East Side
Neighborhood in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County 17602
Renovated 19th-century townhouses
History is evident in the East Side’s streets, with brick townhouses from the 19th and 20th centuries lined up elbow-to-elbow in neat rows. “The architecture keeps people here,” Susan says. “Instead of moving out of the city, you’ll see lots of people moving from one home to another. Some of these houses have gorgeous Tiffany windows and prized chestnut woodwork.” Colonial Revival styles are favored here, with some Italian and Victorian stylings such as decorative trim and bay windows. Detached and semi-detached properties, especially ones with a garage or their own parking space, are especially desirable. Most East Side residents park on the streets, with city-issued permits in select areas. According to locals, Lancaster’s East Side has become a hotspot for investors buying up condemned properties and freshening them up with a complete remodel. While houses in need of repair can list at around $150,000, newly renovated homes can sell for upwards of $375,000.
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A former zoo meets a bicycle repair shop at Reservoir Park
Reservoir Park is the East Side’s central green, once home to the Lancaster Zoo. While a bronze lion fountain hearkens back to the park’s history, today, Reservoir Park is dotted by mature trees, a playground, a basketball court and a seasonally open wading pool. At the far end of the park is the Common Wheel, a nonprofit that serves as a bicycle co-op and repair shop. Its Earn-a-Bike program is a popular after-school program where kids fix up their very own donated bike, all while learning the ins and outs of bicycle maintenance and safety. Lancaster County Prison is directly adjacent to the park and is impossible to miss, thanks to its façade resembling an English 18th-century castle. However, plans are underway to open a brand-new correctional facility in 2027 that would shutter the current prison.
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Students walk to school at McCaskey High
When the final bells ring at Wickersham Elementary, Lincoln Middle and McCaskey High by 3:15 p.m., East Side’s sidewalks are full of backpack-clad children headed home for the day. Many kids in the neighborhood walk to school, as the School District of Lancaster does not provide bus service to students living within 2 miles of Lincoln Middle and McCaskey High, or within 1.5 miles of Wickersham Elementary. Luckily, all three schools are clustered together at the northern end of the neighborhood, close to many homes. Niche grades Wickersham Elementary a C-plus, while Lincoln Middle scores a C and McCaskey High receives a B-minus. The high school offers dedicated academies or course sequences for media studies and communications, health sciences and public leadership.
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Summer camps and school trips to the Lancaster Science Factory
East Side families share a neighborhood with the Lancaster Science Factory, a hands-on museum full of interactive exhibits that engage young learners with topics such as engineering, fluid dynamics and environmental sustainability. “We do summer camps, field trips, holiday and after-school programming — we even work with local Girl Scout and Cub Scout troops,” says Joanne Trusz, a STEM Educator at the museum. “We cater all of our programs to what they’re interested in or learning about, so just recently, we did one on structural engineering focusing on the types of bridges and their uses. We do lots of robotics workshops, too, and we gear our programming to all age groups. Honestly, the best part is seeing the parents get just as excited as the kids.” During First Fridays, museum admission is free from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Walkable streets 2 miles from U.S. Route 30
East Side homes are between 1 and 2 miles from Lancaster’s historic central business district, with plenty of amenities, restaurants and shops within walking distance. Entrances to U.S. Route 30 are a couple of miles east along Walnut Street and King Street, with Red Rose Transit Authority bus stops at regular intervals along each thoroughfare. Philadelphia is about 80 miles away, and some professionals make weekly commutes by train via the Lancaster Amtrak station. Other major metropolitan areas on the East Coast such as New York City, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are between 100 and 150 miles away. Lancaster General Hospital, operated by Penn Medicine, is the city’s largest employer and is roughly a mile outside of the neighborhood.Shop local at Lancaster Central Market and dine out at Horse Inn
Some residents grab goods at the local CTown Supermarkets, while others stock up at grocers like Weis Markets on the edge of town. But on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, nearly everyone heads downtown to the Lancaster Central Market to peruse the stands full of home-baked goodies and produce straight from the farm. Peat Evans, Lancaster Central Market’s Assistant Market Manager, walks to the Market every day from his house on the East Side and says that plenty of other residents do the same. “Even some of the restaurants in the surrounding area get their groceries fresh here,” Evans says. “I know I see the people from Horse Inn doing their shopping at the Market every week.” Located in the heart of the East Side, Horse Inn has been a local mainstay since its establishment in 1920. What was once a hayloft speakeasy is now an elevated pub that retains its rustic vibe, known for hearty, comforting meals such as tenderloin tips on toast. A few blocks away is Lancaster Brewing Company, a big brick building where beer flight flavors range from traditional German styles to locally inspired varieties such as a shoo-fly pie porter.
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Written By
Elliot Schorr
Photography Contributed By
Justin Schmidt
Video By
Brandon Flash Craigie
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Agents Specializing in this Area
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Jason Burkholder
Jason Burkholder
Hometown Property Sales
(223) 217-5657
165 Total Sales
1 in East Side
$270,000 Price
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Adrian Young
Adrian Young
Keller Williams Keystone Realty
(223) 217-8660
184 Total Sales
1 in East Side
$178,000 Price
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Justine Dennis McPhee
Justine Dennis McPhee
Keller Williams Elite
(223) 216-5301
134 Total Sales
1 in East Side
$85,000 Price
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Marilyn Berger Shank
Marilyn Berger Shank
Keller Williams Elite
(717) 844-9893
78 Total Sales
1 in East Side
$250,000 Price
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Meisha Sams
Meisha Sams
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty
(717) 696-6883
29 Total Sales
1 in East Side
$173,500 Price
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Catesby Gilbert
Catesby Gilbert
Mountain Realty ERA Powered
(717) 696-6646
34 Total Sales
4 in East Side
$145K - $230K Price Range
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
- 8th to 12th
- Public
- 5th to 9th
- Public
- Pre-K to 5th
- Public
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Parks in this Area
Binns Park
- Picnic Area
Musser Park
Conestoga Pines Park
- Basketball
- Pool
- Trails
6th Ward Park
- Basketball
- Picnic Area
- Playground
Reservior Park
Transit
Crime and Safety
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | East Side | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 5 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 4 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 5 | 4 |
| Robbery | 5 | 4 |
| Burglary | 4 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
| Larceny | 5 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 5 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
East Side Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in East Side, Lancaster sell after 19 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in East Side, Lancaster over the last 12 months is $274,900, up 22% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$274,950
Median Sale Price
$274,900
Median Single Family Sale Price
$274,900
Median Townhouse Sale Price
$271,000
Median 2 Bedroom Sale Price
$430,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
0%
Last 12 months Home Sales
47
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
22%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$175
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,092
Number of Homes for Sale
1
Median Year Built
1908
Months of Supply
0.30
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,429
Significantly below the national average
1,933
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
1,941
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,276
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
1,742
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 Owners
Demographics
Total Population
4,208
Median Age
36
Population Density
13 ppl/acre
Population under 18
22.7%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
12.4%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$71,631
On par with the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$80,722
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
82.9%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
23.3%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.8%
% Population in Labor Force
66.2%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
44''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
86°F
Annual Snowfall
14''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
59
/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
77
/ 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
Musser Park
Historic 19th-century homes and restaurants surrounding Musser Park
Ross
A walkable residential community in Lancaster’s urban center
Stevens
An entrenched city neighborhood with a small university campus
Conestoga Woods
Cozy suburban living with tree-shaded homes outside historic downtown Lancaster
Grandview Heights
A charming suburban neighborhood near downtown Lancaster
Churchtowne
A small neighborhood with beautiful historic homes and churches
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