Moving to the Harrisburg/Lancaster Area, Help? (York, Hershey: low crime, home)

[jdavis0806]

I recently found out that my job will be transferring me to the Harrisburg/Lancaster area from Georgia. Any info on cities that are good for parents with young children? What are the winters like? Snow all the time? Need any advice I can get. Thanks.

[Hopes]

It's not snow all the time in that part of eastern Pennsylvania.

Most snow dumps in western, northern and central Pennsylvania.

The area of Pennsylvania you're moving to has a more of a mid-atlantic climate.

[sampler]

If I were moving to that area, I would pick Lititz. Great small town feeling, midwayish between Lancaster and Harrisburg.
Good luck!

Karen

[trlstreet]

I like Lititz (grew up there) but it is getting too crowded (and expensive) for me. My first suggestion would be Mount Joy if you like a smaller town w/ a cool little business district. I like Marietta and Maytown, though they are much smaller. Elizabethtown is a larger town w/ a college, it is roughly halfway between Lancaster and Harrisburg. All have good school districts and low crime rates. All of these towns are within a short distance of 283, the major highway between Harrisburg and Lancaster.

Winters are usually mild (w/ regards to snow) but we can get hammered by the occasional nor'easter. You will generally see larger snow amounts as you head north and west through Pa.

[bnepler]

I grew up in the Harrisburg area. The "West Shore" area, Camp Hill, New Cumberland, Lemoyne, etc. are good areas. On the "East Shore", Susquahanna Township, Lower Paxtown Township, Linglestown(lived here for 30 years), Hummelstown(home town) and Hershey, home of Hershey Park. Most of these towns are grest for families. Outside of Lancaster is Lititz, Mt. Joy, E-town and many little rural farm towns plus lots of farms..

[jdavis0806]

I appreciate all the information.

[openless]

There are also several beautiful covered bridges, what part of georgia are you coming from? there cost of living will be a little higher, but so will the pay. take care, if you have any questions, private message me. i live in and work in he harrisburg area. and have spend much time in lancaster, lebanon and carlisle. what company do you work for?

[meandb]

We're looking for much the same. From my research, it seems like Lancaster schools (I'm looking west side) have more "above average" rated districts - Hempsfield and Manheim Township are said to be of the best, but Elizabethtown, Warwick, Penn Manor are also up there in ratings. Heard to stay away from Lancaster City and Columbia. Do a search on tax rates for the different counties too - familar with millage rates? I actaully found Lancaster rates to be a bit less than some of the surrounding areas - even York county.

[bunchakids]

I have lived in Lower Paxton for the past 12 yrs, and really like it. We have a great grade school (paxtonia), and a brand new high school (central dauphin). We are looking to move south in the next couple years, because my husband hates the cold, but we do not get much snow here anymore. Some nice towns to look in between here and lancaster would be hershey and hummelstown. I would stay away from the camp hill area...very snobby town and overpriced. And traffic is horrible. Sorry I don't know much about lancaster area, other than camping trips we have taken. Lots of flat farmland and amish in lancaster, which make it very quaint, but rt. 30 has it's traffic problems. Especially in summer, when it's the only route toward the jersey/md beaches. feel free to email me if you have ?'s I'll try to help!

[BBGsinger]

Lancaster itself is a small city, and outside of it are just small "towns".

Here are some worth checking out:
Manheim (Manheim Central Schools)
Elizabethtown (E-town Schools)
Millersville (Penn Manor Schools)
Lititz (Warwick Schools)
Lancaster (Hempfield OR Manheim Township Schools)
Strasburg (Lampeter Strasburg Schools)

Good Luck!