This is a great question. While large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh remain major centers, the biggest growth in Pennsylvania over the last five years (roughly 2020–2025) has been driven by the need for affordability, jobs, and a better quality of life in mid-sized cities and desirable suburbs.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Between 2020 and 2024, Pittsburgh added about 4,708 residents, the largest raw increase among municipalities in PA in that period. Axios+1
- While the growth rate (~1.6%) is modest compared to many fast-growing cities nationwide, it’s significant given Pittsburgh’s history of population decline. Axios
- This suggests people are moving (or staying) in-/into Pittsburgh in meaningful numbers.
The most popular areas seeing the largest net migration are concentrated in the Eastern and Central regions of the state, particularly the Lehigh Valley.
Top Cities for Net Inflow
These cities, particularly in Central Pennsylvania, have seen more people moving in than moving out at a high rate, indicating strong appeal for new residents.
- Lancaster: This city consistently ranks highly for its quality of life, vibrant food scene, and historic charm. It has one of the best “in-to-out” move ratios in the state, making it extremely popular for families and retirees looking for a blend of urban amenities and accessibility to farmland.
- Carlisle: Located near Harrisburg, Carlisle recorded one of the highest percentage growth rates in Pennsylvania between 2020 and 2023. It’s often cited as popular for its stable job market and relative affordability.
- Hershey and Kennett Square: These smaller, high-demand areas also show strong positive net migration ratios, often attracting families willing to pay a premium for excellent schools and a desirable community atmosphere.
In summary, the trend points toward the mid-sized, highly accessible cities in Eastern and Central PA that offer a favorable cost-of-living comparison to the neighboring states.
West Manheim Township (York County), Pennsylvania
- Identified as one of the fastest-growing municipalities in PA: e.g., growth of 20.58% from 2020 to 2024. Yahoo News+1
- Being a township in a commuter-/suburban region likely makes it attractive for people moving out of bigger cities or looking for more space.
Spring City Borough (Chester County), Pennsylvania
- Listed among the “15 fastest-growing towns in Pennsylvania” in July 2025, with growth of about 12.4% from 2020 to 2024. Philly Burbs
- Smaller in size, but strong percentage growth suggests it is gaining popularity for inbound migration within the state.
Allentown / the Lehigh Valley region, Pennsylvania
- The Lehigh Valley region (with Allentown as its largest city) is described as “one of the fastest-growing and largest economies in Pennsylvania” with significant inward migration from New Jersey and New York because of affordability and proximity. Wikipedia+2Pennsylvania State Data Center+2
- While I don’t have a precise figure for Allentown’s internal net migration over 5 years here, the region’s growth signals it as a key destination within PA.
Additional Context & Caveats
- At the state level, between 2020-2024, Pennsylvania’s population grew by only about 0.64%, and the growth was driven primarily by international migration, rather than domestic in-migration. Center for Rural Pennsylvania+1
- The municipality Findlay Township (Allegheny County) grew ~13.8% from 2023-24 (one year). Patch
- Many larger Pennsylvania cities (e.g., the state’s largest, Philadelphia) are still experiencing population decline, which means that “popular places people are moving to” often means smaller or suburban municipalities rather than major urban centers. AP News+1
- “Growth” doesn’t always equal large volume of inbound movers — in some cases, high percentage growth occurs in small bases, so the absolute numbers of new residents can still be modest.
