Practical commutability and investments in Southwest York’s historic blocks
Situated between the manicured green campuses of Penn Park and York College of Pennsylvania, Southwest York is a neighborhood set within walking distance of community schools and the city center. “There’s some multi-family properties and a lot of investors looking at Southwest York because of the college,” says Nathan Barshinger, an agent with eXp Realty who specializes in York County, where he was born and raised. “Then, in areas like around Penn Park, you get families looking for proximity to York city schools, so they can walk the kids to school and rely less on school buses.” Outside of its practical position within the county seat, however, Southwest York is also an understated repository of centuries of history, where modern residents live in the preserved 20th century architecture of the industrial age and explore a park where a Soldiers and Sailors Memorial immortalizes the city’s Civil War significance.
Blocks of early 20th century homes for purchase and for rent
Long, flat stretches and gently sloping grades make up the residential blocks of Southwest York, lined with sidewalks and closely packed rows of homes built in the early 20th century. Most are rowhomes, either in simple, boxy forms or Victorian-inspired designs with protruding bay windows or Italianate cornices, though buyers can also find twin homes and less common detached properties. Properties sold as single-family homes usually range from $70,000 to $225,000, while multi-family homes marketed to investors go for $150,000 to $325,000 depending on renovation levels and number of rentable units. “There are places like West Jackson Street that are known for having more college renters, but others are more privately owned. You might hear some parties during the school year, but nothing too crazy,” Barshinger notes. Partially due to York College’s proximity, most residents are renters rather than homeowners.
Escape the summer heat under a covered front porch in Southwest York.
Covered front porches sit on the bottom level of 3 story row homes next to duplexes in Southwest York.
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Attending York City schools and York College
For prekindergarten through eighth grade, kids will attend either McKinley School or Jackson School, both of which are within Southwest York and earn a C-minus from Niche. C-rated William Penn Senior High School is just outside the neighborhood, offering older students the opportunity to enroll in dual enrollment courses through local institutions like York College. York College was founded in 1787 and offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees. Fewer than 1,000 students become Spartans each year, many of whom enroll in the school’s popular nursing and mechanical engineering programs.
William Penn Senior High School serves students from ninth to twelfth grade.
York College of Pennsylvania sits on the border of the Southwest York.
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Spending time at Penn Park and on the Heritage Rail Trail
Columbia, the feminine spirit of America that predated Lady Liberty, towers atop a 35-foot marble pillar in Southwest York, gazing over the vast green space that once housed the largest Union army hospital in the state. Today, Penn Park’s acreage is a public park, full of playground equipment, athletic courts and paved walking paths that open year-round, plus a splash park that switches on through the warmer months. The Heritage Rail Trail County Park spans more than 20 miles, hugging Codorus Creek as it passes Southwest York and taking cyclists and walkers past bridges, tunnels and stations that once served the Northern Central Railroad.
The Heritage Rail Trail provides a scenic walking and bike path along the Susquehanna River.
Children of Southwest York can choose from 2 jungle gyms to slide down at Penn Park.
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Commuting around York City and York County
Sidewalks throughout Southwest York make it easy to walk south toward York College or north toward downtown York. Interstate 83 business loop, or George Street, puts county seat destinations like the York County Courthouse and York City Hall within about a mile of the neighborhood, with WellSpan York Hospital even closer to home just across from York College’s campus. Outside of using a personal vehicle, locals bike through town on the Heritage Rail Trail and some connected bike lanes or hop on one of a few rabbittransit bus routes. Harrisburg, and the nearby Harrisburg International Airport, are about 30 miles away by way of I-83.
Retail shops of vintage clothes and designer options are found less than a mile from Southwest York, Downtown.
Rabbit Transit busses connect East Side with the surrounding areas such as downtown York.
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Shopping and dining within a mile of Southwest York
A handful of small businesses pop up throughout Southwest York, including corner stores like Jackson Street Grocery. Murph’s Study Hall is a bar named for its position near York College, but very little studying goes on during its weekly karaoke, trivia and club music dance nights. Lidl is just over a mile from home for groceries, while the dozens of boutique shops and diverse restaurants of downtown York are equidistant in the opposite direction. Small churches hold services throughout the neighborhood, including Bethlehem Baptist Church and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.
The Copper Crust in Violet Hill offers sandwiches, pizzas, and everything in between.
Southwest York students of York College head to the local bar, Murph's Study Hall to unwind after class.
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Community events at Penn Park
York’s parks and recreation department includes Penn Park in its list of venues for community events. Some are holiday celebrations like Juneteenth, when families are invited to bring their grills and lawn chairs for a whole-community cookout. The large green space has hosted many events in years past, from food truck festivals and Puerto Rican heritage events to basketball tournaments.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Logan Hutton,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Penn Park
Basketball
Bike Trails
Picnic Area
Transit
Airport
Harrisburg International
44 min drive
Bus
S. Queen St. & Harding Ct. Ob.
Bus
S. George St. & Church Ave. Ob.
Bus
W. Jackson St. & Cleveland Ave. Ib.
Bus
W. Cottage Pl. & Newberry St. Ib.
Bus
S. George St. & Boundary Ave. Ob.
Bus
S. Pershing Ave. & Lafayette St.
Bus
W. Jackson St. & Newberry St. Ob.
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Southwest York
US
Homicide
7
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
5
4
Robbery
6
4
Burglary
4
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
4
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
5
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Southwest York Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Southwest York, York sell after 33 days on the market compared to the national average of 52 days. The median sale price for homes in Southwest York, York over the last 12 months is $127,500, down 5% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 272 W Jackson St - a five bedroom, one and a half bathroom home situated just a few blocks from York College. On the first floor you'll find the living room, dining room, kitchen and a half bathroom. The second floor features three spacious bedrooms and a full bathroom. On the third floor you'll find two additional bedrooms allowing for plenty of space. The property also has a
Welcome to 284 W Maple St, York, PA – a beautifully refreshed 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath home offering the perfect blend of charm and updates. Step inside to discover fresh interior paint and brand-new flooring, giving the home a bright, clean, and move-in-ready feel.The main living spaces are filled with natural light, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The kitchen offers ample space for
Property Id: 2105050Beautifully renovated 5-bedroom semi-detached home. Boasting a complete, high-quality remodel throughout, this property offers modern living with space for the whole family. Enjoy a stylish new kitchen, updated bathrooms, fresh flooring, and paint. Located in a desirable area, this move-in ready gem won't last long! Schedule your showing today.
2nd floor - 1 bedroom , 1 bathroom apartment with kitchen and dining room combo, living room, CAC, new counter top and flooring. No pets and no smoking indoors.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Logan Hutton,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
6,076
Median Age
30
Population Density
1 person/acre
Population under 18
31.3%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
10.2%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$36,549
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$51,752
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
80.4%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
10.4%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
5.8%
% Population in Labor Force
61%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
47''
Average Winter Low Temperature
22°F
Average Summer High Temperature
87°F
Annual Snowfall
2''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
66/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
73/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
44/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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.
