2022 Best Places to Live in Lancaster County

Manheim Township

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  91 reviews

Current Resident: Manheim Township boasts many amenities including a highly rated school district, many stores and restaurants, and an airport nearby. The area is safe and conveniently located to both Lititz and Lancaster City...Read 91 Reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• 40,028 Population

Landisville

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  10 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 2,117 Population

Salunga

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

• grade A

• grade A

• 3,139 Population

Millersville

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 4.07 out of 5  29 reviews

Current Resident: Millersville is a very safe community, mainly due to being a college town. There are Millersville Borough Police and Millersville University Police that patrol. Millersville contains Penn Manor School District's Eshleman Elementary School and Penn Manor High School. College-wise, Millersville University is located in Millersville. Millersville has many places to eat, such as Two Cousin's Pizza, Jake's Wayback Burgers, Tropical Smoothie, Sheetz, etc. For the most part, properties in Millersville are up-kept and nice by their owners. Lancaster City is only located a few miles from Millersville too...Read 29 Reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• 8,322 Population

Strasburg

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  6 reviews

Current Resident: This town is a very close knit community with plenty to offer. It is also a beautiful town to explore. I have lived here for 18 years and absolutely love it!Read 6 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 2,974 Population

Lancaster

• Town in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.93 out of 5  161 reviews

Current Resident: Lancaster is awesome - flat out. Comparing the city to other cities based on population and total area, it blows every other Pennsylvanian city out of the water. I’m a NEPA native, Philly graduate and cover most of PA for work. Lancaster’s scene is more than the typical “Amish,” and “farmlands.” It boasts an amazing art, food, and creative scene. While also boasting great technical, private, and public colleges, along with an amazing healthcare industry. I’ve been blown away by Lancaster, as it seems to becoming a hipster-haven for transplants from Philly, NY, and Baltimore. Constant construction keeps the city modern, and attracts jobs and families. With 3+ shopping plazas and malls to choose from, and a wealth of great golf courses and recreation. Lancaster is an amazing mini-metro for young professionals, families, elderly, all-the-while being an inclusive and diverse city. Much unlike many other PA cities aside from PHI & PITT. If you want to visit, don’t hesitate...Read 161 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• 59,433 Population

East Petersburg

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  5 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in East Pete since I was born. The community has always been supportive and friendly. There are lots of community events which are enriching and lead to stringer bonds between neighbors and friends. This small town has a lot to offer in the ways of community and friendship...Read 5 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 4,520 Population

Leola

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: It it small and surrounded by farmland. Good businesses located at convenient distance. Roads are inconsistent, some are good, some are in bad condition. School district is also nice.Read 10 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• 7,576 Population

Mountville

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in the same house in Mountville my entire life. I attended Mountville Elementary school in my childhood years. I can wholeheartedly say that I have enjoyed living in Mountville. It is small, but local to everything. Downtown lancaster is minutes away. Almost any store is within 15 minutes of driving. My personal neighborhood has had very few "issues" and I barely have any complaints. While Mountville is not racially diverse, people have diverse economic backgrounds which builds and wonderful community to grow up in...Read 12 Reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 2,855 Population

Lampeter

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

• grade A minus

• grade A

• 1,358 Population

Lititz

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  69 reviews

Current Resident: We have had a house in Lititz for 14 years. The diversity has increased and I see more people of color and pride flags flying on homes. It seems like the culture is slowly changing from less conservative to more open minded. The parks are beautiful and there is access to the rail trail to run or bike. The downtown has local small businesses and restaurants. One will often see six figure cars show up by General Sutters. We now have two "fancy" restaurants since the Wilbur factory was taken over by the hotel. There are many rentals and two family homes in the heart of town, which become more single family homes as you move slightly further away. We are in walking distance of downtown, which I love, but this area is more lower middle class, and it can show...Read 69 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• 9,335 Population

Mount Joy Township

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  15 reviews

Niche User: I personally love the area but I notice most people seek to leave. The people are friendly but also live in their own independent ways. I love Donegal High School and surrounding schools but some students struggle in the environment. I like being in the middle of nowhere but still having stuff to do around. This area is much nicer than other places and is even better than surrounding towns. In the future, the neighborhoods might be less decent and more trashy. Overall though the area tends to stay the same...Read 15 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• 11,029 Population

Akron

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Akron is a very enjoyable small town to live in. It is a nice, family friendly town that is very close to many other attractions. Close by is Ephrata where children will attend school. Also close by is Lancaster City where there are many things to do and to explore. New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC, and Pittsburgh are relatively close as well...Read 16 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• 3,997 Population

Elizabethtown

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.72 out of 5  71 reviews

Current Resident: Elizabethtown is a small town located between a few of PA's larger towns. I personally very much enjoy the area and all the people in it! The square has quite a few day time activities, and plenty of small stores for you to shop in. If you get hungry, there are also a lot of choices to fill your platter. To anyone looking for a place to visit, I would recommend it if you love looking at murals, and find older buildings unique and pretty. There is a wonderful park not too far from the square that you can hang around at and have fun with your friends or family. Overall, I highly recommend Elizabethtown!...Read 71 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• 11,469 Population

Mount Joy

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  30 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Mount Joy my whole life (21 years) and I cant say anything wrong about it. All the other reviews on here are accurate. Its a small town, but its definitely not in the middle of nowhere. Hersheypark stadium (where states are held for most athletics and also where the big names come here for concerts) is only 15 minutes away. All the big name stores/outlets/restaurants are within 15-20 minutes in pretty much any direction. There are good colleges within 30 minutes that are easy to commute to. If I have to drive more then 30 minutes thats a long drive for this area. Public schools are clean, diverse, safe, and have a really good staff. Its a solid place to raise kids no matter who you are. Sometimes people complain about taxes but my feeling has always been that you get what you pay for and then some. Im the youngest of 4 and all my siblings have Mount Joy as their top choice (even though their spouses are from out of area) because we all agree you cant beat Mount Joy...Read 30 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 8,163 Population

Marietta

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: I have lived in Marietta for the majority of my life and I like it. The school district is good, I actually love my school and all the staff. I am involved in tons of extracurricular activities and the community is very supportive and close...Read 7 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 2,610 Population

Brownstown

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Current Resident: Brownstown is a wonderful small town. I wish the community was more tight knit with business and changes.Read 1 Review

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 2,576 Population

Swartzville

Niche User: This is a great place to live. For the most part, the people here are very nice and they have good values compared to people in a lot of places. There are many things to do and see in the area, as it draws tourists because of the vast countryside and the many Amish in the area, as well as countless antique shops. It wouldn't be considered an extremely wealthy area, but the living conditions and overall quality of life is very good. I am glad that I live here...Read 3 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 2,850 Population

Willow Street

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.82 out of 5  22 reviews

Current Resident: Willow Street has the benefits of rural space with the closeness of urban life. It has a fun, small-town feel, but you don't have to drive 45 minutes to get to a Target. Half of your neighbors will be Amish and they will make the best baked goods you've ever had in your life...Read 22 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• 8,478 Population

Manheim

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: I love everything about Manheim, my boss are it here! We wish we can find a place just like this in the south!Read 16 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• 4,867 Population

Ephrata

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  56 reviews

Current Resident: Ephrata is a small town located in southeastern Pennsylvania. It very much is part of the "slice of life" communities that those who want to live away from crowded cities dream of. However, it is a thirty minute drive or less from Lancaster, York, and Reading, and only a little more than an hour to Philadelphia or Harrisburg. Lancaster county itself has several rural farming communities but also a historic, central city that has plenty to offer in terms of fun. Ephrata can be a little slow, yet it is safe and has quite a few restaurants and family activities like ice cream parlors, walking trails, and an arcade...Read 56 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• 13,810 Population

Rothsville

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  8 reviews

Niche User: I grew up here and I moved back a year ago. I was in another state for 3 years. I love Lancaster County more then what I had thought. don't know if I'll ever move permanently.Read 8 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• 2,586 Population

Adamstown

Nearby Resident: I'm from the midwest and I've lived in the south as well. This is a great location--the PA turnpike is only a mile or two away and Rt 222 connects Berks County and Lancaster County--we're right on the border. Good schools and a terrific library system in both counties, plus a brand new library in town. I love antiques and it doesn't get much better than this--antique malls, stores and flea markets concentrated right here, but more in every direction. We love to walk in our neighborhood and there are trails and parks all around the area. The history is rich and we have Amish buggies going past our house every week. If I had a complaint, it's that Pennsylvania isn't known as "Taxilvania" for nothing, but if you come from either coast, you probably won't think it's so bad. Overall, it's a great place to live...Read 4 Reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• 2,492 Population

Terre Hill

• grade B+

• grade B

• 1,161 Population

Maytown

• Suburb in Pennsylvania
• •
  Rating 1.5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade B

• grade A minus

• 3,928 Population