Moving to Parkesburg, PA: 2026 Living Guide

Parkesburg is a small railroad borough in western Chester County, right where the county starts to give way to Lancaster County farmland. It has about 4,000 residents, a short Main Street, and something few towns its size can claim: its own Amtrak station, with Keystone Service trains toward Philadelphia, Lancaster and Harrisburg.

Parkesburg suits people who want small-town living and more house for the money than they’d find in central Chester County, while keeping a rail link to the city. First-time buyers, young families and commuters heading to Coatesville, Downingtown or Lancaster all end up here. It’s quiet, and most daily errands happen at the shopping center just outside town, so expect to drive for many things. If you want nightlife and a big downtown, this probably isn’t your spot. If you want a porch, a yard and neighbors who know your name, take a look.

Planning a move to Parkesburg? Call our Tri-State team at 410-499-8777 or get your price online.

Where Is Parkesburg?

Parkesburg sits in western Chester County at an elevation of 528 feet. The area started out around the Fountain Inn, built around 1734, became a post office stop around 1836, and was established as a borough in 1872. It’s named after politician John G. Parke. The borough covers about 1.27 square miles.

Approximate driving distances from Parkesburg (OSRM routing, no traffic):

Coatesville: about 5.9 miles, roughly 12 minutes
Downingtown: about 15.2 miles, roughly 24 minutes
Lancaster: about 24.1 miles, roughly 43 minutes
Wilmington, DE: about 29.3 miles, roughly 55 minutes
Philadelphia City Hall: about 51.4 miles, roughly 74 minutes

Pennsylvania Route 10 runs through town on Church Street, and PA Route 372 follows Limestone Road and First Avenue.

The Parkesburg Amtrak station, at 501 Maple Street, is served by most Keystone Service trains. Parkesburg used to be the western end of SEPTA’s R5 line, but SEPTA service was cut back in 1996 and now ends at Thorndale, so Amtrak is the only rail option in town. The station handled 27,273 Amtrak passengers in fiscal year 2025. Philadelphia International Airport is the closest major airport.

Parkesburg Population & Demographics

Parkesburg is too small for the Census Bureau’s QuickFacts tool, so the numbers below come from the American Community Survey via Census Reporter. For a town this size, the survey’s margins of error are large (the median household income, for example, has a margin of error of more than $40,000), so treat these as rough guides rather than precise measures.

The 2020 Census counted 3,862 residents, and Wikipedia lists a 2024 estimate of 3,984. It’s younger than Pennsylvania as a whole, with plenty of families.

Measure	Parkesburg	Pennsylvania
Population (2020 Census)	3,862	—
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	33 (±3)	40.9
Median household income (2020–2024)	$76,250 (±$42,625)	$77,971
Per capita income	$40,485	$44,355
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	27.5%	35.2%
High school graduate or higher	92.5%	92.1%
Median home value	$305,900	$254,500
Households	1,492	—
Mean travel time to work	30.6 min	26.3 min

Sources: Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year, 2020–2024); 2020 Census count from Wikipedia; Pennsylvania figures from Census Reporter and U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts.

At the 2020 Census, Wikipedia reports that 25.0% of residents were under 18 and 14.6% were 65 or older. Households average about 2.6 people. The average commute of about 30.6 minutes is longer than the state average, which makes sense for a town where many people drive to jobs in Coatesville, Exton, Downingtown or Lancaster County.

Is Parkesburg Safe?

NeighborhoodScout’s analysis of 2024 FBI-reported data shows very few reported crimes in Parkesburg: 4 violent crimes and 3 property crimes for the year, which works out to 1.00 and 0.75 per 1,000 residents. Pennsylvania’s medians, by comparison, are 2.46 and 14.35 per 1,000. With a population this small, a handful of incidents can swing the rates a lot from year to year, so don’t read too much into a single year’s numbers. For current information about a particular street, contact local police or the borough office.

Cost of Living in Parkesburg

Home Prices

Census Reporter puts Parkesburg’s median home value at $305,900 (2020–2024), above the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 but still one of the more affordable options in Chester County. For recent sales, Redfin reports a median sale price of $290,685 for the 19365 ZIP code in July 2026, up 2.0% from a year earlier (based on a three-month period). Homes took a median of 48 days to sell, up from 16 days a year earlier. Redfin’s Compete Score for the ZIP is 72 out of 100, which it rates “very competitive.” Note that 19365 includes homes in the surrounding townships, not just the borough.

Rent

Parkesburg’s rental market is small. Apartments.com’s September 2026 data shows an average of $1,648 for a one-bedroom and $1,948 for a two-bedroom, with rents up about 2% over the past year. With so few listings at any one time, it’s worth checking often and being ready to move fast when something opens up.

Best Neighborhoods in Parkesburg

Main Street and the Station Area

The blocks around Main Street and the Amtrak station on Maple Street are the heart of town. Here you’ll find older homes, a few apartments above or near storefronts, and local restaurants. The borough’s historic buildings include the Parkesburg National Bank building and the Parkesburg School, both on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s a great fit for rail commuters and anyone who likes walking to a pizza shop or the monthly Final Friday event on the 200 block of Main Street.

The Avenues

Much of Parkesburg is laid out along numbered avenues such as First, Second and Fourth. These residential streets are lined with single-family homes and twins, many with porches and small yards. They’re quiet, walkable to Main Street, and popular with young families and first-time buyers looking for a real neighborhood feel. Check the borough’s trash schedule: pickup days differ between the north and south sides of town.

Surrounding Townships

Many homes with a Parkesburg address are in Sadsbury or West Sadsbury townships, which, like the borough, are part of the Octorara Area School District. You’ll find newer subdivisions, bigger lots and more farmland views. The shopping area along Commons Drive, with chain restaurants and shops, is close by. These areas suit buyers who want more space and a newer house and don’t mind driving into town.

Weather & Climate

Parkesburg shares its weather with neighboring Coatesville, where Wikipedia’s climate table shows January averaging a high of 38.7°F and a low of 20.8°F, and July averaging a high of 85.8°F and a low of 63.2°F. The area gets about 45.8 inches of precipitation a year. Snow and ice are real factors from December through March.

May and September through October are usually the best months to move. Summer works if you start early, but it’s also the busiest season for movers. For winter moves, keep a backup date and make sure driveways and front steps are cleared and salted.

Things to Do in Parkesburg

Final Friday on Main Street

Parkesburg’s Final Friday event takes place on the 200 block of Main Street. According to the borough, library staff usually set up with books for sale and crafts for kids. It’s an easy way to meet neighbors in your first few weeks in town.

Library Programs

The library runs a busy calendar: story time, Saturday crafts from 1 to 3pm, a mystery book club on the third Thursday of each month, a weekly knitting and crochet club, and “PAWS for Reading,” where kids read to a friendly dog. The borough also notes a free pass for up to four guests to the Brandywine River Museum.

Take the Train

With Keystone Service stopping in town, a day trip without the car is easy. Ride east toward Philadelphia or west to Lancaster for dinner and a show, and skip the parking hassle.

Strasburg Rail Road

About 16 miles away (roughly 30 minutes by car), the Strasburg Rail Road was chartered in 1832 and is described as the oldest continuously operating standard-gauge railroad in the Western Hemisphere. Steam trains make a 45-minute round trip through Lancaster County farmland, and the railroad hosts about 300,000 visitors a year. It’s a favorite with kids.

Lancaster Central Market

Downtown Lancaster is about 24 miles away. Its Central Market building on Penn Square dates to 1889, and until 2005 the market was the oldest municipally operated market in the country. Go early for the best selection.

Marsh Creek State Park

About 17 miles northeast (roughly 31 minutes), Marsh Creek State Park covers 1,705 acres around the 535-acre Marsh Creek Lake. It’s popular for sailing, fishing, hiking, mountain biking and, in winter, ice skating and ice fishing.

Where to Eat in Parkesburg

Rocco & Anna’s Ristorante

Rocco & Anna’s, at 302 Main Street, is a sit-down Italian restaurant right in the center of town. It’s a good pick for a first dinner out once the beds are set up.

Gabe’s Pizza Place

Gabe’s Pizza Place, at 428 West First Avenue, is a local pizza shop. Pizza is the classic moving-day meal, and it’s hard to beat one from a shop down the street.

El Limon

El Limon, at 402 West First Avenue, serves Mexican food. It’s a solid choice for tacos and burritos close to home.

Jobs & Economy

Parkesburg is mostly a residential town. Local jobs are concentrated in small businesses on Main Street and the retail and restaurants around Commons Drive, and the Octorara Area School District is a sizable employer in the area, with more than 200 professional staff and more than 150 support staff.

Most working residents commute. Coatesville is about 12 minutes away, Downingtown about 24 minutes, and Lancaster about 43 minutes. Amtrak Keystone trains give rail commuters a way to reach Philadelphia and Lancaster without driving. The average commute for Parkesburg residents is about 30.6 minutes. If you work from home, check internet options at your specific address before you sign.

Schools in Parkesburg

Parkesburg is part of the Octorara Area School District, which was formed in 1956. The district covers 79.79 square miles and serves eight municipalities: Atglen, Christiana Borough, Sadsbury Township, Parkesburg Borough, Highland Township, Londonderry Township, West Fallowfield Township and West Sadsbury Township. It runs four schools: Octorara Primary Learning Center, Octorara Elementary School, Octorara Intermediate School and Octorara Junior-Senior High School.

For higher education, colleges in the Downingtown, Exton, West Chester and Lancaster areas are all within driving distance. Confirm school assignments for your address with the district office.

Parkesburg Quick Facts

County	Chester County
Incorporated	1872 (borough)
ZIP code	19365
Area code	610
Area	1.27 square miles
Population (2020 Census)	3,862
Elevation	528 feet
Rail	Amtrak Keystone Service, Parkesburg station (501 Maple St)
Main roads	PA 10 (Church St), PA 372 (Limestone Rd/First Ave)
Nearest major airport	Philadelphia International (PHL)
School district	Octorara Area School District

Moving to Parkesburg: Tips From Our Crew

These are the things we’d tell a friend before moving day in Parkesburg. If you’d like help planning the details, our Parkesburg movers can walk you through access, parking and timing when you call for your quote.

Check street width before booking the truck size. Some of Parkesburg’s older streets and alleys are narrow, with cars parked on both sides. Tell us about your street when you call so we can plan the right truck and where to park it.
Ask the borough about curb space. If you’ll need to block part of a street or reserve parking in front of your house, call the Parkesburg borough office ahead of time and ask what’s required.
Plan around the station. If you’re moving near the Amtrak station on Maple Street, ask neighbors when commuter parking fills up and schedule loading around it.
Know your municipality. A 19365 address might be in the borough, Sadsbury or West Sadsbury. Trash, recycling and permits follow the municipality. In the borough, trash day depends on which side of town you’re on.
Watch for farm equipment and slow traffic. On the rural roads around Parkesburg, tractors and slow-moving vehicles are common, especially in spring and fall. Build in extra time if your move runs out to a farm property or new subdivision.
Measure old doorways. Many homes in the borough are older, with narrow doors and tight stair turns. Measure big furniture before moving day.

Your first-week checklist in Parkesburg: If you’re in Sadsbury or West Sadsbury rather than the borough, the township office is your contact for local services.

Set up trash and recycling service and learn your pickup days.
Transfer or start electric, gas, water and internet service, and schedule it to begin the day before you arrive.
Update your address with PennDOT for your driver’s license and vehicle registration, and with the post office.
Register to vote at your new address and look up your polling place.
Enroll your children with the school district early, since registration often requires proof of residency such as a lease or settlement papers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Parkesburg

Is Parkesburg, PA a good place to live?

For people who want a small, quiet borough with an Amtrak station, it’s worth a look. Home prices are lower than in much of Chester County, the Octorara schools serve the area, and Lancaster County attractions are close. The tradeoffs are longer commutes and fewer shops and restaurants right in town.

Does Parkesburg have a train to Philadelphia?

Yes. The Parkesburg station on Maple Street is served by most Amtrak Keystone Service trains, which run east toward Philadelphia and west toward Lancaster and Harrisburg. SEPTA regional rail no longer stops in Parkesburg; its Paoli/Thorndale line ends at Thorndale.

What school district is Parkesburg in?

Parkesburg is in the Octorara Area School District, which covers eight municipalities across 79.79 square miles. Students attend Octorara’s primary, elementary and intermediate schools and the Octorara Junior-Senior High School.

How much do movers cost in Parkesburg?

Every move is different. The cost depends on how much you’re moving, the distance, stairs, driveway access and extras like packing or storage. For an accurate price, call 410-499-8777 for a free quote. An owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8am and 8pm. You can also read more about local service on our Parkesburg movers page.

How far is Parkesburg from Lancaster?

Lancaster is about 24 miles west, roughly 43 minutes by car without traffic. You can also ride Amtrak’s Keystone Service from the Parkesburg station into Lancaster, which is handy for evenings out downtown.

Move to Parkesburg With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family-owned since 2015, and our Tri-State team works throughout Chester County. Every crew member is a background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employee, never a subcontractor. With our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center. If anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day, and claims are resolved in 60 to 90 days.

We handle local moves, long-distance moves with a binding estimate and a guaranteed delivery date, storage, and piano and safe moving. Learn more about our Parkesburg movers or call 410-499-8777.

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Moving to Parkesburg, PA: Living in Parkesburg Guide