Relocation advice- Lancaster area (Philadelphia, Harrisburg: condo, low crime, townhouse)

[LK1702]

Hello everyone,

My mother is thinking about relocating, and we have been searching and searching for the perfect place. We currently live in Hershey, but the housing prices are much too high for us (we are in a condo now but want a small single family), and my mom would like to go to a non-tourist town.

I'm hoping somebody can point us in the right direction. My mom would like to stay somewhere in between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and be close to Amtrak transportation. She would have to live in an area with access to high quality medical care (hospital and satellite offices) and some form of public transportation. We would prefer a walkable town as opposed to something completely rural, as the two of us walk everywhere and rarely use the car around town. The area would have to be safe (we have been quite spoiled by the low crime rates in Hershey), and ideally, she could find a decent (but small) single family for under $175,000.

I know that this is a dream laundry list, but I really hope somebody can help us out. Hershey meets a lot of these criteria, but it's no longer viable for us to remain in town. I think somewhere in Lancaster County might be a good option, but we're just not as familiar with the area as we should be.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

[danwxman]

Originally Posted by LK1702

Hello everyone,

My mother is thinking about relocating, and we have been searching and searching for the perfect place. We currently live in Hershey, but the housing prices are much too high for us (we are in a condo now but want a small single family), and my mom would like to go to a non-tourist town.

I'm hoping somebody can point us in the right direction. My mom would like to stay somewhere in between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and be close to Amtrak transportation. She would have to live in an area with access to high quality medical care (hospital and satellite offices) and some form of public transportation. We would prefer a walkable town as opposed to something completely rural, as the two of us walk everywhere and rarely use the car around town. The area would have to be safe (we have been quite spoiled by the low crime rates in Hershey), and ideally, she could find a decent (but small) single family for under $175,000.

I know that this is a dream laundry list, but I really hope somebody can help us out. Hershey meets a lot of these criteria, but it's no longer viable for us to remain in town. I think somewhere in Lancaster County might be a good option, but we're just not as familiar with the area as we should be.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

I would think anywhere along the Amtrak corridor would be perfect. Middletown, Elizabethtown and Mt. Joy all offer what you are looking for. Probably the first two more then the latter.

[ki0eh]

Especially Elizabethtown. A lot of trains don't stop in Middletown or Mount Joy. No hospital in any of the three towns though, must drive to Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster. Middletown does have a new Giant grocery in-town rather than out at the edge. But I heard the Middletown train station is in danger of closing or might move to the airport.

[lititzman2003]

Originally Posted by LK1702

Hello everyone,

My mother is thinking about relocating, and we have been searching and searching for the perfect place. We currently live in Hershey, but the housing prices are much too high for us (we are in a condo now but want a small single family), and my mom would like to go to a non-tourist town.

I'm hoping somebody can point us in the right direction. My mom would like to stay somewhere in between Harrisburg and Philadelphia and be close to Amtrak transportation. She would have to live in an area with access to high quality medical care (hospital and satellite offices) and some form of public transportation. We would prefer a walkable town as opposed to something completely rural, as the two of us walk everywhere and rarely use the car around town. The area would have to be safe (we have been quite spoiled by the low crime rates in Hershey), and ideally, she could find a decent (but small) single family for under $175,000.

I know that this is a dream laundry list, but I really hope somebody can help us out. Hershey meets a lot of these criteria, but it's no longer viable for us to remain in town. I think somewhere in Lancaster County might be a good option, but we're just not as familiar with the area as we should be.

Any advice is appreciated. Thanks!

Lititz may work for your mother as well. There are some older sections that she may be able to purchase a townhouse within her price range. The Route 10 bus can transport her to downtown Lancaster where the Amtrak station is. It also passes the Heart of Lancaster General Hospital and a number of doctor's offices. The crime rate in Warwick Township is very low. The business district is one of the best in the County; very pedestrian-friendly.

[Lakeland Yankee]

Originally Posted by danwxman

I would think anywhere along the Amtrak corridor would be perfect. Middletown, Elizabethtown and Mt. Joy all offer what you are looking for. Probably the first two more then the latter.

Originally Posted by ki0eh

Especially Elizabethtown. A lot of trains don't stop in Middletown or Mount Joy. No hospital in any of the three towns though, must drive to Harrisburg, Hershey, Lancaster. Middletown does have a new Giant grocery in-town rather than out at the edge. But I heard the Middletown train station is in danger of closing or might move to the airport.

I agree with these posts. Elizabethtown has an Amtrak station and is a very nice, clean, safe town to live in. It is cheaper than Hershey but offers the same quality of life.

You will need a car though to get groceries (stores are a bit of a walk from downtown although many do walk it) and go to the hospital (Hershey Medical or Lancaster General will be your closest). Otherwise the town is very walkable and has well maintained parks and downtown stores. It is extremely safe even in the middle of the night.

I'm a Lancaster County native currently living out of the state. Best of luck to you.