I've lived in Lancaster and Philly (which is where I am currently). I adore both. Lancaster is an amazing small city (feels more like a big town) with beautiful buildings, artsy feel, unparalleled food market, and proximity to parks. I'd still be living there if there were enough job prospects for me (I do something relatively niche so don't let that deter you). That being said, I'm incredibly happy in Philly as well, and my partner and I bought a home here so we're settling in for the long haul. The greater Philly area has a lot to offer as far as variability depending on what you're looking for- you can obviously have a very urban feel if that's what you're after by living closer to center city, but there are some amazing suburbs with easy access downtown too if you want the best of both worlds. We absolutely love our neighborhood. We don't have kids yet though, so I can't give you too much advice there. Some of the public schools in Philly are top notch, and there's many charter and private options, if you prefer that and can afford it.