10 things you should know before moving to Pennsylvania

Published: December 01, 2021

Thinking of moving to a new state? It is always a good idea to visit for a few days or a week in a state you’re thinking of moving to before you make the commitment. Here are 10 things you should know before moving to the great state of Pennsylvania:

1. Pennsylvania is technically not a state, but a commonwealth.
2. Cities operate under a mayor and local government. There are 59 cities in Pennsylvania. When Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Massachusetts became part of the United States, they merely took the old form of state in their title. Today, Commonwealth also means a political unit having local autonomy but voluntarily united with the United States.
3. You have to pay local wage and service taxes. Berkheimer is one of the local PA Tax Collectors who will file the Local Earned Income Tax Return.
4. Pennsylvania has a great range of dialects. http://www.slate.com/articles/life/the_good_word/2014/04/pennsylvania_dialects_from_pittsburghese_to_philadelphia_speak_the_keystone.html

5. Potholes are inescapable. The entire commonwealth suffers from pothole problems.

6. Highways don’t always go the direction posted.

7. Be prepared for a lot of snow. Buy a snow shovel and some snow boots!

8. You’ll probably hear nuclear plant sirens. Pennsylvania ranks second in the nation, after Illinois, in nuclear power generating capacity. Pennsylvania’s five nuclear power plants provided 36% of the state’s electricity net generation in 2019.

9. Pennsylvania is close to dozens of other destinations. The state of Pennsylvania is bordered by six states: West Virginia, Delaware, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland. Pennsylvania is also bordered by Lake Erie and the Canadian province of Ontario.

10. Not everything is taxed. Major items exempt from the tax include food (not ready-to-eat); candy and gum; most clothing; textbooks; computer services; pharmaceutical drugs; sales for resale; and residential heating fuels such as oil, electricity, gas, coal and firewood.

https://www.pennlive.com/life/2017/03/know_before_you_move_to_pa.html

If you’re ready to move to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, then UNITS® has your back for all your moving and storage needs. Relocation in every case can be difficult to accomplish, although it is very possible to make it a positive move. Remember, if you are in need of support, we are here to help with your big move.