Quiet borough with historic homes near the heart of Harrisburg
Penbrook is a quiet residential borough located just east of Harrisburg. The community's development largely mirrors that of its neighbor — in fact, it was originally known as East Harrisburg. Throughout its existence, Penbrook has functioned as a suburb of the state capital. "It's just a quiet little community, it's basically part of Harrisburg," says Realtor Shannon Kinkaid of Berkshire Hathaway HomeSale Realty, who has lived in the area for over 20 years. "There's a nice sense of community, a lot of historical homes, and you're almost close enough to walk downtown." Most residents work in either Harrisburg, which has many of Pennsylvania's state government offices, or in the eastern suburbs, home to a number of major employers, including the expansive Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.
A variety of early and mid-20th-century homes
The borough’s streets are lined with a mix of early-to-mid-20th-century homes, including American Foursquares, bungalows and ranch-style homes. Townhouses are also common. Nearly all the properties in the community are set on tightly gridded residential blocks and feature modest yards. Single-family homes in Penbrook usually sell for $150,000 to $300,000, while townhouses range from $100,000 to $200,000.
Easy access to vibrant downtown Harrisburg
Locals can pick up groceries at the Giant supermarket on the south side of the borough. For additional shopping, residents have two options: the local shops of walkable downtown Harrisburg or the big-box stores in the suburbs to the east. While the local dining scene centers around downtown, Penbrook has a few popular restaurants as well, including highly rated spots like Roberto's Pizza and Dominican eatery El Pilon de Carmen.
Capital Area Greenbelt and nearby parks support active lifestyles
The borough's two parks, Penbrook Park and Little Valley Park, both offer playgrounds and athletic fields. The National Civil War Museum is located just south of Penbrook, in the center of Reservoir Park. Its grounds feature well-groomed walking trails, an amphitheater and a unique chutes and ladders-themed hillside play area. The Susquehanna River runs just 2 miles west of Penbrook, and is popular for boating and fishing. The Capital Area Greenbelt, a 20-mile loop trail through much of Harrisburg, cuts across Penbrook and is a destination for cyclists and joggers.
Education with Harrisburg public schools
South Side Elementary School has a B-minus from Niche, while Central Dauphin East Middle School has a C-plus. Central Dauphin East Senior High School receives a B-plus grade and offers dual enrollment courses through a partnership with nearby Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.
The Pennsylvania Farm Show draws crowds every January
The local event schedule tends to revolve around Harrisburg. The borough is less than 3 miles from most of the major annual events in the city, including the 4th of July Food Truck Festival in Riverfront Park. The nearby Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex & Expo Center hosts the Pennsylvania Farm Show every January. The show is the largest indoor agricultural event in the U.S., featuring over 10,000 competitions and exhibitions. "It's a really big draw — bigger than you might expect, especially for January," Kincaid says. "The smells can get kind of intense, as it's indoors, but people just have a lot of fun with it. It's a nice pick-me-up after the New Year's letdown."
Rabbittransit and I-83 link the borough to key destinations
The borough is served by the Rabbittransit Capital Region System, which links the area to downtown Harrisburg, the state capitol complex and the east suburbs. For car travel, Interstate 83 runs just a mile east of Penbrook, while Interstate 81 passes 2 miles north of the borough. It's a roughly 11-mile drive to Harrisburg International Airport, with flights to over a dozen destinations.
