Stewartstown is a growing Baltimore suburb in rural York County
Rising prices in neighborhoods close to Baltimore and the attractive, agricultural character of the rolling countryside have sparked a suburban boom in south-central Pennsylvania; just 5 miles from the nearest Interstate 83 exit and the state line, the small borough of Stewartstown is no exception. “Stewartstown is another charming, southern York County town with easy access to Maryland,” says Cindy Folckemer, a Realtor with The Exchange Real Estate Company who specializes in York and its surrounding counties. “There are new construction communities like Stewartstown Station, then in the same breath, you have some Mennonites and Amish down there that have crossed over from the Peach Bottom area in Lancaster. That brings all the cute little roadside stands with fresh vegetables.” New and longtime residents balance change by volunteering to preserve Stewartstown’s nostalgic small-town institutions, from the railroad tracks passing through town to traditions like youth sports leagues and an annual fireman’s carnival.
Century-old homes and waves of Stewartstown suburbanization
In the center of Stewartstown, sidewalk-lined streets retain the pocket-sized front lawns, mix of American Foursquare and National homes and occasional white picket fences typical in small towns that boomed around the turn of the 20th century. Many more winding, suburban streets of ranch-style, split-level and colonial homes were developed into the rolling countryside starting in the midcentury. Single-family homes built before the 1980s sell for around $240,000 to $450,000. “If you don’t want to live near the central area with more rentals and older homes, you can look on the outskirts for luxury living with easy access to 83,” Folckemer says. New Traditional homes in cul-de-sac subdivisions can sell for $350,000 to $700,000, depending on size and whether they were built in the 1990s or 2020s. Townhouses constructed over the last few decades can range from around $170,000 to $340,000.
Attending the South Eastern School District
Stewartstown is served by the South Eastern School District, which earns a B-minus from Niche. Stewartstown Elementary School scores a B, and South Eastern Intermediate School scores a B-plus. South Eastern Middle School gets a B-minus. At C-plus-rated Kennard-Dale High School, students can earn credit at the University of Pittsburgh by taking college in the high school classes.
York County parks, recreation and historic volunteering
A paved walking path encircles the playground, picnic pavilions and many other amenities at Hopewell Area Recreation & Parks, also called HARP. The surrounding athletic fields and indoor Stewartstown Community Building host sports leagues that range from baseball teams for homeschooled children to adult volleyball teams. Residents can browse books or take art classes indoors at Mason-Dixon Public Library during freezing winters or check out the outdoor Native Plant Garden Patio when the sun shines. Dedicated volunteers maintain tracks and operate excursion trips along the Stewartstown Railroad, originally chartered in 1884. To enjoy York County’s more rural recreation destinations, residents might drive less than 30 minutes to launch a kayak at William H. Kain County Park or into the Susquehanna River.
Dining in small Stewartstown businesses, big box Shrewsbury Shopping
Small businesses pocket Main Street and its offshoots inside stand-alone storefronts and modern commercial strips. A block from the historic Stewartstown Railroad Station, the Stewartstown Square shopping center is anchored by B. Leigh’s Coffee and Aviator Brew Hub, each serving specialty drinks in trendy, contemporary dining rooms. The smell of smoked meat wafts from the rustic, open-air Stewartstown Smokehouse and Beer Barn. A few small houses of worship offer religious services throughout the community, including Stewartstown United Methodist Church. Saubel’s Markets is the borough’s grocery store. Walmart is about 5 miles from home, anchoring Shrewsbury's more developed I-83 big box shopping district. Residents might also drive several miles to snag field-to-table goods from places like Red Barn Farm Market.
Commuting to York and to Baltimore on I-83
Taking Interstate 83, the county seat of York and hubs like WellSpan York Hospital are nearly 20 miles from Stewartstown. State Route 24 leads directly to the Maryland border, but Baltimore commuters typically also take I-83 on the roughly 45-mile drive to the city. Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is about 55 miles from home.
Supporting the EVFC at the Stewartstown Carnival
The biggest Eureka Volunteer Fire Company fundraiser of the year, the Stewartstown Carnival, returns to the Stewartstown Community Fairgrounds for six days each July. The carnival’s 50th anniversary was in 2025, and its longevity is thanks to the hard work of the EVFC and other active community organizations like the Stewartstown Lions Club. While bands and special events like parades and fireworks change from night to night, visitors can order funnel cake, shriek on carnival rides and play fair games under flashing lights throughout the week.
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Written By
Julia Szymanski
