being “very walkable” and “very bikeable.” Many opportunities for dining and shopping can be reached here by simply taking a stroll. The commute to downtown is 13 minutes on foot, and you can take in a view of numerous historical mansions on Millionaires Row en route.

Healthcare Access in Williamsport

The quality of available healthcare is a primary concern when you’re deciding where you want to retire. Williamsport doesn’t lack in this respect, either, and healthcare will cost you 3% less here than the national average.

There are 19 hospitals within 50 miles of Williamsport, several of them quite notable. UPMC Williamsport won the 2026 Coronary Intervention Excellence Award. Geisinger Medical Center is in Muncy, just 10 miles out of town, and this facility won an Outstanding Patient Experience Award in 2025. Evangelical Community Hospital was named to America’s 100 Best Orthopedic Surgery list in 2024. It’s located in Lewisburg, 19 miles away.

Pennsylvania offers the PA MEDI program if you require assistance with Medicare issues, and its PACE and PACENET programs provide prescription medicines to citizens age 65 and older at a reduced cost.

Climate and Seasonal Living

You’ll have to bundle up if you want to enjoy Williamsport’s outdoor activities in the winter months. The average low temperature here is 22 degrees in January, and you can anticipate about 33 inches of snow a year.

You’ll be shedding that winter gear in a hurry come summer, however. July is the hottest month in Williamsport, with an average high of 84.5 degrees. The temperature tends to top 90 degrees about 14 days a year.

You can expect about 180 days of sunshine a year, but you’ll get about 44 inches of rain over the course of the other days. At least 0.01 inch of rain, snow, or a combination will visit Williamsport about 135 days annually.

The Bottom Line

Williamsport ranks high on our list of best cities to consider for retirement. This historic riverfront city has a lot going for it. It provides for a laid-back lifestyle and some magnificent scenery, all at an affordable price. And Pennsylvania won’t shred your budget looking for tax dollars. Of course, your grandchildren might want to move in with you if they love baseball.