Salisbury Township offers quiet living in the Amish countryside
Life moves slowly in Salisbury Township, a community immersed in Amish farmland. “People live here because they want to be out in the country. They want to live among the Amish and have a simpler life,” says Kimberly Eby, associate broker with Hostetter Realty, who lived in the township for nearly 40 years. Salisbury isn’t to be confused with another township of the same name near Allentown, about 60 miles away. In Lancaster County, farms surround a few small towns within the township, including Gap and White Horse. Both communities have local stores, restaurants and other basic essentials. However, it’s not uncommon for people to drive 30 minutes to Lancaster for work and other city amenities. Eby says she loved living in the township because it felt safe and there was a strong sense of community. In fact, the township’s CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average.
Competitive housing market with a wide range of homes
Salisbury Township has a competitive housing market, where homebuyers need to be quick to make an offer. “Homes in this area only last a day or two because there is very low inventory,” Eby says. “A lot of times, the Amish will buy the homes and pay 20% higher in cash. That’s if they haven’t already made a deal with a neighbor before the house hits the market.”
Much of the township’s homes are in Gap and White Horse, though there are a few small pockets of subdivisions out in the country. Single-family homes span from the 19th to 21st century. Colonial Revivals and Victorian-style homes from the late 1800s and early 1900s generally range from around $250,000 to $575,000. Ranch-style and Bi-level homes from the 1950s to 2000s are common, with prices ranging from around $300,000 to $520,000. Larger New Traditional houses and custom homes typically have an acre or more of land, with some featuring views of sprawling farmland. These can sell for anywhere from $425,000 to $1 million, depending on the size of the house and lot.
Small class sizes at Pequea Valley Secondary School
Students may attend Salisbury Elementary School, which receives a C-plus grade from Niche. They’ll go on to Pequea Valley Intermediate School, also graded a C-plus, and Pequea Valley Secondary School, graded a B. The secondary (high) school has about 450 students and a student-teacher ratio of 13:1, lower than the national average. The school district plans to consolidate the middle and high schools into a single campus in 2026.
Sports fields at community park and hiking trails on Welsh Mountain
Kids play recreational baseball, softball and soccer at Salisbury Township Community Park. The park also features roller hockey rinks, tennis courts, a playground and picnic pavilions that can be rented out. Money Rocks County Park sits on 300 acres of Welsh Mountain. The name stems from the belief that farmers once hid their money in the park’s rock formations. Hikers can explore nature trails that lead to overlooks of Lancaster County’s countryside.
Three highways with shops, restaurants and other essentials
U.S. 30 has a shopping center with a Weis Markets grocery store. Fast-food restaurants, gas stations, auto shops and other convenient businesses are also near the shopping center. Down the road, Brass Eagle Restaurant has been a staple for more than 20 years. It offers a casual environment and serves free dessert with every entrée. U.S. 322 is home to more locally owned restaurants, including Jerry’s Pizza Pie and Wimpy & Dee’s 50s-style diner. There’s also September Farm Cheese, a local market known for its many cheeses. On Old Philadelphia Pike, White Horse Luncheonette offers comfort food, whipping up breakfast and cheesesteaks. Just down the street, locals can shop for donated clothes and other items at Country Gift & Thrift Shoppe.
Mud sales and the Rough & Tumble Engineers Historical Association
Mud sales have been a tradition in the Amish community since the 1800s and are held in Gap at the beginning of spring. “Mud sales are auctions for furniture, quilts, junk and everything in between. It’s called that because it comes in March when the ground thaws. It’s usually pretty muddy and rainy.”
The Rough & Tumble Engineers Historical Association has a large collection of old traction engines, antique farm equipment and two steam trains that circle the property. The organization hosts seven different events throughout the year, including the annual R&T Ag Days, which celebrates agriculture with tractor pulls, vendors and food trucks. The annual R&T Threshermen’s Reunion has been a tradition since 1948, featuring threshing machines, blacksmith demonstrations and a flea market.
Getting to Lancaster, Reading and Philadelphia
It takes about 30 to 40 minutes to drive to Lancaster, about 20 to 25 miles away, depending on the starting point. Commuters can take U.S. 322 on the north side, U.S. 30 on the south side or Old Philadelphia Pike in the middle of the township. It’s about a 30-mile drive to Reading and 60 miles to Philadelphia and the city’s international airport.
![Nicolas Stuart]()
Written By
Nicolas Stuart
