2023 Best Places to Live in the Lancaster Area

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.73 out of 5  94 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 94 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Population 43,249

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.6 out of 5  10 reviews

Current Resident: Good schools. Very small town but only a few minutes from a smaller city with everything you may need. If willing to drive up to 30 minutes, lots of job opportunities. Great medical facilities.... Read 10 reviews

• grade A

• grade A

• Population 2,493

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.09 out of 5  33 reviews

Current Resident: I have felt very safe in Millersville the past 4 years I have spent here during college. The campus is located not far from Lancaster City. It is nice that the campus is outside of the city but close enough that it is only a short drive to get into the city. The public schools around Millersville are in the Penn Manor school district and they are very nice and big schools. There are some restaurants near/ on the campus and a gas station right down the road. it is nice not having a ton of traffic in the area. For more things to do, Lancaster City is not a far drive.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 7,698

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 3,094

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  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

• Population 2,995

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.83 out of 5  23 reviews

Current Resident: My overall experience in Willow Street has been good. We haven't had any problems with neighbors. Shopping centers and restaurants are close by. There's a retirement community. We very rarely experience extreme weather.... Read 23 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 9,338

• Town in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.95 out of 5  176 reviews

Current Resident: I live in Downtown Lancaster and love it a lot because it is easily walkable and there are so many places to eat, shop or take care of any needs you have. Outside of town in the suburbs is also very accessible due to the city bus that goes all over the entire county. It is very kid and pet friendly as well. I see why people have lived here for so long or most of their lives. It's not a major city but an hour and a half from Philadelphia and the Baltimore/DC area. Lots of fun things to do and small businesses to support as well. I also love how there are so many public parks to do things in. Everyone here is super friendly and welcoming. Also lots of job opportunities; it didn't take me long to find a job after living here for a short while. I highly recommend moving to Lancaster like I did or just visiting!... Read 176 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B minus

• Population 58,034

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  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

• Population 4,581

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.17 out of 5  12 reviews

Other: It’s a very safe environment, but some robbery going on as well. Personal it’s alright basically small townhouses.... Read 12 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 7,721

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.32 out of 5  31 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 31 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 8,251

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.21 out of 5  73 reviews

Current Resident: Lititz is a safe, unique, and small town. It is peaceful, quiet, and cutesy- which attracts many tourists. I like the events that Lititz holds often such as Fire and Ice, the Craft Show, and our 4th of July celebration. Another unique aspect of Lititz is Rock Lititz, which is a production studio that works on huge projects regarding celebrities, concerts, and entertainment such as WWE. Despite being small, it can be pricey around here because of its attraction. The cost of certain things and events in downtown Lititz, and simply housing in Lititz, is something I wish would go down. However, regarding the community and the town, I do not believe there is anything that needs to be changed.... Read 73 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B

• Population 9,485

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4 out of 5  7 reviews

Current Resident: Strasburg has so much to do, while being safe and a great place to move to! As someone that is low income, there are plenty of opprutunities that cater to your needs such as clothing closets, food banks, and more.... Read 7 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A

• Population 3,103

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 1.5 out of 5  2 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A minus

• Population 4,351

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.69 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Great area to raise a family! We recently moved to Mt Joy to change up our lifestyle. Close to everything, safe, and pleasant. Quiet surroundings and many places to get out and enjoy the weather.... Read 16 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade B+

• Population 10,672

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  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

• Population 3,400

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Current Resident: Conestoga is a great place because it's very quiet and peaceful. Even though it can be extremely annoying in the winter because the snow traps us a lot of time, it is still a very beautiful setting... Read 4 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A

• Population 1,103

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3 out of 5  12 reviews

Current Resident: West Nottingham has such a “rural family” feel. It has beautiful fields and Nottingham Park, as well as many old traditions.... Read 12 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 2,769

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.95 out of 5  19 reviews

Current Resident: Manheim is a quiet, suburban town in the middle of Pennsylvania. Known for its hardworking people and support of the local community. School sport is huge and people can easily connect over sports and the local events. Manheim's location allows residents to be quickly in major cities like Lancaster, Lebanon, and Harrisburg, but also attractions like Hershey Park and Amish Country. History buffs also get their share of opportunities since Gettysburg, Valley Forge, and other important sites are only an hour away.... Read 19 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 5,036

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 4 out of 5  16 reviews

Current Resident: Nice friendly town, well kept homes with beautiful landscapes, lovely roads, less congested on the farm roads, easy to find fruits & vegetables... Read 16 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B

• Population 2,381

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  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

• Population 2,977

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.56 out of 5  9 reviews

Current Resident: Marietta is a beautiful small town. It recently acquired a new shop called "The Artful Nest" which is a wonderful addition. There are some occasional issues with noise, and there is a train track near by, so keep that in mind if thats not something you can become use to.... Read 9 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A minus

• Population 2,694

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.79 out of 5  62 reviews

Current Resident: When I was growing up here in Ephrata, PA, I really didn't like it. I felt like everyone kinda grows tired of where they were born and raised. Over the years, I have traveled all over the USA and overseas. Every time I come back to Ephrata, PA I love it even more. It is a quiet town with so much room for growth. We are perfectly located where everything is cheap, but if I wanted to drive 3.5 hours away, I could go to NYC or Washington DC or even towards Pittsburgh. I can eat at national chain restaurants or gather fresh produce from an Amish or Mennonite stand. I have grown to appreciate Ephrata for its simplicity and peace of mind. I feel I can do a lot of things in this small town. We are building more near the highway ramp which is bringing new people and experiences to the area. I can't wait to see what they bring to this amazing small town. I can't wait to see what people experience while being at peace.... Read 62 reviews

• grade B+

• grade B+

• Population 13,767

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  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+

• Population 4,132

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

• grade B

• grade B minus

• Population 2,628

• Suburb in Pennsylvania

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  Rating 3.67 out of 5  78 reviews

Current Resident: Elizabethtown serves as a quiet bedroom community for Hershey, Harrisburg, York and Lancaster. It has great schools with dedicated teachers. It smells terrific. Why? There is the smell of chocolate emanating from the major employer at the M&M Mars factory right in the middle of town! This is a quiet town with openness to all. It has great churches and of course a small college, which also means about 10 pizza shops. Neighbors are friendly and welcoming. It is located on the west side of Lancaster County, PA Dutch country with Amish and Mennonite heritage. That means all the fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers one can dream of. It is picturesque, surrounded by beautiful farm land, lots of trees and safe neighborhoods. Elizabethtown is primarily conservative due to its rich heritage. It also has its share of restaurants, taverns and fast food. The shopping district is growing, but you’ll travel a few miles to find a Walmart - which to many is a good thing.... Read 78 reviews

• grade B

• grade B

• Population 11,574