Downtown Lancaster
Neighborhood in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County 17602, 17603
So much to do in the Red Rose City
Rub elbows with locals and visitors alike in Lancaster Central Market, a 290-year-old cornerstone of the region. This historic market reflects Lancasters evolving community – long-time stands like Stoltzfus Farms share space with Homage: Cuisines of the West African Diaspora. This reflection continues a block south at Southern Market Lancaster, a massive C. Emlem Urban-designed Gothic building - “For years it was home to office space,” says Brosey, “It’s been revamped, it's now a food hall with all sorts of different stalls with flavors from around the world.” North of the square, Cabalar doles out decadent sandwiches from meat broken down on site. Further up, Decades combines food and entertainment, with retro arcade games and creative cocktails inside the old Armory, while a few steps away is plenty of retail. “The 300 block of North Queen Street has all sorts of small shops,” says Brosey, “Building Character is really unique, they have all sorts of stalls and stands inside from local artists and artisans – pottery, local snacks, soap, a t-shirt, so many little spots.” Locals will venture north to the Giant for groceries, or the Shoppes at Belmont and Red Rose Commons when they need the everyday necessities.
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Family activities and supporting local art
“Open Streets in May, it’s organized by Lancaster Rec Center,” Brosey points out, “They shut down eight blocks of Water Street, they have music, food, kids activities, games, it’s a lot of fun. There’s also First Fridays, they run year-round, all the galleries and shops stay open and people walk all over Downtown.” This coordinated effort has helped to promote and sustain the thriving downtown artistic and entrepreneurial community. The Fulton Theatre, one of only three theatres recognized as a National Historic Landmark, offers revolving shows to appeal to varying crowds.
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Old and new together in Downtown Lancaster
Lancaster has exploded in popularity in recent years, and home values in Downtown Lancaster have reflected this. “Downtown is new condos and Victorian-era rowhomes, also a lot of mixed-use buildings with first floor retail and upper level homes,” says Downtown Lancaster’s residential section is marked by Victorian-era brick rowhouses, while Colonial and Queen Anne styles can be found. Much of the city’s infrastructure was built in the 18th and 19th centuries and later renovated to meet today’s standards, letting Lancaster achieve that coveted blend of historic and hip. Newer condo units with high price tags have crept into the area, with sleek, modern architecture inside and out along with coveted parking spaces in private garages. The median price is under $300,000, with many small rowhomes on alleys and side streets falling in the $200,000 to $300,000 range. Multi-unit buildings ready for owner-occupancy fit in the $600,000 to $800,000 range, while new condos right by the square can fetch upwards of $800,000.
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Walkers’ paradise, with train travel nearby
With wide sidewalks and dedicated biking lanes on select thoroughfares, Downtown Lancaster is great for bikers and a walker’s paradise, which many residents take advantage of to avoid losing a coveted parking spot. Public transit is minimal, with Red Rose Transit Providing bus lines throughout town and the region. The location of the Amtrak station to the north of Downtown has made the neighborhood increasingly popular for commuters who take the train to Harrisburg or Philadelphia. Just 6 miles north of the neighborhood, Lancaster Airport offers limited flights; most residents will drive to Harrisburg International, 32 miles northwest, for major travel. Lancaster General Hospital, the top medical center in the area and the largest employer in the city, is less than a mile from anywhere in the neighborhood.Public and private Lancaster options
The School District of Lancaster serves the residents of Downtown Lancaster. While most children will start off at Fulton Elementary School, a select few in the northern end of the neighborhood may attend Ross Elementary. These schools are rated a C and a C-plus by Niche, respectively. Regardless of which school they start at, they will attend Reynolds Middle School for grades six through eight, which gets a C from Niche. McCaskey High School, with a B-minus from Niche, shares a football field name with a plaza in Downtown Lancaster – both named after gold medalist Barney Ewell, a Lancaster resident. Lancaster Country Day School is ranked by Niche as the 20th Best Private High School in Pennsylvania, while Lancaster Catholic High School offer parochial education.
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Plenty of green space just outside
Binns Park in Downtown Lancaster offers a water feature and limited green space, so residents will head to the playgrounds of Musser or Culliton Park, or the dog park and wide-open green space of Buchanan Park to enjoy the outdoors. Those looking for more vigorous activity or a full day out head south to Lancaster County Central Park. Covering 544 acres, it features the county pool, a one-of-a-kind free skate park, tent camping, and miles of trails – all of which are dog-friendly, with some offering equestrian-friendly paths.
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Lancaster Convention Center hosts major events throughout the year
The Lancaster Convention Center brings tournaments, national concerts, and conventions to town regularly. Zenkaikon hosts science-fiction and anime fans in March for a three-day event of the weird and wonderful. A month later, LAUNCH Music Conference and Festival in April brings together musicians, labels, marketers and more for three days of performances and panels in venues across Downtown. This can sometimes lead to traffic snarls in the downtown area due to the narrow side streets and one-way thoroughfares.
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Written By
Andrew Tyson
Photography Contributed By
Joe Pulcinella
Video By
Chris Freeman
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Marilyn Berger Shank
Marilyn Berger Shank
Keller Williams Elite
(717) 844-9893
77 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lancaster
$925,000 Price
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Jennifer Augustine
Jennifer Augustine
Realty ONE Group Unlimited
(223) 216-2052
85 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lancaster
$650,000 Price
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Anne Lusk
Anne Lusk
Lusk & Associates Sotheby's International Realty
(717) 935-8473
649 Total Sales
18 in Downtown Lancaster
$226K - $1.3M Price Range
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Gilbert Lyons
Gilbert Lyons
Responds QuicklyRE/MAX Pinnacle
(223) 217-6213
144 Total Sales
3 in Downtown Lancaster
$350K - $780K Price Range
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Andy Sollenberger
Andy Sollenberger
Responds QuicklyKingsway Realty - Ephrata
(717) 807-6772
85 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Lancaster
$125K - $800K Price Range
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Josh Packer
Josh Packer
Responds QuicklyKeller Williams Elite
(223) 216-7995
88 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Lancaster
$700,000 Price
Schools
Source:
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
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Parks in this Area
Binns Park
- Picnic Area
Musser Park
Mayor Janice C Stork Corridor Park
Culliton Park
- Baseball/Softball
- Basketball
- Trails
Creativity Park
- Picnic Area
Steinman Park
- Picnic Area
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Lancaster | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 6 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 5 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 6 | 4 |
| Robbery | 7 | 4 |
| Burglary | 8 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 7 | 4 |
| Larceny | 6 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 6 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Lancaster Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Lancaster, Lancaster sell after 49 days on the market compared to the national average of 49 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Lancaster, Lancaster over the last 12 months is $255,000, down 2% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$550,000
Median Sale Price
$255,000
Median Single Family Sale Price
$265,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$695,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
7
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
-2%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$284
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
296
Number of Homes for Sale
11
Median Year Built
1888
Months of Supply
18.90
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,569
Below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,382
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,496
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,251
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,742
Open Houses
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Sunday, Jun 1512 - 2pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
3,382
Median Age
38
Population Density
24 ppl/acre
Population under 18
20.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.9%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$32,076
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$50,475
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
71.5%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
27.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
9.5%
% Population in Labor Force
66.6%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
14''
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
72
/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99
/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Nearby Neighborhoods
Cabbage Hill
A quiet historic neighborhood with convenience to Downtown Lancaster
Chestnut Hill
Walkable Lancaster neighborhood with trendy eateries and a community atmosphere
Churchtowne
A small neighborhood with beautiful historic homes and churches
Musser Park
Historic 19th-century homes and restaurants surrounding Musser Park
Mussertown
A historic neighborhood taking a new shape through vibrant culture
Ross
A walkable residential community in Lancaster’s urban center
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