Bolthole Index

Bolthole Index · Pennsylvania

Best Places to Live in Pennsylvania

Every Pennsylvania county scored on the Bolthole Index for seclusion, self-sufficiency, administrative boringness, durability, property autonomy, and carry cost. McKean County leads at 84/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks #9 for homesteading and #6 for off-grid living.

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Counties by Index Score

    Off-grid & homestead laws in Pennsylvania

    How Pennsylvania treats the things that matter for living off-grid or homesteading. State law also feeds each county’s admin, autonomy, and carry factors; rules often vary by county.

    General guidance, not legal advice. Off-grid, building, and land-use rules are often set at the county level and change often. Verify with your county and state before acting. Data reviewed 2026-06-26.

    All 67 Pennsylvania counties, ranked

    1. 1McKean County84
    2. 2Clearfield County82
    3. 3Jefferson County81
    4. 4Clinton County81
    5. 5Venango County81
    6. 6Tioga County80
    7. 7Potter County80
    8. 8Juniata County80
    9. 9Perry County79
    10. 10Elk County78
    11. 11Fulton County77
    12. 12Wayne County77
    13. 13Centre County76
    14. 14Cameron County76
    15. 15Mifflin County76
    16. 16Wyoming County76
    17. 17Greene County75
    18. 18Bradford County75
    19. 19Sullivan County75
    20. 20Clarion County74
    21. 21Somerset County74
    22. 22Warren County74
    23. 23Cambria County74
    24. 24Forest County72
    25. 25Crawford County72
    26. 26Bedford County71
    27. 27Columbia County70
    28. 28Lycoming County69
    29. 29Huntingdon County68
    30. 30Indiana County68
    31. 31Snyder County67
    32. 32Franklin County67
    33. 33Westmoreland County66
    34. 34Pike County66
    35. 35Armstrong County66
    36. 36Dauphin County66
    37. 37Blair County66
    38. 38Erie County66
    39. 39Susquehanna County65
    40. 40Butler County65
    41. 41Washington County64
    42. 42Fayette County64
    43. 43Mercer County63
    44. 44Union County62
    45. 45Northumberland County61
    46. 46Montour County59
    47. 47Schuylkill County59
    48. 48Lackawanna County58
    49. 49Cumberland County57
    50. 50Lawrence County55
    51. 51Monroe County55
    52. 52Carbon County53
    53. 53Luzerne County53
    54. 54Adams County52
    55. 55Beaver County51
    56. 56Allegheny County51
    57. 57Lehigh County47
    58. 58Berks County46
    59. 59Lebanon County46
    60. 60Northampton County46
    61. 61York County45
    62. 62Chester County42
    63. 63Bucks County40
    64. 64Lancaster County40
    65. 65Montgomery County37
    66. 66Delaware County34
    67. 67Philadelphia County28

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