South Allison Hill’s eclectic landscape offers a low cost of living
Overlooking the city of Harrisburg from its namesake hilltop location, South Allison Hill is an urban enclave with an eclectic mix of properties. Church steeples peek over brick townhouses, and small businesses represent the multinational makeup of the residents. Part of the larger Allison Hill community, South Allison Hill has the lowest average home value in the city, attracting residents and business owners seeking a low cost of living in Pennsylvania’s capital. “Our price point is very low here, but it was really low prior to COVID,” says Wendell Hoover, Realtor at Iron Valley Real Estate in Harrisburg. As housing and rent prices have rapidly increased since the pandemic, the area has started to see more investors pick up properties in the neighborhoods, Hoover says. “Prices vary block by block, to a degree. There are preconceived notions about certain areas, but there is a lot of renovation you would have never seen before.”
Fixer-uppers and move-in-ready properties from the early 20th century
As in Allison Hill, most of the housing in South Allison Hill was built in the early 1900s, with brick rowhouses and duplexes among the most common styles. Brick apartment buildings are also typical. “Most people don’t know the difference or care between Allison Hill or South Allison Hill,” Hoover says. “People who have lived there for a while know the difference, but it won’t really affect [home] values.” Properties that need extensive rehabbing sell for as low as $5,000 to $10,000. Move-in-ready properties, some of which have been renovated, usually go for between $50,000 and $150,000.
Brick rowhouses are one of the more common style of housing found in South Allison Hill.
Colorful homes dot the residential streets of South Allison Hill.
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Local businesses along Derry Street serve global tastes
Corner stores, locally owned restaurants, churches and organizations intermingle with the neighborhood’s residences, offering convenience and walkability for locals. Derry Street has a concentration of businesses, including international grocers like Hajmas African Market and La Estrella Mexican Store. The street also has restaurants such as Tacos Mi Tierra, a casual Mexican eatery, and Golden Star Restaurant, a Chinese-takeout spot. A supermarket, Giant, is less than 2 miles east.
International food markets such as Ajoke African Food Market line Derry Street in South Allison Hill.
Tacos Mi Tierra is a popular lunch spot in South Allison Hill serving up traditional Mexican fare.
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Several nonprofit organizations host events and offer resources
Community centers offer resources and host events in and around South Allison Hill. The Latino Hispanic American Community Center, located on Derry Street in the neighborhood, connects residents with bilingual and immigration services, among others. It also distributes food and offers development programs for area seniors and Latino students. The group held its 14th-annual Hispanic Heritage Festival in September 2024. Nearby, the Central Allison Hill Community Center has workforce development programs, youth services and an event space. Other organizations, such as Wildheart Ministries, host get-togethers like street cleaning days, seasonal block parties and an annual Harvest Party with local vendors, train rides and free food. Wildheart Ministries also created The Hill Farm, a community-run garden on South 18th Street.
The Latino Hispanic American Community Center connects South Allison Hill residents with bilingual and immigration services.
Wildheart Ministries teamed up with local volunteers to recently create the Heart of the Community Garden in South Allison Hill.
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The Capital Area Greenbelt Trail goes through Reservoir Park
Reservoir Park has green space just east of South Allison Hill. Set on a hill overlooking the city below, this park has a newly renovated playground, grassy lawns and basketball courts. It's also home to the National Civil War Museum. The Capital Area Greenbelt Trail spans 20 miles around Harrisonburg, taking pedestrians and cyclists through the park and along the city’s waterfront.
Reservoir Park is the oldest and largest municipal public park in Harrisburg, covering more than 85 acres.
Families can learn all about the Civil War at the Civil War National Museum located within Reservoir Park.
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Harrisburg School District serves South Allison Hill
Several elementary schools serve the neighborhood, including Downey and Ben Franklin. Both schools earn C-minus grades from Niche. Most students continue to C-minus-rated Camp Curtin Academy for sixth grade, D-plus-rated Rowland Academy for seventh and eighth grade, and C-minus-rated Harrisburg High School through 12th grade. Harrisburg High has a B-plus score in Niche’s athletic category, as the school has nearly two dozen sports teams and a varsity football program consistently ranked among the top 20 high school teams in Pennsylvania.
There are several alternative school options nearby. “We have more families that live in the city than we used to, because we have a lot of non-traditional school options,” Hoover says. Cougar Academy is a C-minus-rated magnet school for kindergartners through 12th graders, and the A-rated Capital Area School for the Arts Charter School serves high schoolers.
Downey Elementary School is a highly diverse public school located in Harrisburg, PA with a student population of around 385.
Harrisburg High School is home to 1,375 students and 122 full time teachers.
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Getting around Harrisburg by bus or car
Capital Region buses stop along Derry and Market streets in South Allison Hill, with routes 1 and 17 taking riders to downtown Harrisburg, The Point Shopping Center, Hamilton Health Center, UPMC Community Osteopathic Hospital and more destinations. Harrisburg International Airport is 8 miles southeast, and Interstate 83 borders the neighborhood to the south.
South Allison Hill has a CAP Index Crime Score of 7, above the national average of 4, with some violent crimes scoring higher.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Are you familiar with the South Allison Hill neighborhood?
to let others know what life in this neighborhood is like.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
South Allison Hill
US
Homicide
5
4
Sexual Assault
9
4
Assault with Weapon
8
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
6
4
Larceny
7
4
Crime Score
8
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
South Allison Hill Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Allison Hill, Harrisburg sell after 44 days on the market compared to the national average of 53 days. The median sale price for homes in South Allison Hill, Harrisburg over the last 12 months is $105,000, up 26% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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Property Id: 2247266Very large 5 bedroom row home in Allison Hill County n bus route and walking distance to downtown Harrisburg. 2 full baths with eat in kitchen, large living room and large dining room. Newly renovated house with brand new appliances, ceiling fans, flooring and kitchen cabinets.
Property Id: 2119113Open house Saturday Nov. 15th 12-1pm. Rent this recently renovated family home. Just minutes from the Capitol Building and from Reservoir Park. Close to major highways and easy trips to Baltimore or Philadelphia. Enjoy a fireplace in your large living room steps away from your kitchen with a nice pantry. You'll love the fresh bathroom and multiple bedrooms upstairs
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