Williamsport invited remote workers from London, New York and Pittsburgh to stay in the small Pennsylvania city for four weeks in 2024, an initiative to showcase the benefits of living in a community surrounded by mountains, farmland and forests. Around the same time, a couple from Denver drove from Pittsburg to Philadelphia, hearing about the program along the way. “They got tapped into me and asked about the program,” says Jason Fink, CEO and President of the Williamsport/Lycoming Chamber of Commerce. “I invited them to participate. They loved the area and made an offer on a home.” With the West Branch Susquehanna River to the south and the Allegheny Mountain Range to the north, Williamsport’s natural beauty and laid-back lifestyle have become the biggest selling points for the city of 27,000 people. Ironically, Williamsport thrived during the 1800s thanks to the logging and selling of timber. The lumber industry created more millionaires per capita than anywhere in the world in the late 1800s; it also decimated the area’s woodlands by the early 20th century, collapsing the timber sector. Besides the natural landscape, family and friends typically bring homebuyers to Williamsport, says Tracy Knoebel, a Realtor with Keller Williams Advantage Realty. “Usually there’s a connection to the area. People are from here, or they move closer to family in the area.”
Aerial views of Gamble Township showcase the beauty of this charming community.
Mifflin locals can grab fresh fruits and veggies every Saturday at the local Farmers Market.
Farm animals roam freely in the scenic fields of Gamble, adding to its rural charm.
Locals fish on the serene waters of Rose Valley Lake in Gamble Township.
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Fishing, hunting and hiking in North Central Pennsylvania
Little League was founded in Williamsport, and youth baseball and softball remain popular. The city, as well as most of the surrounding townships and boroughs, have leagues that practice and play at the municipal parks and ballfields sprinkled across town, including Brandon Park in the East End . Fishing is another common pastime, with the trout- and walleye-stocked Rose Valley Lake, as well as Lycoming Creek, which winds east of the Newberry neighborhood. Hunters can go to the expansive state-protected hunting lands surrounding the city. Williamsport is within 20 miles of large state-maintained parks such as Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. The region’s four seasons range from warm summers to cold winters that see an average of 40 inches of snow. However, locals don’t abandon the parks in the winter. Rolling hills become sledding ramps, and hiking trails welcome cross-country skiers and snowmobilers.
Parents enjoy watching their kids play baseball on the beautiful field at Brandon Park.
The Susquehanna River Walk in Williamsport, PA, is known for excellent fishing opportunities.
Visitors can hike the meandering trail of Loyalsock State forest in Gamble Township, PA.
Minutes from the Cogan House neighborhood is Ski Sawmill Resort for year round fun.
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Home of the Little League World Series
The best youth baseball teams around the world come to the Williamsport area every August for the Little League World Series, bringing more than 300,000 fans with them. The Grand Slam Parade through Downtown Williamsport kicks off the 10-day tournament, which is played nearby in South Williamsport. Families in town may attend the free Little League World Series games, while other locals skip the traffic around the ballpark by avoiding the event entirely. The series is a boon for local businesses, says Williamsport Business Association Administrator Michaela Henne. “It provides an opportunity for local businesses to be involved and get their logos in front of the world. A lot of places are using local service companies to make pins and T-shirts. Businesses are making special products. They’re staying open late.” Baseball fans can also watch the Williamsport Crosscutters, a summer collegiate league made up of Major League Baseball draft prospects.
Fans enjoy a beautiful sunset as teams compete in the Little League World Series.
The Little League logo adorns the first intersection upon arriving in Downtown Williamsport.
Explore the history of baseball at the World of Little League Museum in South Williamsport, PA.
Families from across the world gather for the Little League World Series.
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Victorian architecture still prominent
One of the most attractive features of Williamsport’s housing market is its low prices. The median price of $180,000 is much lower than the statewide or national median prices, according to the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors. The city’s economic success during the late 1800s triggered a construction boom, and the Italianate and Queen Anne-style homes built during the period remain prominent, with large Victorian-era estates built by industry tycoons defining the Millionaires Row Historic District . Development later pushed outward to neighborhoods like Washington , where American Foursquare homes and Colonial Revivals occupy compact lots. North and south of the city limits, houses with large acreages, some of them farms, dot the rural landscape.
The West Branch Susquehanna River frequently flooded the city until the Army Corps of Engineers built a levee in the ‘50s. That embankment has reduced flood risks in Williamsport, according to FEMA. However, creekside communities north of the city, such as the village of Trout Run, did flood when Tropical Storm Debby dumped rain on the region in 2024.
There are many colorful Victorians in Little League Boulevard.
Park Avenue is a convenient neighborhood with lower prices than nearby communities in PA.
It's not unusual to find many examples of American foursquare homes in Newberry.
The West Branch Susquehanna River, south of Vallamont, offers scenic views and fishing spots.
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Williamsport business make craft beers, build aircraft parts
Boutique restaurants and microbreweries fill the 19th-century buildings downtown. Locals visit many of them on the first Friday of each month, when downtown streets close to traffic and fill with musicians, food trucks and sidewalk dining. People also head downtown to catch concerts, stand-up shows and Williamsport Symphony Orchestra performances at the Community Arts Center, a retrofitted 1920s movie theater. East 3rd Street is a shopping destination known locally as The Golden Strip. Shopping centers and strip malls along the road feature supermarkets, big-box stores and chain restaurants.
Fink says the region is still known for its industrial businesses, but it learned hard lessons when the timber industry toppled a century ago. “After the lumber industry went bust, the chamber at the time made a concerted effort to never allow the business economy to be driven by one industry sector. We’ve mirrored that to this day, going after a bunch of different types of businesses.” Today, manufacturers in the area make aircraft engines, plastic components and even Pop-Tarts. Hospitals and colleges also serve as major employers.
The Crooked Goose is a place where friends gather in Downtown Williamsport.
Locals love the outdoor dining available in Downtown Williamsport.
Otto Bookstore in Downtown Williamsport is the oldest independently owned bookstore in the US.
Williamsport Community Arts Center hosts the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.
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Music education a highlight at Williamsport schools
Graded a B-plus by Niche, the Williamsport Area School District emphasizes music education from kindergarten through high school. The district only encompasses eight schools, including one high school, but it supports three bands, three orchestras and 10 vocal groups. The Millionaire Singers, Williamsport Area High School’s student choir, even sang at the White House in 2023.
Higher learning includes Lycoming College and Pennsylvania College of Technology. The former is a 200-year-old private liberal arts school where social sciences and business are among the most common majors. Meanwhile, public school Pennsylvania College of Technology, an affiliate of Penn State, is more popular for two- and four-year degrees in engineering, nursing and culinary arts.
Williamsport Area Senior High School receives an overall B+ grade from niche.com.
Pennsylvania College of Technology borders Millionaire's Row.
Lycoming College is a private liberal arts college in Downtown Williamsport.
Andrew Curtin School has a terrific music program.
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Lower-than-average violent crime rate
The number of crimes reported to the Williamsport Bureau of Police dropped gradually between 2022 and 2023, according to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Thefts accounted for more than half the crimes reported in 2023. Meanwhile, the city’s violent crime rate was lower than national or statewide figures in 2023, per FBI data.
Connections across town via I-180, Route 15
Most residents drive, using Interstate 180 to cruise east to west across Williamsport and taking U.S. Route 15 to areas north and south of town. Besides Little League World Series congestion, traffic is rare. Williamsport isn’t in the vicinity of a large city, but it’s within 200 miles of New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. River Valley Transit Authority operates bus routes across the city and shuttles to outlying boroughs. Williamsport Regional Airport offers direct flights to Washington Dulles International Airport outside of Washington.
On average, homes in Williamsport, PA sell after 30 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Williamsport, PA over the last 12 months is $167,500, up 57% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Median List Price
$362,500
Median Sale Price
$167,500
Median Single Family Sale Price
$415,000
Median Change From 1st List Price
16%
Last 12 months Home Sales
17
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
57%
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$223
Neighborhood Facts
Number of Homes in Neighborhood
10,531
Number of Homes for Sale
2
Median Year Built
1947
Months of Supply
1.40
Average Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,744
Below the national average
1,924
Average Townhouse Size Sq Ft
2,166
Average 2 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
1,300
Average 1 Bedroom Size Sq Ft
960
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
10,018
Cost of Living Comparison
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Top Schools in Williamsport, PA
Source:
Best Public Elementary Schools
#1 Hepburn-Lycoming Elementary School
A-
Niche
6
GreatSchools
#2 Stevens Elementary School
B
Niche
#3 Donald E. Schick School
B+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#4 Jackson Elementary School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#5 Lycoming Valley Intermediate School
B
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#6 Central Elementary School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#7 Curtin Intermediate School
B-
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#8 Cochran Elementary School
B-
Niche
3
GreatSchools
Best Public Middle Schools
#1 Loyalsock Township Middle School
A-
Niche
8
GreatSchools
#2 Williamsport Area Middle School
B
Niche
5
GreatSchools
#3 Rommelt Elementary School
C+
Niche
5
GreatSchools
Best Public High Schools
#1 Loyalsock Township Senior High School
B+
Niche
7
GreatSchools
#2 Williamsport Area Senior High School
B+
Niche
4
GreatSchools
#3 South Williamsport Area Junior/Senior High School
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
