Small acerage near Philadelphia? (Lancaster, Chester: fit in, for sale, homes)

[ThisBeautifulWorld]

Hello everyone,
my wife and I are thinking of moving out of Los Angeles (along with my parents in-law) and close-in to Philadelphia came up in conversation with some friends as a part of the country with a lot of appeal.
They don't have specifics to guide us to what neighborhoods to look at, however.

Our background is that we're both pushing 60 and are looking for somewhere where we can find a comfortable home on a little acerage (2 - 10) but also within driving distance of an interesting metro area.
We love Los Angeles but there is simply no way we can find that place around here. Most anyplace in California is now at risk of wildfires unfortunatley, or out in the desert (can be beautiful) it's off the charts hot.


I do a lot of woodworking and my dream is to find someplace with a barn or a similar outbuilding that I can turn into a shop. I think this rules out very up-market places because while I would make every effort to be quiet I just don't want to inconvenience neighbors to the point that we are resented. Or that is so up-market that we can't afford it and where we don't fit in. We don't play golf, and we're not country club types at all.


We're both fairly community minded, we like to support local businesses and we're the sort of people who believe in joining in local environmental efforts.

I hope that tells you what I asking about, but if not just let me know and I'll try to be clearer.

Thanks!

[lpranger467]

I would consider Lancaster County, or far southern Chester County. More rural (more bang for your buck) and like minding crafty folks out in Lancaster County (heavily Amish).

Originally Posted by ThisBeautifulWorld

Hello everyone,
my wife and I are thinking of moving out of Los Angeles (along with my parents in-law) and close-in to Philadelphia came up in conversation with some friends as a part of the country with a lot of appeal.
They don't have specifics to guide us to what neighborhoods to look at, however.

Our background is that we're both pushing 60 and are looking for somewhere where we can find a comfortable home on a little acerage (2 - 10) but also within driving distance of an interesting metro area.
We love Los Angeles but there is simply no way we can find that place around here. Most anyplace in California is now at risk of wildfires unfortunatley, or out in the desert (can be beautiful) it's off the charts hot.


I do a lot of woodworking and my dream is to find someplace with a barn or a similar outbuilding that I can turn into a shop. I think this rules out very up-market places because while I would make every effort to be quiet I just don't want to inconvenience neighbors to the point that we are resented. Or that is so up-market that we can't afford it and where we don't fit in. We don't play golf, and we're not country club types at all.


We're both fairly community minded, we like to support local businesses and we're the sort of people who believe in joining in local environmental efforts.

I hope that tells you what I asking about, but if not just let me know and I'll try to be clearer.

Thanks!

[ThisBeautifulWorld]

Thanks Ipranger, I had a look at some places online over near Lancaster city, and they look great. Appreciate it.


Are there any smaller towns out there that are regarded as being attractive places to live near?
The Lancaster metro area has a population of about 500K, so there should be plenty of amenities around there no doubt, but if we're looking for a smaller town are there some you can name?


Thanks.

[Tweb66]

Lancaster, Berks, Lehigh, Northampton Counties are littered with places you seem to be looking for. Go farther out and you get further from what I think you are looking for. Price matters though, and that hasn't be mentioned so far.

[lpranger467]

I would maybe look around "Gap" or Downingtown. any of the towns between Philly and Lancaster along highway 30 are fairly rural

[Duderino]

Originally Posted by ThisBeautifulWorld

Thanks Ipranger, I had a look at some places online over near Lancaster city, and they look great. Appreciate it.


Are there any smaller towns out there that are regarded as being attractive places to live near?
The Lancaster metro area has a population of about 500K, so there should be plenty of amenities around there no doubt, but if we're looking for a smaller town are there some you can name?


Thanks.

LanCo communities like Lititz, Ephrata and Manheim are pretty well-regarded and offer a lot for their size, to say nothing of Lancaster City, which itself has a lot to offer for a place of 60K residents.

Good luck!

[Pennsport]

Look in south jersey - around Clarksboro, Mullica Hill, Mickleton...

[NewtownBucks]

Originally Posted by ThisBeautifulWorld

Thanks Ipranger, I had a look at some places online over near Lancaster city, and they look great. Appreciate it.


Are there any smaller towns out there that are regarded as being attractive places to live near?
The Lancaster metro area has a population of about 500K, so there should be plenty of amenities around there no doubt, but if we're looking for a smaller town are there some you can name?


Thanks.

Ephrata, Lititz, Gap, Honey Brook, just to name a few.

[Wells5]

There is a big demand for small farms in central PA, called farmettes. This area is where you'll get "the biggest bang for the buck." Bellow is a link to the Remax listing site for farms in central PA. Note that all properties are sold except one new listing near Bellefonte, PA. It's listed for $1.5 million.


Farms and Farmettes for sale in Central PA


Below are farm listings in Lancaster County.


https://www.realtor.com/realestatean...-farms-ranches

[selhars]

I would just add that you mentioned that you were thinking of being "close-in" to Phila.
That could be relative.
Just how close, or how far away, I guess are you talking about?
I don't think of Lancaster County as being "close-in" to Philly. An hour away is not "close," but that's just me.

All the places mentioned meet your other criteria. I was just thinking that more detail on that one point might clarify that for those trying to help.

Also, if being close to Lancaster suits what you're looking for, then being closer to Lancaster than Philly isn't a deal breaker because, you may hardly ever come to Philly. And if you do you could just stay overnight somewhere if you wanted to really stay for a weekend.

Also, except for places that really ONLY are in Phila, you wouldn't have to go all the way to Philly to get your academic/big city cultural institutions boost.....there's Lancaster itself, of course. AND, West Chester is closer to Lancaster County and only 45 minutes away, instead of the more than an hour it would take to get to Phila.

I think Chester and Lancaster County are great suggestions. Just asking for clarification on proximities, that's all.