On the southern shore of Lake Erie, Harborcreek is a suburban community where outdoor recreation is part of everyday life. While sandy beaches are popular spots for swimmers and paddle boaters, anglers head to the tributaries of Lake Erie in hopes of catching steelhead trout. In addition to its natural beauty, the town offers a central location between the attractions of Lake Erie Wine Country and the cultural hub of Downtown Erie. “Harborcreek is a lot more attractive for people who want a little bit more space and bang for their buck, but also want access to the amenities in Downtown Erie,” says Libby Remache, a Realtor with Howard Hanna Real Estate Services who lives in neighboring North East Township. “It’s becoming more of a hot spot, and we’re seeing a lot more people investing in the general area. There’s really something for everyone. Whether it's water recreation or the walking trails, there’s so many activities that you just have to go out there and experience.” The Harbor Creek School District also earns high ratings from Niche. “The public schools are great. Some of the best schools in our area are in Harborcreek, and there are just good neighborhoods that people want to raise their kids in,” says Jennifer Nelson, a Realtor and associate broker with Coldwell Banker Select.
Seemingly endless vineyards make up a large swath of Harborcreek's landscape.
Downtown Erie, just a few miles from Harborcreek, has a wide variety of attractions, restaurants, and stores.
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Harborcreek has new construction and lakefront properties
As development continues expanding beyond the city of Erie, Harborcreek features a mix of newer construction and established subdivisions. Cape Cod and ranch-style homes are common architectural styles, and more recent construction includes New Traditional houses in tidy subdivisions. “There’s also a little pocket of developments right along the lakefront that offer stunning views of Lake Erie and the sunsets,” Remache says. The median price of single-family homes is just under $275,000, significantly less than the national median. Houses farther west tend to have larger lots, and some properties sit on several acres of land. Homes sell after an average of 41 days on the market, faster than the national average of 45 days. Shoreline erosion may be a concern for residents with lakefront properties, and the Coastal Zone Management Program works to protect Lake Erie’s shoreline.
New Traditional homes line the streets of Harborcreek's premier subdivisions.
Lakefront developments in Harborcreek offer stunning views of Lake Erie.
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Shades Beach Park, steelhead trout and nature trails
Harborcreek takes advantage of its lakeside location with abundant green spaces. “Water recreation is big across the Erie area, but there are a lot of different options on the Harborcreek side,” Remache says. Local favorites include Shades Beach Park, which has a playground, picnic pavilions and a public boat launch. Its sandy beachfront is also a popular spot to watch the sunset. Several tributaries of Lake Erie wind through Harborcreek, and the whole region is a destination for steelhead anglers. “People come from all over for steelhead fishing. My father-in-law is always out there in crazy weather,” Nelson says.
Harborcreek Community Park is home to several youth sports programs and features ballfields, soccer pitches and a football field. Nature trails wind through Six Mile Creek Park and Wintergreen Gorge, while the Great Lakes Seaway Trail runs parallel to the shoreline and is designated as a National Scenic Byway. “We get a lot of cycling enthusiasts there. That travels right along the water, so you get that feeling of being surrounded by beautiful scenery,” Remache says. Harbor Ridge Golf Course is open seasonally and offers a public 9-hole course. Residents are also less than 15 miles from Presque Isle State Park, a sandy peninsula that stretches into the waters of Lake Erie and attracts more than four million visitors each year, making it the most popular state park in Pennsylvania.
Shades Beach Park is favorite summertime retreat for Harborcreek beachgoers.
Anglers fish for Steelhead Trout at one of the beaches near Harborcreek.
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Harbor Creek School District and Penn State Behrend
The community is served by the Harbor Creek School District, which earns an overall grade of B-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. “The school district has been a huge draw over the past decade,” Remache says. The district is composed of three elementary schools, a middle and a high school, all of which receive a B or higher from Niche. Nearby private school options include Saint James School, a Catholic institution serving prekindergarten through eighth grade. Harborcreek is also home to Penn State Behrend, a satellite campus of Penn State University with around 4,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Penn State Behrend also owns Knowledge Park, a research hub with around 20 companies and 500 employees.
Penn State Behrend, near Harborcreek, offers over 40 majors and a variety of athletics programs.
Harbor Creek Junior High School has earned an overall grade of B+ from Niche.
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Live music at the annual Harborcreek Community Concert
Harborcreek Township hosts various events that bring the community together. In December, Harborcreek Light Up Night spreads holiday cheer throughout town as residents gather to make s’mores, sip hot chocolate and listen to Christmas carols. The annual Harborcreek Community Concert celebrates warmer weather with food trucks, inflatables and live music in Harborcreek Community Park. Summer also brings weekly festivities like Food Truck Fridays and the Whitford Park Concert Series.
Lake Erie Wine Country extends from Harborcreek to Silver Creek
Lake Erie Wine Country covers 53 miles between Harborcreek and Silver Creek, NY. It’s the largest grape-growing region east of the Rocky Mountains and includes more than 20 wineries. Spots like 6 Mile Cellars, Cellar ’54 and Presque Isle Wine Cellars are less than 5 miles from Harborcreek and offer a taste of the region’s native Concord grapes. “The wineries have really come into their own over the past few years. They usually have live music on the weekends and will feature local businesses,” Remache says.
Buffalo Road is a destination for shopping and dining. Shopping centers feature big-box shops like Walmart, and dining options range from fast-casual chains to local mainstays such as Harbor House. Farther west, there are family-owned farms with roadside markets. This includes Burch Farms Country Market, known for its fresh produce and baked goods. In the opposite direction is Downtown Erie, less than 10 miles away.
Local Harborcreek attractions include Burch Farm Country Market—a multifaceted establishment with a market and wine bar.
Walmart and other major retailers can be access along Harborcreek's Buffalo Rd.
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Access to I-90, major cities and EMTA bus service
While Harborcreek is primarily car-dependent, the 2024 Harborcreek Comprehensive Plan focuses on improving its pedestrian infrastructure. Nothing has been finalized, but ideas include the construction of a trail between the Buffalo Road corridor and the Penn State Behrend campus. U.S. Route 20 and Interstate 90 move traffic east and west, while Interstate 79 leads about 135 miles south to Pittsburgh. I-90 connects residents to Buffalo, 88 miles west, and Cleveland, 109 miles east. The Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority (EMTA) offers local bus service, with stops concentrated in the center of town along Buffalo Road. For air travel, Erie International Airport is 25 miles away via I-90.
Lake-effect snow and decreasing crime in Erie County
Harborcreek is part of the snow belt, a region along the shores of Lake Erie that experiences lake-effect snow. As a result, the Erie Metro Area is prone to heavy snowfall and can see upwards of 80 inches of snow each year. “We got blasted with a massive snowstorm over Thanksgiving this year, and it was great to see the neighbors and local businesses coming together to check on everyone,” Remache says.
According to data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Erie County saw nearly a 9% decrease in the total number of offenses reported between 2023 and 2024. Most crimes reported in 2024 were thefts, which represented nearly half of all reported offenses.
Written By
Sally Stimpson
Photography Contributed By
Nile Vincz
Video By
Anthony Pesa
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Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address. CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks.
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