Moving to Ephrata, PA: Living in Ephrata Guide

Ephrata is the most populous borough in Lancaster County and one of its most distinctive. It grew up around the Ephrata Cloister, an 18th-century religious community, and today mixes a busy Main Street, a Friday farmers market that has drawn shoppers since 1932, and the largest street fair in Pennsylvania. Amish and Old Order Mennonite farms surround the town, and the rail trail to Lititz starts right in the borough.

Ephrata suits families who want good parks and a real downtown, people who work in Lancaster or Reading, and anyone who likes small-town traditions without being far from bigger cities. Home values in the borough run below the Lancaster County and state medians, although recent sales in the area have been climbing fast.

Planning a move to Ephrata? Call our York PA & Maryland team at 717-844-5125 or get your price online.

Where Is Ephrata?

Ephrata is in northeastern Lancaster County, 42 miles east of Harrisburg and about 60 miles west-northwest of Philadelphia. It is named after Ephrath, the former name of Bethlehem. Cocalico Creek flows through the borough just north of the center of town, and the land around it is mostly flat farmland.

Main routes and distances:

U.S. 322 (Main Street): runs through the center of the borough, 28 miles northwest to Hershey and 35 miles southeast to West Chester
PA 272 (Reading Road): 13 miles southwest to Lancaster, the county seat, and 8 miles northeast to Adamstown
U.S. 222 freeway: passes about 2 miles southeast of the borough, heading to Lancaster and to Reading and Allentown
Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76): the Reading interchange with U.S. 222 is about 6 miles northeast of Ephrata
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT) and Philadelphia International Airport are the main commercial airports for the region

Red Rose Transit Route 11 runs from the Walmart in Ephrata through downtown and south to downtown Lancaster.

Ephrata Population & Demographics

Ephrata’s population has been fairly steady. The borough had 13,794 residents at the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimates 13,647 as of July 2025, a 1.5% dip. Its roots go deep: the borough had 2,452 residents in 1900 and 6,199 by 1940. Ephrata’s sister city is Eberbach, Germany, where its founders came from.

Measure	Ephrata	Pennsylvania	United States
Population (July 1, 2025 estimate)	13,647	—	341,784,857
Population (2020 Census)	13,794	—	331,449,281
Median age (ACS 2020–2024)	37.1	40.9	38.9
Residents 65 and older	18.0%	21.4%	18.9%
Median household income (2020–2024)	$69,735	$77,971	$80,734
Per capita income (2020–2024)	$37,465	—	$44,673
Bachelor’s degree or higher (25+)	23.2%	35.2%	35.7%
Owner-occupied housing rate	55.6%	—	65.2%
Mean travel time to work	22.7 min	26.3 min	26.4 min

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2020–2024 American Community Survey); median age and commute time from Census Reporter (ACS 2024 5-year); historical counts from Wikipedia.

The borough covers 3.42 square miles of land, with about 4,036 people per square mile at the 2020 Census. The 2020 Census counted 5,730 households, 27.5% of them with children under 18. The Census Bureau’s survey puts the poverty rate at about 7.9%, below the state rate of 11.7%.

Is Ephrata Safe?

The borough is served by the Ephrata Police Department, which posts news, crime information and online reporting through CrimeWatch. We did not find a recent, reliable crime data source for Ephrata that we felt comfortable quoting here. The department’s CrimeWatch page is the best place to see recent local activity. If you are comparing streets, call the non-emergency line and drive the area on a weeknight and a weekend. Homes outside the borough in the surrounding townships may be covered by a different agency.

Cost of Living in Ephrata

Home Prices

The Census Bureau puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Ephrata at $224,400 (2020–2024). That is below the Lancaster metro median of $301,100, the Pennsylvania median of $254,500 and the U.S. median of $332,700.

Recent sales run much higher. Redfin reports that homes in the 17522 ZIP code, which includes the borough and a good deal of the surrounding countryside, sold for a median of $384,833 over the three months ending August 2026, up 6.7% from a year earlier. The median home sold in just 5 days, and Redfin rates the market as “most competitive.” Buyers should have financing lined up before touring.

Rent

Median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in Ephrata is $1,143 a month, according to the Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 survey. That is below the Pennsylvania median of $1,209 and the U.S. median of $1,413. About 44% of occupied homes in the borough are rentals, so there is a solid supply of apartments and twins.

Utilities

Ephrata handles several utilities differently from most towns, which matters when you set up service. The Borough of Ephrata Electric Division supplies power to most of the borough, and PPL serves the rest. The Ephrata Area Joint Authority provides water to the borough and to Ephrata and Clay townships, serving 8,222 customers from Cocalico Creek and groundwater wells. UGI supplies natural gas, and the borough provides trash and recycling collection through a contract with Goods Disposal.

Best Neighborhoods in Ephrata

Downtown and Main Street

Main Street (U.S. 322) is Ephrata’s commercial center, and downtown is home to the Ephrata Commercial Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Main Street holds the 1925 Ephrata National Bank building, the 1938 Main Theater, restored and reopened in 1993, and a row of local shops and restaurants. Living on or near Main suits people who want to walk to coffee, a show or the fair each September. Expect older homes, apartments over storefronts and limited driveway space.

Near the Cloister and the Rail Trail

The streets on the west side of town, toward the Ephrata Cloister and the Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail, suit active households who want a trail and green space close by. The rail trail runs about 8 miles to Lititz, so you can walk, run or bike to another downtown.

Ephrata and Clay Townships

The townships around the borough mix Amish and Mennonite farmland with newer subdivisions. The Ephrata Area Joint Authority provides water to the borough along with Ephrata and Clay townships. These areas suit buyers who want a larger lot, a garage and quieter roads, and who are fine driving into town. Farm traffic, including horse-drawn buggies, is a normal part of life on country roads here.

Weather & Climate

Ephrata has a hot-summer humid continental climate. Average monthly temperatures range from about 30.0°F in January to 74.6°F in July, and the plant hardiness zone is 6b. The nearest long-term station, in Lancaster, records 1991–2020 averages of 39.9°F highs and 22.2°F lows in January and 87.0°F highs and 64.7°F lows in July, with about 44.2 inches of precipitation and 21.4 inches of snow a year.

Severe weather does happen. In March 2009, the National Weather Service confirmed an EF1 tornado in Ephrata that damaged 30 homes and destroyed eight mobile homes, with no deaths. For moving, late April through June and September through October are the most comfortable months. Keep a backup date for December through March.

Things to Do in Ephrata

Historic Ephrata Cloister

The Ephrata Cloister was a religious community founded in 1732 by Johann Conrad Beissel. At its height it had nearly 300 members, and it produced notable architecture, original music, publications and art. Today it is a museum with guided tours; groups of nine or fewer can simply arrive during open hours.

Green Dragon Farmers Market

Green Dragon, at 955 North State Street, has been open since 1932 and runs every Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. It has seven large market buildings, more than a hundred local vendors, over 30 acres of free parking and regular small-animal, household and hay auctions.

Warwick to Ephrata Rail Trail

The WERT is about 8 miles long and connects Lititz, Warwick Township, Akron, Ephrata Township and Ephrata borough. Downtown Ephrata and downtown Lititz bookend the trail, making for about a 15-mile round trip. It has a mild grade with paved and unpaved sections and is used year-round by walkers, runners and cyclists.

Ephrata Fair

Billed as the largest street fair in Pennsylvania, the Ephrata Fair dates to 1919. The 107th fair ran September 22–26, 2026, with agricultural exhibits, a parade, live entertainment and a midway. Neighbors plan their September around it.

Ephrata Performing Arts Center

EPAC began in 1953 as the Legion Star Playhouse and now produces year-round theater, including plays, musicals, a youth series and summer theater camp. Its 2026 season includes Into the Woods, 1776 and Spring Awakening.

Where to Eat in Ephrata

The Udder Choice

Bill and Alice Kay Ulrich opened The Udder Choice as an ice cream parlor on May 1, 1989, and moved into their own barn-style building at 1812 West Main Street in 2003. It is family operated and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner along with homemade ice cream. Locals know it for hearty breakfasts and big cones.

Bright’s Restaurant

Bright’s Restaurant at 1025 S. State St. is a classic home-style family restaurant. It opens daily at 5:30 a.m. and stays open until 8 p.m., with breakfast served until 11 a.m. It also offers takeout and catering, which is handy when you are feeding a crew of friends on moving day.

Olde Lincoln House

Olde Lincoln House at 1398 West Main Street is an American restaurant and pub known for its craft beer list, monthly features and daily specials. It hosts parties and events, and it is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner.

Jobs & Economy

Ephrata has a mix of large and small businesses. WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital serves the borough and northern Lancaster County with 133 acute care beds, eight rehabilitation beds, an emergency room, a cancer center and a maternity unit. Four Seasons Produce, a produce distributor founded in 1976, ranks 39th on the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s list of Lancaster County’s top 50 employers (first quarter of 2026).

Across the county, the largest employers include Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster County government, Giant Food Stores, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Dart Container, Masonic Villages, Willow Valley Communities, Nordstrom and WellSpan Health. Ephrata also runs its own municipal electric utility, which dates to 1902. The mean commute of about 23 minutes is shorter than the state average.

Schools in Ephrata

The Ephrata Area School District covers about 44 square miles, including Akron borough. GreatSchools lists about 3,925 students in seven schools: Akron, Clay, Fulton and Highland elementary schools, Ephrata Intermediate School, Ephrata Middle School and Ephrata Senior High School.

For college, Franklin & Marshall College and other schools are in Lancaster, about 13 miles southwest on PA 272. The Ephrata Public Library serves the area as well. Confirm school assignments for a specific address with the district before you buy.

Ephrata Quick Facts

County	Lancaster County
Municipality type	Borough (most populous in Lancaster County)
Population	13,647 (July 2025 estimate); 13,794 (2020 Census)
ZIP code	17522
Area code	717
Land area	3.42 square miles
Main roads	U.S. 322, PA 272, U.S. 222 (nearby)
Hospital	WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital
School district	Ephrata Area School District
Electric service	Borough of Ephrata Electric Division (most of borough); PPL for part
Nearest major airport	Harrisburg International (MDT) or Philadelphia International (PHL)

Moving to Ephrata: Tips From Our Crew

Set up the right electric provider. Most of Ephrata gets power from the Borough of Ephrata Electric Division, but part of town is served by PPL. Confirm which one serves your new address before you schedule service.
Avoid Main Street on fair week. The Ephrata Fair takes over downtown for five days each September. If your move is near Main Street during fair week, expect closed streets and heavy foot traffic, and plan the date around it.
Skip Friday near Green Dragon. Market day brings a lot of traffic to North State Street. If you are moving on that side of town, a weekday other than Friday is usually easier.
Share the road with buggies. On township roads, horse-drawn buggies and farm equipment are common. Our drivers plan extra time, and you should tell us about narrow lanes or bridges near your home.
Measure older downtown homes. Houses near Main Street often have narrow staircases and small doorways. Measure large pieces ahead of time so we can plan to take them apart.
Be ready for a fast closing. With homes in 17522 selling in about 5 days, your sale and purchase dates may not line up. Short-term storage can bridge the gap.
Use the Turnpike for long moves. For moves toward Philadelphia, New Jersey or western Pennsylvania, the Reading interchange of the Turnpike is only about 6 miles away via U.S. 222.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Ephrata

How much do movers cost in Ephrata, PA?

The price depends on the size of the home, the distance, stairs, parking and how much packing you need. A downtown apartment and a farmhouse in Clay Township are very different jobs. For a real number, get a free quote: call 717-844-5125, and an owner will call you back within 15 minutes between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.

Is Ephrata, PA a good place to live?

Many people like Ephrata for its Main Street, the rail trail, Green Dragon, the September fair and its location between Lancaster and Reading. Home values in the borough are below the county and state medians, but the local market is very competitive. Visit on a Friday and a weekend to get a real feel for it.

What school district serves Ephrata?

The Ephrata Area School District serves the borough and surrounding areas, including Akron. GreatSchools lists about 3,925 students in seven schools, from four elementary schools through Ephrata Senior High School. Confirm the elementary school for a specific address with the district.

How far is Ephrata from Lancaster and Philadelphia?

Ephrata is about 13 miles northeast of Lancaster on PA 272 and about 60 miles west-northwest of Philadelphia. The U.S. 222 freeway passes 2 miles southeast of the borough, and the Turnpike’s Reading interchange is about 6 miles northeast.

Do you handle long-distance moves from Ephrata?

Yes. For long-distance moves, you get a binding estimate, so the price does not change after you book. Your belongings ride on your own dedicated truck with the same W-2 crew door to door, and you get a guaranteed delivery date. There is never a rescheduling fee, and military families get 5% off.

Move to Ephrata With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family owned since 2015, and owners Matthew Treharn and Amber Hallaman still stand behind every job. Our crews are background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employees, never subcontractors. 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 have 850+ Google reviews across five locations.

From Main Street apartments to township farmhouses, our Ephrata movers handle local moves, packing and unpacking, piano and safe moving and office moves. Certificates of insurance are free. Call our York team at 717-844-5125 or visit our Ephrata moving page.

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