9 Most Comfortable Poconos Towns for Seniors in 2025
Retirement deserves better than a dull place with poor amenities and no natural beauty. With its hilly landscapes and rustic scenery, the Poconos is a region you will enjoy waking up to every morning. There's always a lake to swim in, a river to paddle, quiet forest trails to explore, and sparkling waterfalls to admire. New York City is within arm's reach, as are other big cities like Philadelphia and Allentown. This means easy access to various kinds of amenities and cultural attractions. For context, the statewide median listing price stands near $325,000, giving retirees a benchmark when comparing housing affordability across the Poconos. For the best quality of life, however, the following are the nine most comfortable towns in the Poconos for seniors in 2025.
Honesdale
You can't go wrong with Honesdale, especially if you're looking for a town with a rich sense of community. Folks here are warm and friendly, meaning you will feel at home and enjoy a great support system. Local museums that preserve pieces of the area's heritage sit side by side with well-stocked markets that supply fresh produce, as well as centrally located eateries for a spontaneous midweek brunch, and several drinking holes to end the day on a light note. Water lovers are particularly in for a real treat, especially with Wallenpaupack, Lackawaxen, and the Upper Delaware rivers meandering around.
Meanwhile, Central Park is a fantastic spot to relax and people-watch, as well as to enjoy the free and popular Roots and Rhythm Music Festival, which typically electrifies the town every third Saturday of June. With a median home listing price of $350,000 and its convenient proximity to Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale often exceeds the expectations of empty-nesters.
Palmerton
Palmerton sits in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains, offering a serene escape into nature's embrace. Known for its zinc smelting legacy, Palmerton has transformed itself into a tranquil haven with soothing scenes and a relaxing atmosphere. There's the Blue Mountain Resort, a year-round favourite with outdoor enthusiasts. In winter, it becomes a snowy haven where skiers of all levels enjoy pristine slopes, or a vibrant summer destination with mountain biking trails, the thrill of disc golf, and the Summit Aerial Park. The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor takes outdoor beauty to an even higher level.
There's the gentle flow of the Lehigh River and a downtown area where the echoes of the past resonate through well-preserved architecture. At the Palmerton Area Heritage Center, empty nesters can occasionally delve into the town's storied past through engaging exhibits and artifacts. Beyond the town's borders, Palmerton serves as the perfect gateway to the wider Pocono Mountains region. Beltzville State Park is also a gem, especially with its inviting lake and sandy beach. The median listing home price in Palmerton was $235,000 in September 2025, which is significantly lower than the statewide median of $320,000. St. Luke's Health Center, Palmerton, provides area residents with multiple primary and specialty healthcare.
Dingmans Ferry
The area around Dingmans Ferry provides ready access to one of the most remarkable water wonders on the continent. The 80-foot Silverthread Falls plunges gracefully into a cool ravine, offering a serene backdrop for a quiet afternoon. Dingmans Ferry is a small but peaceful town, with Milford just 10 minutes away. It’s hard to imagine a better retirement spot than beside the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, an outdoor paradise with sparkling cascades and 150 miles of trails along clear streams, ridges, and craggy mountains.
Stokes State Forest offers an additional layer of outdoor recreational opportunities, while Dingmans Medical Center ensures any pesky pathogen does not weigh you down. Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC) is the education partner of the National Park Service in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Its programs target informal learning groups, families, adult learners, professionals, and the general public. The median listing home price in Dingmans Ferry is $277,400, way better than the statewide median.
Jim Thorpe
Nicknamed the "Switzerland of America,” Jim Thorpe is a storybook town with therapeutic scenery. It offers both the charms of a European village tucked away in nature and the thrills of a mountain sports destination. It’s often regarded as one of the Poconos’ true gems. There's the frothing waters of the Lehigh River, Lehigh Gorge State Park (and its network of beautiful trails), and the nearby St. Luke’s Carbon Campus. This solid healthcare facility accepts Medicare patients.
You can occasionally kill time at the Asa Packer Mansion Museum, a handsomely preserved mansion with original furniture and woodwork, or drift into bliss at Beltzville State Park, which offers a sliver of white sand and over 10 miles of hiking trails. The median listing home price in Jim Thorpe is a comfortable $331,000, within a reasonable range of the state median.
Plains
Plains is a neat and comfortable community with beautiful mountain backdrops and an environment drenched in charm and tranquility. On one side of town, you’ll find peaceful, centuries-old farms, and on the other, one of the largest economic districts in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Friendly residential neighborhoods occupy the intervening space. Once in a while, you can visit Mohegan Pennsylvania, a nearby casino resort with a racetrack, which offers casual entertainment. It offers an impressive variety of slots and table games, as well as a comedy club to ease life's tensions.
Meanwhile, The Woodlands Inn & Resort is a popular spot for live music and dancing, while Schiff's Marketplace caters to almost all your shopping needs. There's the Commonwealth Health Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, Northeastern Pennsylvania's largest community hospital, with over 360 beds. The best part is that Plains is temptingly pocket-friendly, especially with a median listing price of just $210,000.
Bushkill
Bushkill’s waterfalls attract outdoor lovers from across Pennsylvania. But for a retiree in the area, these water wonders are accessible on a whim. Bushkill Falls, a heart-gripping water wonder billed as the "Niagara of Pennsylvania," is a series of several waterfalls where nature showcases one of its most impressive episodes. You will enjoy exploring the trails and the bridges around the area, and the many fresh-air activities at almost every turn.
There's the phenomenal Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, arguably the most beautiful attraction in the state, and the nearby Pocono Hills Golf Course, a cool place to tee away a lazy afternoon. Homes in Bushkill fetch a median listing price of $299,000, slightly below the statewide median of $320,000. Relevant amenities in the area include Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono, just southwest of Bushkill, and the Bushkill Center for Active Adults, which promotes social engagement and improves the overall well-being of older adults in the Pike County area.
Tobyhanna
Tobyhanna is a major hit with retirees, mainly because it provides doorstep access to the awe-inspiring Tobyhanna State Park. Think of a place where you can often go pedaling on beautiful trails, floating on a shimmering lake, snowshoeing in the holiday season, or posing to capture those quintessential family moments. Avid anglers will appreciate that Tobyhanna Lake is stocked with trout each season.
There's the Tobyhanna Army Depot, a major U.S. Department of Defense facility and the area's biggest employer. It’s home to the Department of Defense’s largest full-service electronics maintenance center. Stillwater Lake offers an additional layer of outdoor recreational opportunities. As for healthcare, Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono is a short drive away in East Stroudsburg. The median listing home price in Tobyhanna is $348,000, a price point that is within a reasonable range of the state median.
Bangor
Bangor is a small neighborly town in the Poconos known to have been the traditional center of commerce in the Slate Belt region of Pennsylvania’s Northampton County. It is named for its sister city in Bangor, Wales. The area around Bangor has slate quarries that produce high-quality slate for roofing tiles and school blackboards. Due to its settlement by immigrants from various European countries, Bangor boasts a rich history of cultural diversity.
On a random day, you may find karaoke, open mic, and local bands performing at the eateries. From canoeing down the Delaware River to fishing at Minsi Lake or hiking the Delaware Water Gap, Bangor’s outdoor scene is exceptional. Houses in the area fetch a median listing price of $265,000, a pocket-friendly price point that includes proximity to the highly fancied Lehigh Valley Hospital - Pocono. Keep in mind that Allentown, Pennsylvania’s third-largest city by population, is just 30 minutes away.
Tannersville
Tannersville is a small, laid-back town in Monroe County that appears fine-tuned for retirees. It has amenities, businesses that stock day-to-day necessities, and several outdoor recreational opportunities. St Luke's Hospital-Monroe Campus is a short drive away in Stroudsburg and has a long tradition of providing decent medical services to area residents. You are also at the doorstep of Camelback Mountain, the largest ski area in the Poconos, and one of the largest in the state. For your groceries and other shopping needs, Pocono Premium Outlets has over 100 designer and name-brand outlet stores. You’ll likely find everything you need for your kitchen or wardrobe.
Outdoor pleasure spots include venues like Rail Gap Pocono Creek Nature Preserve, which features beautiful trails for exercise, and Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve, a 1,000-acre space home to some of the continent's most stunning native orchids. The median listing home price in Tannersville is $365K, slightly above the state median of $320,000. Given what the town offers, the price point is appealing for retirees.
Comfortable Living Amid the Beauty of the Poconos
While the Poconos’ natural beauty is irresistible, comfort and essential amenities matter most. Don’t overlook the essentials when preparing to leave working life behind. For a comfortable retirement, the bare minimum is access to a decent hospital with specialty care services. Of course, other features will come into play, including shopping venues and recreational opportunities. Fortunately, the Poconos is dotted with several spots, some of which offer comfortable retirement at affordable price points.
