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In the workplace, encountering a colleague who consistently shirks responsibilities can be frustrating. If you reside in one of these Pennsylvania towns, you might find yourself reflecting on those tendencies.
This isn’t meant to be unkind; rather, we recognize that a laid-back attitude can permeate the local culture, affecting workplace dynamics. Nobody enjoys collaborating with those who lack motivation.
To shed light on this topic, we dedicated a late-night session to pinpoint the Pennsylvania towns where residents may be inclined to relax rather than engage in a busy workday. Utilizing the most recent American Community Survey data, we assessed various criteria that could indicate a more relaxed lifestyle in each city.
After analyzing the data, we compiled the list of the “Most Laid-Back Towns in Pennsylvania” based on our findings:
Continue reading to find out where the most relaxed individuals reside, or skip ahead to see how your town ranks.
As an interesting note, Franklin Park is recognized as the hardest-working area in Pennsylvania.
How We Identified the Most Laid-Back Towns in Pennsylvania
At Zippia, we prioritize data-driven insights to tackle difficult questions. Some may even label us the most diligent data analysts around.
In this instance, we turned to the latest version of the American Community Survey for insights. The Census Bureau has recently unveiled updated data, allowing us to conduct this analysis with fresh figures.
After sifting through numerous criteria, we selected the following indicators to identify the laid-back towns in Pennsylvania:
- Lowest average hours worked
- Shortest commute times
- Fewest workers per household (labor force divided by number of households)
- Highest unemployment rates
- Fewest adults with a college degree
Our rationale was straightforward: towns where few residents pursue higher education, work minimal hours, and have limited workforce participation likely reflect a more relaxed lifestyle.
We ranked each of the 196 towns in Pennsylvania with populations over 5,000 based on these criteria, with 1 being the “most laid-back.”
After averaging the rankings, we declared the place with the lowest score the “Most Laid-Back Town in Pennsylvania.” Unsurprisingly, Johnstown topped the list.
Read the detailed chart below to discover more about why each town received its ranking.
1. Johnstown
Population: 20,576 College Educated: 10.3%
Unemployment Rate: 15.3%
2. Uniontown
Population: 10,203 College Educated: 13.7%
Unemployment Rate: 14.0%
3. Sunbury
Population: 9,817 College Educated: 8.9%
Unemployment Rate: 12.3%
4. Bradford
Population: 8,665 College Educated: 16.3%
Unemployment Rate: 13.8%
5. Titusville
Population: 5,479 College Educated: 18.4%
Unemployment Rate: 17.0%
6. Shenandoah
Population: 5,002 College Educated: 5.5%
Unemployment Rate: 18.6%
7. Sharon
Population: 13,845 College Educated: 16.8%
Unemployment Rate: 11.6%
8. Lewi
Population: 8,341 College Educated: 13.2%
Unemployment Rate: 11.5%
9. Carbondale
Population: 8,843 College Educated: 14.5%
Unemployment Rate: 14.7%
10. New Castle
Population: 22,883 College Educated: 14.7%
Unemployment Rate: 11.3%
Relaxing Your Way Down the List
As mentioned earlier, identifying the most laid-back towns in Pennsylvania can often feel subjective. However, this analysis accurately reflects towns where residents work less, pursue education infrequently, and exhibit a reluctance to engage in longer hours.
Comprehensive List of the Most Laid-Back Towns in Pennsylvania
| City | Rank |
|---|---|
| Johnstown | 1 |
| Uniontown | 2 |
| Sunbury | 3 |
| Bradford | 4 |
| Titusville | 5 |
| Shenandoah | 6 |
| Sharon | 7 |
| Lewi | 8 |
| Carbondale | 9 |
| New Castle | 10 |
Author
Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.
