A personal finance company has examined the effectiveness of Social Security benefits in every county in Pennsylvania, determining how they measure up to the cost of living. Indiana County ranks well into the bottom half among the 67 counties.
SmartAsset used the average Social Security income per county, and compared it to the cost of living in each county, ranking Indiana County 52nd. Two of our neighboring counties also fared poorly. Jefferson County is ranked 53rd and Clearfield County is 40th. On the other hand, Westmoreland County ranked 9th, Armstrong 17th, and Cambria County is 22nd.
Indiana County Social Security recipients average $18,174 per year in benefits. The cost of living in Indiana County measures $19,281, creating a deficit of $1,107.
The top five counties are Wayne, Sullivan, Elk, Lawrence, and Butler. Philadelphia ranks dead last, with a deficit of nearly $7,000 between benefits and expenses.
