9 Best Poconos Towns For Retirees

Any empty-nester looking for an outdoor-themed spot to enjoy the sunset years will effortlessly fall in love with the Poconos in the state of Pennsylvania. The Poconos, with all its sparkling lakes and lush forests, provides epic-level outdoor recreational opportunities. Just as appealing is the region's proximity to big cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Newark. This means you can float down the Delaware River in the morning and then watch a mood-lifting matinee in downtown Manhattan later that day. But which are the best spots? Starting with Dingman Ferry, the following are the nine best towns in the Poconos for retirees. All the highlighted locations are fairly affordable, with the median price of houses often below the statewide equivalent.

Dingmans Ferry

Like most locations in the Poconos, Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, is a small, peaceful community where life mostly revolves around nature and the outdoors. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a huge draw here and offers year-round recreation, including hiking, paddling, fishing, and hunting. It features 40 miles of the Delaware River, which, when taken in its entirety, is the longest free-flowing river east of the Mississippi. There is Stokes State Forest as well, a peaceful escape with several unique trails to occasionally explore.

With downtown New York just a couple of hours away (depending on traffic) and Milford just 15 minutes down the road, a retiree here is never far from all kinds of amenities, including hospitals and shopping venues. Still, you're just minutes from Dingmans Medical Center — a local outpatient clinic offering primary and specialty care — and within easy reach of the full-service Bon Secours Community Hospital in Port Jervis. In July 2025, the median listing home price in Dingmans Ferry was $299,000, significantly below the statewide median of $324,995.

Plains

Plains is a safe and gorgeous place to live and retire. You will enjoy a tranquil atmosphere where you open your windows to beautiful mountain backdrops. Aside from that, Plains is relatively affordable. The median listing home price in Plains is around $200,000. There are nearby places for groceries (Schiff's Marketplace), entertainment (Mohegan Pennsylvania and its on-site casino), and outdoor recreational activities (Susquehanna River). Moreover, Plains Township Municipal Park is among the best parks in the Wilkes-Barre area and can be a fantastic spot to take grandchildren.

If you want an epic-level outdoor experience, Seven Tubs Recreation Area - Pinchot Forest District offers beautiful waterfalls, scenic views, and lots of well-maintained hiking trails suitable for different skill levels. On healthcare access, Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital is Northeastern Pennsylvania's largest community hospital with 369 beds and a medical staff of more than 400 physicians. It recently bagged a Performance Achievement Award from the American College of Cardiology.

Bushkill

Billed as the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," Bushkill Falls is among the state's most sought-after attractions. Retiring in Bushkill means you will have this spellbinding outdoor wonder right in your backyard. You also have the nationally famous Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, a vast, swoon-worthy preserve featuring hiking trails, campsites, and awesome water sports on the Delaware River. If you are into swinging drivers and enjoying fun-filled moments, Pocono Hills Golf Course is around the corner.

In July 2025, the median listing home price in Bushkill was $297,000, an affordable price point, especially compared with what prevails in the state. There is the Bushkill Center for Active Adults, which provides a range of services and the opportunity to link up with fellow empty nesters, and Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono, which is just southwest of Bushkill.

Palmerton

More than acting as a base for indulging in all kinds of outdoor recreational opportunities, Palmerton boasts a quaint downtown with a decent number of local businesses, including some incredibly inviting restaurants for an occasional brunch. Joe's Place, for instance, is an old-school spot with vintage vibes that is known for whipping up delicious cheese steak.

With the nearby Appalachian Trail, where you can enjoy epic hiking, and Beltzville State Park, where you can take a refreshing dip and sip peaceful views, one is just a mood away from outdoor fun. Lehigh Gap Nature Center is even closer and offers a sensory garden and opportunities for birdwatching. With a median listing home price in the low- to mid-$200,000s, Palmerton remains relatively affordable. Keep in mind that you are at the doorstep of the St. Luke's Health Center - Palmerton, while St. Luke's Carbon Campus, which is down the road in Lehighton, has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval for Primary Stroke Center Certification.

Tobyhanna

The small, nature-themed town of Tobyhanna is another contender for the best place in the Poconos to retire. With a house listing price of about $340,000, which is within a reasonable range of the statewide median, you have fantastic access to places like the Tobyhanna State Park, a tranquil space with woods and wildlife. Tobyhanna Lake, one of the park's most patronized attractions, is stocked fresh with trout every year.

Once in a while, you can sit down to a spontaneous dinner at the Vintage Tavern, a renovated bar that serves as an eating and meeting place. Several lakes dot the surrounding area, including Gouldsboro Lake, Lake Watawga, and Stillwater Lake, meaning opportunities for fishing, boating, and photography are in the dozens. On healthcare access, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono is nearby in East Stroudsburg.

Bangor

Bangor is just northeast of Allentown. It was once incredibly prosperous, and whiffs of its glory days still exist through a surprisingly urbane collection of downtown buildings and beautiful architecture. Slate mining is no longer a thing here, but that does not mean Bangor has lost its shine and sheen. Places like the Minsi Lake Wilderness Area, a fantastic spot for fishing and boating, are a short drive away.

To add to that, the Delaware Water Gap, an outdoor wonderland that offers numerous recreational activities, is about 12 miles away. You are also close to a nice section of the Appalachian Trail, a magical outdoor spot where you can experience some mind-renewing solitude. In July 2025, the median listing house price in Bangor was in the $300,000s. To cap it off, the highly rated Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono has previously bagged an A grade for hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group, a national watchdog organization.

Tannersville

With the highly rated St Luke's Hospital-Monroe Campus a blink away in Stroudsburg, and Camelback Mountain Resort, the largest ski area in the Poconos, also a short drive away, Tannersville has solid credentials as a retirement location. To add to that, you have access to the Pocono Premium Outlets, which feature over 100 designer and name-brand outlet stores, most of which stock way more than the basics that a retiree needs. There is Weis Markets, another fantastic shopping alternative, restaurants such as Smuggler's Cove, and cool outdoor venues such as the nearby Rail Gap Pocono Creek Nature Preserve, a hiking area with picturesque views of the surrounding landscapes.

Not to be outdone, Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve is a 1,000-acre space with some of North America's most beautiful Native orchids, while Big Pocono State Park is a rugged escape on the slopes of Camelback Mountain. In July 2025, the median listing home price in Tannersville varies, but seems to hover around $400,000. Although higher than the statewide median, few locations in the Poconos come close to the conveniences and comforts that Tannersville offers.

Honesdale

Honesdale is a small, calm community about 30 minutes east of Scranton. The town is mostly known as the birthplace of the American railroad, a tag it still carries as a badge of honor. Occasionally, a retiree can go to the well-kept Central Park to relax, people-watch, or enjoy the free Roots and Rhythm Music Festival, typically held in June. Keep in mind that this beautiful space was the impetus and setting for the song Winter Wonderland. Irving Cliff, a spellbinding outdoor attraction by itself, is visible from the park.

To add to that, you will enjoy floating adventures on the Lackawaxen River and moments of calm and clarity at Apple Grove Park, a quaint attraction just outside of town. Wayne Memorial Hospital, which first opened its doors in 1920, always strives to offer the highest quality in inpatient and outpatient care in more than 30 medical specialties. In July 2025, the median listing home price in Honesdale was in the mid-$300,000s.

Mount Pocono

If it is your first time in Mount Pocono, you will enjoy the experience of being surrounded by what feels like endless water parks, including the phenomenal Kalahari Indoor Waterpark, one of the nation’s best and largest indoor waterparks. Boasting waterslides of all thrill levels, a lazy river, and a wave zone, Kalahari is the largest indoor waterpark in Pennsylvania. Other outdoor pleasure spots that one can occasionally explore include Devil's Hole Trail, an out-and-back trail with beautiful woodlands and old historic ruins, and the Fieldstone Farm Trail Loop, a short but sweet hike on the banks of Tank Creek. For urgent medical attention, the highly rated St Luke's Hospital-Monroe Campus is a heartbeat away in Stroudsburg. The median listing home price in Mount Pocono was in the low $300,000s.

If you have an enduring infatuation for misty forest strolls, tranquil spaces with nothing but the noise of rustling leaves and the sound of chirping birds — or scintillating sunsets that slide down beautifully on glittering lakes — then you should work towards retiring in the Poconos. This pristine corner of Pennsylvania boasts some of America’s most heart-melting natural landscapes, the kind of beauty that gives ruddy cheeks and sparkling eyes. However, as with all retirement spots, the trick is to look for a place with ready access to a good hospital. If anything, you deserve to be comfortable because you have been at the grind for a long time.