Historic town of Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Image credit EQRoy via Shutterstock

10 Best Places To Call Home In The Poconos In 2025

Rising above Pennsylvania, the beautiful Pocono Mountains are surrounded by beautiful natural sights, such as the Lehigh River to the west and the Delaware River to the east. Consisting of Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon County, the Poconos are known as a popular destination for tourists but are equally in demand by prospective home owners. While the median sales price of a home in Pennsylvania is $325,000, you can find homes for sale beneath that price without sacrificing fantastic locations or fun activities to enjoy. The following communities boast homes selling under the state median. Yet, each features parks, golf courses, historical destinations, and even more, making these some of the best places in the Poconos to live in 2025.

Mount Pocono

Pennsylvania State Route 196 in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania State Route 196 in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. Image credit Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The aptly named Mount Pocono is, like many neighboring towns, an excellent location if you are hoping to enjoy the great outdoors. Residents enjoy good weather and access to plenty of places to head outside that are perfect for personal fitness. Nearby is the Kurmes Preserve. If you are hoping to move into an area where you can always have access to extensive outdoor areas to travel, then as you wander the preserve, you can enjoy hiking 400 acres of forests and streams. If you enjoy golf, it is a quick trip to the Pocono Manor Golf Course, available to anyone hoping to spend their day on the green.

Lakeside View in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.
Lakeside View in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania.

When it comes to quality of living, residents enjoy access to the local St. Luke's Health Center, which provides primary care and helps guarantee the well-being of those living in the area. Meanwhile, parents will welcome the sight of a number of schools that help children to develop into their best, such as the Commonwealth Charter Academy, which has previously been awarded for its innovative approach to education, in addition to receiving the Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence.

Henryville

Photo of northbound Pennsylvania Route 715 approaching its northern terminus at PA 191 in the Paradise Township, Pennsylvania village of Henryville.
Street through the Pennsylvania village of Henryville. Image credit Mr. Matté CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Henryville is a very small community that people primarily move to if they want to be away from city life. With the nearest schools about 20 minutes away and hospitals such as Lehigh Valley Hospital about the same distance in East Stroudsburg, living in Henryville puts you right in the middle of one of the most rural locations in the Poconos. Head north a few minutes and you will find yourself at Paradise Fishing Preserve, a destination for anyone hoping to spend a day fishing for trout and bass alongside attractive ponds in the Poconos. Fishing at the Preserve is a great way to take home a meal for your day, since the preserve will fillet the fish on-site.

Not far from there, you can find the Browns Hill Preserve, a Greenway with trails running between multiple public lands. Consistent with the rural nature of the area, many parts of the preserve have yet to be extensively mapped. Residents can also enjoy time along Paradise Creek, which runs through town.

Stroudsburg

Historic area of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Historic area of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. Image credit Here Now via Shutterstock

Like many of its neighbors, Stroudsburg is a great place to call home if you enjoy staying active. Residents enjoy easy access to the trails at Glen Run Nature Preserve or quiet time at nearby Gregory's Pond Park, making this place perfect for spending time outdoors. If you would prefer to beat the heat, then you may want to spend your day learning about the history of the region.

Lavender bushes in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
Lavender bushes in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

History lovers can indulge themselves at the nearby Antoine Dutot Museum and Gallery, which features artifacts and relics from the area's past. Various art exhibits and gallery shows are also on display throughout the year.

Palmerton

Blue Mountain Resort near Palmerton, Pennsylvania.
Blue Mountain Resort near Palmerton, Pennsylvania.

Palmerton is one of the smaller towns you might want to call home, but it might be perfect if you enjoy educational opportunities. The Lehigh Gap Nature Center is just minutes away and affords visitors a chance to get outdoors to learn about local wildlife. It is an easy way to learn about everything from bears to woodrats that call the area home. Nearby, the cozy Palmerton Historical Society and Heritage Center maintains historic destinations like the Little White Church, which recently celebrated 175 years of service. These sites are great for learning more about the town's history.

The Palmerton Park Gazebo, Palmerton, Pennsylvania.
The Palmerton Park Gazebo, Palmerton, Pennsylvania. Image credit Biz Pic Baby via Shutterstock

While there is plenty to enjoy, residents also have access to healthcare services provided by the local St. Luke's Health Center. Parents will not have to worry about sending their students far, with schools such as S.S. Palmer Elementary School and Palmerton Area High School providing education from K-12 grades. Palmerton Area High School just handed out student awards in June 2025, including the Andrew D. Behler Engineering Award, demonstrating the value it places on student success.

Lehighton

Beltzville State Park in Lehighton, Pennsylvania.
Beltzville State Park in Lehighton, Pennsylvania. Image credit Helen89 via Shutterstock

Another smaller community with plenty to offer is Lehighton. If you are making this your home, you will not lack food options, and there is always something fun to do both during the day and night. Residents in the area enjoy a median household income of approximately $62,000, with some of the largest employers being healthcare-related. Residents can visit places like Ihton Hospital or St. Luke's Health Center to address their health concerns. After work and for fun times with the family, you can head just outside of town to the Mahoning Drive-in Theater, a single-screen theater that hosts vintage films.

Lehighton, Pennsylvania, in winter.
Lehighton, Pennsylvania, in winter. Image credit Doug Kerr via Wikimedia Commons.

Or head minutes south for time at the Lizard Creek Campground, where you can rent a place to camp and enjoy hiking, swimming, and more. Lehighton allows residents to make a living while also enjoying family-friendly and affordable things to do.

Honesdale

Main Street with classic storefronts in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Main Street, Honesdale, Pennsylvania. Image credit Andrew F. Kazmierski via Shutterstock

Small town living does not mean boring living. Honesdale might be small, but residents have exciting things to look forward to every year. Parents may enjoy making Honesdale their home, since it is home to Honesdale High School, which boasts academic scores that are above the state average.

Zenas H. Russell Home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.
Zenas H. Russell Home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

However, there is more to life than just studying. Parents can also look to the nearby Wayne County Fairgrounds, which hosts the annual Wayne County Fair, which is packed with things to do, like watching a demolition derby or just enjoying a day full of carnival rides. And if you want a peaceful day out with the family, hop on the Stourbridge Line to enjoy a scenic day in a vintage railroad coach while riding through the Poconos.

Bushkill

The boardwalk through Bushkill Falls Canyon near Bushkill, Pennsylvania.
Bushkill Falls Canyon near Bushkill, Pennsylvania.

Bushkill is a stunning location in the Poconos surrounded by parks. Smaller parks like the W. Leroy Lewis Dog Park provide a casual time for the family to walk with a beloved pet.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area Park Headquarters in Bushkill, Pennsylvania.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreational Area Park Headquarters in Bushkill, Pennsylvania. Image credit EWY Media via Shutterstock

For great photo opportunities, residents who love the outdoors will want to head north to Bushkill Falls, a 100-foot waterfall surrounded by walking trails and places to fish. Finally, residents who enjoy spending time outdoors might want to head just minutes out of town to Valley View Group Campground, where you can pitch your tent before biking down the McDade Trail or taking a boat out onto the Delaware River. As seen by the many parks throughout the area, Bushkill is perfect if you prefer to make your home somewhere with plenty of outdoor spaces.

Hawley

A black bear visits the charming town of Hawley, Pennsylvania.
A black bear visits the charming town of Hawley, Pennsylvania.

Hawley is on the smaller side with around 1,200 residents, but it is a good place for anyone hoping to move their family somewhere where they can enjoy healthy living in the great outdoors. Nearby Delaware Hudson and Canal Park provides residents with plenty of places to picnic, walk the trails, or even go fishing. South of town, the Wallenpaupack Creek Trail invites residents to relax while walking alongside Lake Wallenpaupack. Residents in town can take advantage of this time to relax beside the lake shores.

Lake Wallenpaupack in Hawley, Pennsylvania.
Lake Wallenpaupack in Hawley, Pennsylvania.

If you want to get more active, though, you can pitch your tent next door at the Wilsonville Recreation Area before putting your boat out on the lake or enjoying the great outdoors. And while you may worry that a town like Hawley is too small, it is just 15 minutes away from its larger neighbor, Honesdale. There are plenty of small family medical practices in Hawley, but you are also just minutes away from the larger Wayne Memorial Hospital in Honesdale.

Jim Thorpe

Downtown Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania.
Downtown Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Image credit zimmytws via stock.adobe.com

This town is known as a destination for anyone who wants affordable rural living with a suburban feel. History lovers will particularly enjoy living here. A trip to the Old Jail Museum provides a window into the past and what life was like for inmates during the 19th century. Within walking distance, you will find the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, a Grand Italianate mansion appointed with Victorian furniture that hosts tours throughout the year.

Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, drenched in fall colors.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, is drenched in fall colors.

You can also treat yourself to scares at Jim Thorpe Ghosts Haunted Ghost Tours, which takes residents by trolley through this historic town. While on the topic of history, you might want to consider moving to Jim Thorpe if you have children and hope to get the best education. The Jim Thorpe Area High School has updated its facilities with cutting-edge technology and a media center, allowing students to practice their technical skills through both tablets and computers.

Tobyhanna

Beautiful nature surrounds Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.
Beautiful nature surrounds Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

If you want to live in a small community that is conveniently located and surrounded by diverse outdoor activities, then Tobyhanna might be a great place to live. Located at the juncture of Pennsylvania Route 611 and Interstate 380, Tobyhanna is well connected to the surrounding state and all that there is to offer. If you love the outdoors, then you will have easy access to Tobyhanna State Park. Located just minutes north of town, the park combines walking trails and picnic tables with fishing and boating.

Tobyhanna State Park, Pennsylvania.
Tobyhanna State Park, Pennsylvania.

However, you might prefer a relaxing day on the green. In that case, the Pocono Farms Golf Club always welcomes locals to enjoy the practice facility, take a swim in the Olympic-size pool, and enjoy time walking the beautiful grounds.

The Poconos Are Perfect Places For Home

The Poconos Mountains evoke a sense of grandeur and outdoor majesty, and there is plenty outdoors to do, from hiking in Glen Run Nature Preserve to fishing in Delaware Hudson and Canal Park. However, there is so much more to do for anyone moving here. Historic sites like Little White Church invite residents to remember the long history of the Poconos, while destinations like the Wayne County Fairgrounds draw family and friends together to make new memories. If you are looking for a new place to call home in 2025, then these towns in the Poconos might be right for you.

Share
  1. Home
  2. Places
  3. Cities
  4. 10 Best Places To Call Home In The Poconos In 2025

More in Places