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. Clearfield County leads at 85/100. Use the rankings to compare counties by score, factor strength, and local constraints.

Nationally, Pennsylvania ranks #10 for homesteading and #9 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. 1Clearfield County85
    2. 2Jefferson County83
    3. 3Venango County83
    4. 4Tioga County82
    5. 5Juniata County82
    6. 6Potter County81
    7. 7Elk County80
    8. 8Fulton County79
    9. 9Wayne County79
    10. 10McKean County78
    11. 11Centre County78
    12. 12Mifflin County78
    13. 13Greene County77
    14. 14Wyoming County77
    15. 15Bradford County77
    16. 16Sullivan County77
    17. 17Clarion County77
    18. 18Somerset County76
    19. 19Warren County76
    20. 20Cambria County76
    21. 21Forest County74
    22. 22Crawford County74
    23. 23Bedford County73
    24. 24Perry County73
    25. 25Clinton County73
    26. 26Columbia County72
    27. 27Huntingdon County71
    28. 28Lycoming County70
    29. 29Cameron County70
    30. 30Snyder County70
    31. 31Indiana County70
    32. 32Franklin County69
    33. 33Pike County69
    34. 34Westmoreland County68
    35. 35Armstrong County68
    36. 36Dauphin County68
    37. 37Blair County67
    38. 38Erie County67
    39. 39Susquehanna County67
    40. 40Butler County67
    41. 41Washington County66
    42. 42Fayette County66
    43. 43Mercer County65
    44. 44Union County64
    45. 45Northumberland County63
    46. 46Montour County62
    47. 47Schuylkill County61
    48. 48Lackawanna County60
    49. 49Cumberland County59
    50. 50Monroe County57
    51. 51Lawrence County57
    52. 52Carbon County55
    53. 53Luzerne County54
    54. 54Adams County54
    55. 55Beaver County53
    56. 56Allegheny County52
    57. 57Lehigh County49
    58. 58Berks County48
    59. 59Lebanon County48
    60. 60Northampton County47
    61. 61York County46
    62. 62Chester County43
    63. 63Lancaster County42
    64. 64Bucks County41
    65. 65Montgomery County39
    66. 66Delaware County35
    67. 67Philadelphia County29

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