Known as the heart of the Amish country, Lancaster is a walkable city that blends its rich history, cultural vibrancy, and modern appeal in a community of nearly 58,000 residents. For just one day, Lancaster was our nascent nation's capital. Founded in 1729, one of America's oldest cities wears its historical heritage with pride. Known for its red-brick buildings and Victorian-era homes, Lancaster is as much a hub for modern living as it is a gateway to exploring the traditions of the Pennsylvania Dutch — most famously, the Amish — and Mennonite communities that shape the area. "Lancaster offers a unique blend of rural, suburban and city life that attracts a wide range of homebuyers," says Craig Hartranft, Realtor and team leader with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty.
Healthcare, education, manufacturing and agriculture jobs draw new residents into the city, while agritourism is one of its leading industries. Nearby attractions like the Amish Farm and House and the Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park rest just east of the city. The Amish first arrived in Lancaster County in the early 18th century, seeking religious freedom. Today, the area remains home to one of the largest Amish populations in the nation. "Although Lancaster has grown, it hasn't lost its sense of tradition and history," says Matt Helsel, Realtor with Iron Valley Real Estate of Lancaster, who has 24 years in the industry. "The Amish still have their handwritten $1 tomatoes for sale and a little box to drop your money in based on the honor system."
In 2018, Forbes listed Lancaster as one of the ten coolest cities to visit in the U.S., highlighted by the city's historic architecture, bustling restaurant scene and a mosaic of Downtown Lancaster art galleries. But Lancaster's allure extends beyond tourist write-ups and popular depictions of the Amish. Since its earliest days, the city has welcomed cultural diversity, from early German immigrants of the 18th century to 21st-century Latin Americans, curating today's melting pot.
Lancaster is a growing community of around 58,000. residents.
Dutch Wonderland is an interactive theme park 3 miles east of Bridgeport.
Amish horse and buggies are a common site throughout Kissel Hill and Lancaster County.
Close to East Side, Central Market is located in a bustling spot of restaurants and shops.
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Downtown Lancaster and the arts
The influence of Lancaster's agricultural roots extends into its revitalized downtown, where farm-to-table restaurants and locally owned cafes celebrate fresh, regional ingredients. Established in 1730, the Lancaster Central Market has been one of the city's most popular gathering places for nearly 300 years, providing locally grown produce, meats, dairy, baked goods and other treats. Inside a grand red-brick Romanesque building from 1889, Central Market is the country's oldest farmers' market building, open all year round every Tuesday, Friday and Saturday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A couple of blocks away, the Southern Market is a popular food hall. Patrons can dine on Moroccan chicken tagine, Dominican empanadas or Syrian shawarma. "The food scene has blown up over the last ten years," says Tyler Stoltz, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty, who has over seven years of experience in the industry. "Our restaurants provide a glimpse into the city's diversity. We have casual and fine-dining restaurants, hole-in-the-wall lunch spots, and probably 20-plus coffee shops."
Gallery Row, established in 2005, spans two blocks downtown. On the first Friday of each month in the summer, visitors can explore the galleries as they hop in and out of bars and restaurants. City dwellers and suburbanites can experience a similar vibe more than once a month, as buskers with guitars, fiddles and other instruments provide an open-air soundtrack for bar-hopping students and couples.
The Fulton Theatre, an architectural gem and one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country, stages Broadway-caliber productions. The Ware Center anchors the arts community, hosting performances, exhibitions, and educational programs.
In the surrounding suburbs, residents can shop for discounted designer wear and other goods at Tanger Outlets and The Shops at Rockvale. In contrast, Amish roadside stands selling handmade furniture and farmers markets dot the city's outskirts.
Central Market is America’s oldest continually running market and minutes from East Side.
The Southern Market near East Side brings people together over food and drinks.
Art lovers of East Side can visit Gallery Row's many studios in downtown Lancaster.
East Side residents can watch plays at Fulton Theatre, the oldest working theatre in the US.
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Competition for Lancaster housing
The Lancaster metropolitan area swells to about 550,000 people, featuring a few dozen rural communities and suburban boroughs where motorists share the road with horse-drawn buggies. The Pennsylvania Dutch reside in the countryside and make their way into the city to sell produce or work as contractors, fixing homes and commercial buildings. Thousands more people live in the college town of Millersville, historic Columbia on the east bank of the Susquehanna River and the tiny village of Bird-in-Hand.
Renovated rowhouses and Victorian-style homes in the city center often feature unique architectural details like intricate brickwork and wide porches. "Every neighborhood has its own personality," Stoltz says. Prices for homes downtown typically range from the mid $200,000s to the high $300,000s, with properties ranging from the low $100,000s for an old townhouse to over $1 million for a modern luxury penthouse in the heart of downtown. On the outskirts, suburban neighborhoods like Eden and Blossom Hill feature a mix of single-family homes with larger lots and garages. Properties in these areas typically range from $300,000 to $500,000 and often include a mix of Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes.
Lancaster's rising popularity has created a hot, in-demand housing market, especially as national publications and media spotlight the city. "It's definitely put pressure on an already tight real estate market," says Melissa Brosey, a local real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway. Developers continue to seize opportunities to adapt old warehouses and commercial buildings downtown into modern lofts. "Sometimes I'm surprised when I see places that used to be all farmland or woods suddenly become a new development," Brosey says. "But I don't think we can rely solely so much on new development to meet demand."
A terracotta roof facade and bowed windows make this Downtown Lancaster home distinctive.
Historic late 19th-century and early 20th-century colonial townhouses line the East Side.
Victorian-style homes on large lots can be found in College Park.
Modern traditionals on large lots of land are found in newer subdivisions of Rohrerstown.
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High-performing school districts
Lancaster County spans nearly 1,000 square miles, and students are zoned to 16 school districts. The School District of Lancaster, the central city school division, enrolls approximately 11,000 students across 19 schools and receives a C-plus rating from Niche. Two miles north of Downtown Lancaster, the Manheim Township School District is the top A-rated district in the area.
Established in 1787, Franklin & Marshall College enrolls around 2,000 undergraduate students on its 220-acre downtown campus. On the outskirts of the city, Millersville University of Pennsylvania was originally founded in 1855 as the first normal school in the state or teachers' college. At the 1,200-student Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, dozens of students in trades programs work together each year to build a few homes around campus, giving them hands-on career experience while helping meet the city's housing needs.
McCaskey High School in Lancaster has a student population of
Students can relax on the beautiful greens of Franklin and Marshall in Chestnut Hill.
Millersville University enrolls 7,500 students and is located adjacent to Quaker Hills.
1,200 students attend Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Conestoga Woods.
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Hikes, horseback riding and more at Central Park
Whether in the suburbs or the city, residents are surrounded by the great outdoors. The Conestoga River winds along the 544-acre Lancaster County Central Park in Bridgeport . Amenities here include sports fields, a skate park, an outdoor swimming pool and wooded hiking trails. "People can bring horses on some of those trails, too, and there's a public swimming pool that's popular with city residents since it's nearby," Brosey says. Pocket parks with playgrounds and sports courts are scattered throughout nearly every neighborhood.
Long's Park is a local favorite with over 80 acres of wooded trails, picnic areas and a summer concert series. Buchanan Park is another city green space and home of Beau's Dream Dog Park, where countless canines frolic on splash pads and dart through tunnels. Beyond the city, the rolling hills and farmlands of Lancaster County offer scenic escapes for hikers and bikers along the Susquehanna River and the nearby Appalachian Mountains. The Amish countryside, with its covered bridges and pristine landscapes, is another favorite destination for scenic drives.
In the newly minted Stadium District north of downtown, people chow on hot dogs, popcorn and peanuts at Clipper Magazine Stadium, home of the city's minor league Lancaster Barnstormers. The city built the stadium in 2005 to help spur economic activity in a primarily industrial area near the city center. In addition to ballgames, the district also hosts concerts and an annual holiday light show.
$500,000 was spent renovating a bare bones park into Beau's Dream Dog Park in College Park.
Breathtaking views of the Susquehanna River can be seen at Chickies Rock Park.
Voted best stadium by Ballpark Digest, Clipper Magazine Stadium is next to Chestnut Hill.
The annual Christmas Spirit Light Show occurs throughout December at Clipper Stadium.
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Public transportation and regional access
In city neighborhoods like Cabbage Hill , Musser Park and Ross , residents only need to walk a few blocks to reach restaurants, coffee shops and entertainment. Public transit options include the Lancaster Amtrak station and public bus routes. The Red Rose Transit Authority provides nearly two dozen local and express regional routes. Lancaster General Hospital is centrally located within the city proper, while sister locations are scattered throughout the suburbs.
Around the city, motorists rely on routes 30, 222, 283 and 72 to commute and travel across the state. "We're well situated — it plays a big part in our popularity and success because we're so close to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philly and New York City," Brosey says. Likewise, the beaches of Delaware are four hours away by car.
Year-round considerations
Lancaster experiences all four seasons, with warm and humid summers and highs in the low 80s. The area's average rainfall is on par with the national average. Winter temperatures average around the upper 30s to 40s, while the region averages around 20 inches of snow yearly.
According to Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting system, Lancaster City's crime rates declined by about 10% between 2023 and 2024. In 2024, Lancaster's violent crime rate was higher than the national rate, while the property crime rate was lower than the national figure.
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