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Community Guide
Living in Elizabethtown, PA.
A quiet college town on Lancaster County's western edge: walkable Main Street, Elizabethtown College energy, and one of the region's best-priced entries into a strong school district.
The Numbers
Quick facts.
A snapshot of what Elizabethtown looks like on paper, helpful context before you tour.
Population
~12,200
Median Age
34.7
Median Income
$66,800
Median Home Price
$310,000
Price / Sq Ft
$165
Avg. Property Tax
~1.8%
Avg. Commute
26 min
Homeownership
58%
School District
Elizabethtown Area SD
ZIP Code
17022
Figures are approximate and drawn from public sources including the U.S. Census, Bright MLS, and district reporting. Verify with a local professional before making decisions.
The Personality
Why people love Elizabethtown.
Elizabethtown blends the character of a small historic borough with the year-round activity of a college campus. Elizabethtown College anchors the community and shapes much of its cultural life.
The borough consistently offers stronger price-per-square-foot value than comparable Lancaster County towns, drawing first-time buyers, professionals commuting to Harrisburg and Hershey, and empty nesters.
Atmosphere
College-town liveliness balanced with historic borough calm. Locals refer to it as 'E-town.'
Lifestyle
Bike-friendly streets, campus events open to the community, and a Main Street built for lingering.
Downtown
College Avenue and South Market Street host cafés, breweries, and the Elizabethtown Public Library (the heart of borough activity).
Parks & outdoors
Elizabethtown Community Park handles trails, ballfields, and the town's summer concert series.
Commute & highways
Route 283 puts Harrisburg at ~25 minutes and Hershey at ~15 minutes. Lancaster City is ~25 minutes east.
- College-town character
- Best price-per-sqft
- Bike-friendly
- Harrisburg-Hershey access
- Community events
The Market
Architecture & housing stock.
E-town offers some of the best price-per-square-foot value in the county. Well-priced homes still move quickly, but competition is less intense than Lititz or Manheim Township.
Median existing home
$310,000
Median new construction
$425,000
Typical lot size
0.20 to 0.50 acres
Average days on market
14 to 22 days
Historic single-family
1800s to 1920s homes throughout the borough core, often with wraparound porches.
Mid-century single-family
Established ranches and splits in the borough's edge neighborhoods.
Townhomes
Newer townhome supply in nearby Mount Joy Township and West Donegal.
New construction
Charter Homes and Berks Homes active in West Donegal and Mount Joy Township adjacencies.
New construction
Charter Homes
Active developments in West Donegal and Mount Joy Township adjacencies.
Berks Homes
Single-family and townhome projects along the borough's western edge.
Landmark Homes
Move-up single-family developments.
Custom builders
Metzler, Keystone, and local custom builders active in surrounding townships.
Education
Schools.
Elizabethtown Area is a mid-sized district with a strong academic and athletic reputation, particularly in music and STEM programs.
Public district
Elizabethtown Area School District
Enrollment
~3,900 students district-wide
Student:Teacher
~14:1
Strengths
Well-regarded music program, competitive STEM offerings, and strong wrestling and cross country traditions.
Elementary
- Bainbridge Elementary
- Mill Road Elementary
- Rheems Elementary
- East High Street Elementary
Middle / Intermediate
- Elizabethtown Area Middle School
High school
- Elizabethtown Area High School
Private & charter options
- Elizabethtown Christian School
- Lancaster Mennonite (nearby)
- Milton Hershey School (nearby)
School district information is provided for reference only. Ratings, boundaries, enrollment, and academic performance change from year to year. Always verify the most current information directly with the district and with sources like GreatSchools and Niche before making a home purchase decision.
The Calendar
Things to do.
A local's shortlist for eating, drinking, shopping, and spending a weekend in and around Elizabethtown.
Breakfast
- Folklore Coffee & Company
- The Skillet
Lunch & dinner
- Sicilia Pizza
- Mickey's Black Box
- Cross Keys Diner
- Cocina Mexicana
Coffee shops
- Folklore Coffee & Company
- Cornerstone Coffeehouse (nearby Camp Hill)
Bakeries
- Sweet Confection Bakery
- The Peanut Bar & Bakery (occasional pop-ups)
Breweries & wineries
- Funck's Brewing Co.
- Cider House Kitchen (short drive)
Ice cream
- Zarda Farms
- Rita's Italian Ice
Date night
- Mickey's Black Box
- Folklore for pastries and coffee
- Funck's for casual dinners
Hidden gems
- Elizabethtown College's Musser Amphitheatre summer concerts
Shopping
- Grocery: Giant, Weis, and Aldi within the borough; larger stores in nearby Mount Joy and Hershey.
- Local boutiques: Independent shops along Market Street and College Avenue.
- Shopping centers: Tanger Outlets Hershey and Park City Center are both within a 30-minute drive.
- Farmers markets: Elizabethtown Farmers Market (Fridays, seasonal) at the Community Park.
Parks & recreation
- Elizabethtown Community Park: Ballfields, walking trails, and the summer concert series.
- Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area: A short drive north: birdwatching, hiking, and one of the best snow-goose migration viewing sites in the region.
- Elizabethtown College campus: Public-friendly grounds, walking paths, and the Musser Amphitheatre.
- Northwest River Trail: Nearby access to the paved trail along the Susquehanna.
Festivals & attractions
- Elizabethtown Fair: Annual community fair with rides, food, and agricultural exhibits.
- Concerts on the Green: Free summer concert series at the Community Park.
- Middle Creek migration viewing: February, March snow-goose migration draws thousands of visitors annually.
- Elizabethtown College events: Public lectures, concerts, and athletic events year-round.
Getting Around
Commute & accessibility.
Approximate off-peak drive times from Elizabethtown to the region's major destinations, plus notes on highways, transit, and rail.
Lancaster City
25 min
Lititz
20 min
Mount Joy
12 min
Hershey
15 min
Harrisburg
25 min
York
35 min
Philadelphia
95 min
Highways
Route 283 and Route 743 provide quick access to Harrisburg, Hershey, and Lancaster.
Public transit
Limited local transit; car-dependent for most trips.
Rail / Amtrak
Amtrak Elizabethtown Station on the Keystone Corridor: direct service to Philadelphia and NYC.
Walkability
Walkable historic downtown and college campus area; suburban outside the borough
Best suited for
Families, First-Time Buyers, Retirees
Drive times are approximate and reflect typical off-peak conditions. Actual times vary with traffic, weather, and route.
Honest Fit
Who should live here.
A strong fit for
- First-time buyers seeking Lancaster County entry at attainable prices
- Young professionals commuting to Harrisburg or Hershey
- Families in the Elizabethtown Area district
- Empty nesters attracted to new-construction options in West Donegal
- Buyers who like a college-town rhythm
May not be ideal if…
- Buyers seeking Manheim Township or Warwick schools
- Anyone wanting large-city dining and nightlife
- Commuters focused primarily on Philadelphia
Plan the move
Builders, budgets, and places nearby.
- Builder active in ElizabethtownEG Stoltzfus HomesA third-generation Lancaster County builder known for careful craftsmanship and a strong farmhouse/traditional design sensibility.
- Builder active in ElizabethtownCustom Home GroupA design-forward custom builder with a strong in-house architecture team.
- CalculatorAffordability calculatorTranslate Elizabethtown pricing into a monthly payment.
- CommunitiesNew construction communitiesWhere builders are actively selling, by county and price band.
Frequently Asked
FAQs about Elizabethtown.
Financing
Mortgage insight.
Every home is different, and every buyer's situation is too. Corie Adams and her team live here, lend here, and know the appraisers, inspectors, and title companies who work Lancaster County every day.
Ready when you are
Found a home you love in Elizabethtown?
Get pre-approved first so your offer carries weight the moment you find the right house.
Nearby
Related communities.
Mount Joy
A historic Susquehanna-adjacent borough with 1800s brick storefronts, Bube's Brewery, and a growing new-construction market: small-town character with steady momentum.
Hershey
The Sweetest Place on Earth: a company town turned polished suburb with top schools, Penn State Health, and a year-round tourism economy that funds one of Pennsylvania's most amenity-rich communities.
Millersville
A walkable college borough anchored by Millersville University, one of Lancaster County's best-priced entries to a top school district, with a genuine sense of community year-round.