Palmyra offers convenience and community near major hubs
Located nearly halfway between Hersey and Annville in southeastern Pennsylvania, Palmyra is known for its highly rated school district and proximity to major employers. The borough itself, though, still has everything residents need. “It’s a size of town where you have decent options for shopping and eating but it’s also the type of place where you get to know each other and can run into each other on the daily,” says David Becker, an owner-operator of Team Becker Realtors powered by Keller Williams Realty who has lived in Palmyra for 15 years. “Once you’ve been here for a while, you get planted. You’re comfortable letting your kids out to play with kids in the neighborhood and not having to worry about security or problems.” It’s a sentiment that Carin Becker, the other owner-operator of Team Becker Realtors, echoes, saying it has a small-town feel where people help one another. Although they’re technically separate, residents often consider North Londonderry and South Londonderry to be part of Palmyra, with residents often using amenities in the neighboring townships.
Single-family homes and townhouses for less than nearby areas
Many of the American Foursquares and colonials near Palmyra’s center were built between 1900 and 1950. Heading away from its center, Cape Cods, ranch-style houses and New Traditionals creep in and then begin to take over. Sidewalks line both sides of the street throughout Palmyra, even its quietest, most residential sections. Single-family houses in Palmyra typically cost between $225,000 and $460,000. Manufactured homes start at about $110,000, and townhouses typically cost between $190,000 and $330,000. The median home price here is about $300,000, which is much lower than North Londonderry’s median of just over $490,000 and South Londonderry’s median of about $395,000.
Palmyra schools earn high marks
The Palmyra Area School District earns an A from Niche. David and Carin Becker agree that the district is a major draw to the borough. Children can attend Forge Road Elementary School, which has an A-minus, before moving on to A-rated Palmyra Area Middle School. Palmyra Area High School earns a B-plus and offers extracurriculars like speech and debate, Dungeons & Dragons and robotics clubs.
Restaurants along Main Street, nearby essentials
Palmyra has a sizeable collection of restaurants located right on Main Street or just a few blocks off it. Carin Becker says Funck’s Restaurant is a staple and is known for its breakfast menu and happy hour, weekly trivia nights and live music every Friday. Babe’s Grill House is another popular spot. “They have an outdoor patio that’s right along Main Street that has outdoor fire pits and tables and chairs, and they also have outdoor entertainment a lot,” David Becker says. Weis Markets offers groceries close to home, and there’s a Walmart, Lowe’s and a movie theater in North Londonderry, about 2 miles from Palmyra’s center.
Free local events, the nearby Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show
Palmyra has a few holiday parades, and The Holy Spirit Church hosts two festivals a year, including Spiritfest during the summer. “They usually have a pig roast and music,” Carin Becker says. “And then there’s kids’ games, inflatables, bingo.” David Becker says the board of directors has begun hosting regular community events in nearby Campbelltown Community Park. “We just did a movie night where probably 300 or 400 people attended; we just set up our blankets outside.” Just 10 miles away, the Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show draws thousands, including Palmyra residents, to discover local artists and explore vendors’ booths while raising money for charity.
Small parks, nearby sports complex and a short drive to Hersheypark
Memorial Park of Palmyra is small and has a playground and athletic fields. Palmyra Community Pool is a popular hangout spot in the summer, and Carin Becker says it’s starting to host more community events, including night swimming for adults. David Becker says In the Net, a nearby sports complex, hosts lacrosse and baseball games for surrounding communities. “We get a ton of people who know Palmyra from people who come for lacrosse tournaments,” he says. Hersheypark, Hershey’s famous amusement park, is also just over 6 miles away, so many residents get season passes.
Easy commutes to local hotspots and bigger cities
U.S. Route 422 serves as Palmyra’s Main Street. The borough’s location and relative ease of access to other highways makes it easy to reach many of Pennsylvania’s hotspots. It’s just over 3 miles to Hershey, 4 miles to Annville and 9 miles to Lebanon. Harrisburg is 23 miles away and Lancaster is about 31 miles away. Proximity to these cities opens up job opportunities with major employers, as well as entertainment. “I can hop on 283 and be in Lancaster for dinner in 43 minutes,” Carin Becker says. The nearest hospital to Palmyra is Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, which is about 6 miles from home.
Potential for sinkholes in Palmyra
Much of the limestone underneath Palmyra makes the area susceptible to sinkholes. These sinkholes can pop up anywhere, damaging — and temporarily closing — roads, such as a section of Route 422 in May 2025, and sometimes even damaging houses. In 2024, the Palmyra Borough Council received a report on methods of improved stormwater management that could lessen the number of sinkholes in the future.
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Written By
Christina Norwood
