Relying on Social Security income? You may want to move to Westmoreland
Pennsylvania residents who rely on Social Security as a main source of income in retirement may do well to find a home in Westmoreland County, according to a recent study.
New York financial technology company SmartAsset released a study of Pennsylvania counties where retirees’ Social Security income would go furthest. With an estimated cost of living of about $18,700 and estimated average Social Security income of just over $20,000, Westmoreland ranked among the top counties in the state.
Westmoreland ranked fifth, behind Wayne, Sullivan, Juniata and Elk counties. The county also ranked 230th in the nation in SmartAsset’s study.
Also in the Top 10 were nearby counties of Lawrence (No. 7), Washington (No. 8) and Venango (No. 9). Allegheny County ranked 52nd in the state, with a cost of living of $19,400 and average Social Security income of about $18,800.
Click here for more information on the study, including the methodology used to calculate county rankings. Nationally, the study’s top-ranked county is Box Butte County in northwestern Nebraska, with a cost of living of $17,500 and average Social Security income of just over $24,000.
Patrick Varine is a TribLive reporter covering Delmont, Export and Murrysville. He is a Western Pennsylvania native and joined the Trib in 2010 after working as a reporter and editor with the former Dover Post Co. in Delaware. He can be reached at pvarine@triblive.com.
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