Fredericksburg offers rural charm and commuter convenience
Fredericksburg is a rural bedroom community that anchors Bethel Township near the base of the Appalachian Mountains. With a population of approximately 1,500 residents, this Lebanon County hamlet offers small-town living and bucolic countryside surroundings full of farmlands and maple tree thickets. Even with Fredericksburg’s rural location, residents are still convenient to regional highways and nearby urban hubs. “This area is pretty centrally located as far as highway access is concerned, being situated near Interstate 78 and Route 22. Fredericksburg also sits right at the midway point between Allentown and Harrisburg,” says Maria Tice-Ault, a local real estate agent with Howard Hanna Krall Real Estate. Tice-Ault is a longtime resident of the neighboring Jonestown Borough: “You could probably throw a stone from Jonestown and watch it land in Fredericksburg – that’s how close the two are,” she says. Tice-Ault notes that just north of the communities is Fort Indiantown Gap, a major employment hub and home to the National Guard Training Center complex and warehouses for notable manufacturers like Mattel. Fredericksburg has an overall CAP Index Crime Score of 2 out of 10, lower than the national average score of 4.
Historic homes and new builds on lots of varying size
Residential development began in Fredericksburg around the start of the 19th century and has continued steadily ever since. While historic homes are concentrated along the grid-patterned streets at the heart of the community, newer builds dot the outskirts of town and are occasionally part of subdivisions like Oak Ridge Estates. The median lot size in Fredericksburg is just under one full acre; the East Main Street area has the highest density of homes, which tend to get more and more spacious the farther they are from the town’s center. Common housing styles throughout this area include traditional-style homes, contemporary Craftsman builds, rural farmhouses and a mix of ranch-style dwellings and bungalows. While most properties are single-family homes, Fredericksburg has a handful of townhouses and other multifamily builds with units that often cost less than $180,000. Potential buyers can expect a price range from approximately $200,000 to $600,000 for single-family homes. Generally, the more acreage a property has, the more expensive it gets. However, with an average value of just under $300,000, homes here are more affordable relative to the greater Lebanon Metro Area and state levels: “As far as cost of living and housing, you’re going to get a lot more space for your money here than in many of the other counties around us,” Tice-Ault says.
Students attend Northern Lebanon schools
Students residing in Fredericksburg are served by the Northern Lebanon School District, which receives an overall C rating from Niche. In 2023, the district merged its four existing primary schools into one new facility, Northern Lebanon Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through sixth-grade students and has yet to be rated by Niche. Grades seven through 12 are served by Northern Lebanon Secondary School, a B-minus-rated institution that features an on-site agricultural center overseen by a chapter of the Future Farmers of America.
Bethel Township maintains community parks
Outdoor recreation is abundant throughout northern Lebanon County. “People really like Fredericksburg because it’s right next to the mountains, and the Appalachian Trail runs through that area,” Tice-Ault says. “You’ll also see people going to Swatara Creek, which runs down from the mountain, for things like rafting and kayaking in the summer.” Bethel Township also maintains community parks. The Fredericksburg Lions Park and Pool is a recreational hub with amenities like baseball fields for the Northern Lebanon Little League, a public outdoor pool and playground equipment.
Family-owned businesses and farm stands in Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg offers a mix of local dining and retail options. Restaurants such as Esther’s, known for popular breakfast dishes, and the Fredericksburg Eagle Hotel Tavern serve casual American fare. Next door to Esther’s is Redner’s Warehouse Markets, which sells groceries and basic household goods, and the Redner’s Quick Shoppe, a convenience store and gas station. Fredericksburg is also home to Bell and Evans, a family-owned supermarket known for its chicken products. Many local farms surrounding the area operate seasonal farm stands and sell fresh produce.
Access to Interstates 78, 81 and U.S. Route 22
Two major thoroughfares frame Fredericksburg: Interstate 78 to the north, and U.S. Route 22, also called William Penn Highway, to the south. I-78 connects to Interstate 81, which runs in a northern direction through the mountains. The Harrisburg International Airport is approximately 30 miles west. The nearest 24-hour emergency room is located 8 miles south in Lebanon at the WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital.
