Because population lists are outdated even before they can be published, the following estimates have been rounded for easier comparison.
1. Philadelphia — Population: ~1,517,000
Historic and cultural hub, home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.
2. Pittsburgh — Population: ~304,000
Steel City legacy, rivers and bridges, now a tech and healthcare hub.
3. Allentown — Population: ~124,000
Lehigh Valley’s largest city with a revitalized downtown.
4. Reading — Population: ~95,000
Historic industrial city and regional retail and cultural center.
5. Erie — Population: ~92,000
Lake Erie port city known for its waterfront and maritime heritage.
6. Upper Darby — Population: ~85,000
Diverse Philadelphia-area suburb with vibrant neighborhoods.
7. Bethlehem — Population: ~80,000
Former steel town now famous for arts festivals and cultural sites.
8. Scranton — Population: ~76,000
Coal-mining city, known as the setting for ‘The Office’.
9. Lower Merion — Population: ~64,000
Affluent suburban township outside Philadelphia.
10. Bensalem — Population: ~63,000
Suburban township with growing residential and commercial areas.
11. Abington — Population: ~58,000
Philadelphia-area township known for parks and strong community life.
12. Lancaster — Population: ~57,700
Historic city surrounded by Pennsylvania Dutch Country.
13. Levittown — Population: ~51,700
Post-war suburban community in Bucks County.
14. Harrisburg — Population: ~50,400
Pennsylvania’s capital, located along the Susquehanna River.
15. Altoona — Population: ~44,600
Railroad heritage city in the Allegheny Mountains.
16. Wilkes-Barre — Population: ~38,200
Northeastern Pennsylvania city on the Susquehanna River.
17. York — Population: ~37,800
Industrial city known for colonial history and manufacturing.
18. State College — Population: ~37,100
Home of Penn State University and a vibrant college town.
19. Chester — Population: ~34,200
Historic Delaware River city with sports and industry roots.
20. Norristown — Population: ~34,100
County seat of Montgomery County, west of Philadelphia.
21. Mount Lebanon — Population: ~33,800
Pittsburgh suburb with great schools and walkable neighborhoods.
22. Bethel Park — Population: ~33,300
Suburban Pittsburgh community with family-friendly neighborhoods.
23. Radnor — Population: ~31,900
Upscale Main Line township with historic estates.
24. Hazleton — Population: ~29,900
Coal-region city with a growing Latino community.
25. Shaler Township — Population: ~28,900
Residential community north of Pittsburgh.
26. Plum — Population: ~28,300
Large residential suburb northeast of Pittsburgh.
27. Easton — Population: ~28,100
Lehigh Valley city known for the Crayola Experience.
28. Monroeville — Population: ~27,900
Major retail and commercial suburb of Pittsburgh.
29. Drexel Hill — Population: ~27,600
Residential Delaware County suburb of Philadelphia.
30. Whitehall — Population: ~26,500
Shopping and residential area near Allentown.
31. Springfield — Population: ~25,400
Family-oriented township near Philadelphia.
32. King of Prussia — Population: ~22,700
Known for its massive shopping mall and business parks.
33. New Castle — Population: ~21,800
Historic city near the Ohio border with Italian heritage.
34. Carlisle — Population: ~20,200
Historic town home to Dickinson College and U.S. Army War College.
35. Phoenixville — Population: ~20,100
Revitalized river town with a thriving arts scene.
36. West Mifflin — Population: ~19,100
Home to Kennywood amusement park near Pittsburgh.
37. West Chester — Population: ~19,000
Charming county seat with colonial architecture.
38. McKeesport — Population: ~19,000
Former steel-producing hub south of Pittsburgh.
39. Lansdale — Population: ~18,900
Suburban Montgomery County borough with rail links.
40. Hermitage — Population: ~16,700
Commercial hub in the Shenango Valley.
41. Hanover — Population: ~16,400
Manufacturing town famous for snack-food production.
42. Elizabethtown — Population: ~12,600
Home to Elizabethtown College and chocolate heritage.
43. Butler — Population: ~13,300
Historic manufacturing town north of Pittsburgh.
44. Coatesville — Population: ~13,200
Historic steel town in Chester County.
45. St. Marys — Population: ~12,600
Founded by Bavarian Catholics; known for Straub Brewery.
46. Meadville — Population: ~12,500
Small city known for Allegheny College.
47. Wyomissing — Population: ~11,200
Suburban Reading borough with shopping and offices.
48. Canonsburg — Population: ~9,200
Known for its Fourth of July parade and small-town charm.
49. Aliquippa — Population: ~9,000
Former steel town on the Ohio River.
50. Franklin — Population: ~6,200
Charming downtown along the Allegheny River.
The above is subject to change.
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