Easton has been named one of AARP’s “10 Great, and Affordable, Places for Older People to Live” for 2026, the only Pennsylvania community to make the list.
The recognition, published by AARP in late 2025, puts the Northampton County seat alongside nine other communities nationwide that the organization says combine livability with housing costs that retirees and older adults can realistically afford. Easton is also one of just two communities in the Northeast to appear on the roundup.
How Easton Made the List
AARP built the 2026 list using a three-part approach. It first drew on its Livability Index, screening for communities that scored above 50 and had average monthly housing costs under $1,500. AARP state offices then nominated candidates based on their on-the-ground knowledge, and journalists visited each finalist to report on what makes it appealing for older residents.
The Livability Index itself measures 61 indicators across seven categories: neighborhood, transportation, environment, health, engagement, opportunity and housing. Those categories fold in factors such as walkability, safety, access to shops and groceries, public transit, job availability and school performance. Easton earned a Livability Index score of 64.
That combination of a passing livability score and below-average housing costs is the threshold AARP uses to separate truly affordable communities from those that simply rate well on quality-of-life measures. The list is distinct from AARP’s broader “Top 100 Places to Live for Older Adults” rankings, focusing specifically on places where older residents can stretch a fixed income without sacrificing access to amenities.
A Walkable Downtown Built Before the Car
AARP highlighted Easton’s compact, walkable core, a layout that predates the automobile and centers on the city’s historic Centre Square. The organization pointed to attractions within easy reach of downtown, including the Karl Stirner Arts Trail, the Easton Public Market, Scott Park at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh rivers, the Crayola Experience and the private Pomfret Club.
Access to open space was a recurring theme. Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone said nearly every property in the city sits close to a trail or protected green space.
A historic, pedestrian-friendly downtown anchored by Centre Square
The Karl Stirner Arts Trail and riverfront parkland
The Easton Public Market and the Crayola Experience as downtown draws
AARP’s 2026 list of 10 great, affordable places to grow older. Easton was the only Pennsylvania community named.
The Affordability Case
Cost was central to Easton’s selection. According to reporting on the AARP recognition, much of the housing near downtown consists of century-old row homes and twinplexes with two or three bedrooms, often under 2,000 square feet, that sell for $200,000 or less. Surrounding neighborhoods offer larger homes on bigger lots starting around $250,000, and new studio apartments in the heart of town rent for as little as $1,550.
Pennsylvania’s tax treatment of retirees adds to the appeal. Unlike neighboring New Jersey, most retirement income in Pennsylvania is not taxed, a meaningful difference for older residents living on fixed incomes. For retirees weighing where to settle in the tri-state region, that distinction can translate into thousands of dollars a year, and it is one reason Easton’s position just across the Delaware River from New Jersey stands out.
The housing stock itself reflects the city’s age. Easton’s downtown grew up around walkable blocks of attached and semi-detached homes, the kind of dense, mixed housing that tends to remain more affordable than sprawling single-family subdivisions. For older adults, smaller footprints near shops and services can also mean less maintenance and less reliance on a car.
Location and Climate
AARP also pointed to Easton’s location at the eastern edge of the Lehigh Valley, with relatively short trips to both Philadelphia and New York City. That positioning lets retirees stay connected to big-city amenities, major hospitals, airports, museums and family, while living in a smaller, lower-cost community. The organization noted Easton averages 116 days of what it described as “perfect weather” each year, a figure meant to capture the share of days with comfortable temperatures and little precipitation.
Local Reaction
City officials welcomed the national attention. Pintabone said he was surprised by the recognition but felt the city’s comfortable, safe atmosphere makes it a good fit for residents of all ages, citing its small independent restaurants, open space and trail network.
He also tied the honor to an ongoing concern at City Hall. “Affordability is at the forefront of my mind, and something that I’m always talking about to elected officials throughout the area,” Pintabone said, framing the work of keeping Easton affordable for families and seniors as an active priority rather than a settled question.
What the Recognition Signals
For Easton, the AARP nod is the latest marker of a downtown revival that has unfolded over the past decade, with the Public Market, arts trail and riverfront investments reshaping the city’s appeal. Being singled out as Pennsylvania’s lone entry, and one of only two in the Northeast, positions Easton as a national example of how a small, historic city can stay accessible to older adults even as housing costs climb across much of the region.
Easton and AARP’s 2026 List at a Glance
Easton is the only Pennsylvania community on AARP’s 2026 “10 Great, and Affordable, Places for Older People to Live” list, and one of two in the Northeast.
The city earned an AARP Livability Index score of 64.
AARP screened for communities scoring above 50 with average monthly housing costs under $1,500.
Many downtown-area row homes and twinplexes sell for $200,000 or less; new studio apartments rent from about $1,550.
Most retirement income is not taxed in Pennsylvania, unlike in neighboring New Jersey.
AARP cited Easton’s walkable downtown, trails, parks and access to Philadelphia and New York.
The other nine communities include Bloomington-Normal, Ill.; Savannah, Ga.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Montpelier, Vt.
