Moving to Waynesboro, PA: Living in Waynesboro Guide

Waynesboro is a borough of about 11,000 people in southern Franklin County, just two miles north of the Mason–Dixon Line. It sits in the Cumberland Valley between Chambersburg and Hagerstown, Maryland, close to Michaux State Forest. The town grew up as an industrial center, known for engines, boilers and machine tools from companies like Frick and Landis, and its downtown still has the brick storefronts and side streets from that era.

Waynesboro works well for people who want small-town living with easy access to both Pennsylvania and Maryland jobs: Hagerstown is about 12 miles away, Frederick about 35, and Washington, D.C. about 76. Home prices run below the Franklin County and statewide typical values, and the downtown has a steady calendar of markets and festivals.

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

Where Is Waynesboro?

Waynesboro is in the southeast corner of Franklin County, near where Pennsylvania meets Maryland. It is part of the Chambersburg metro area, which in turn belongs to the larger Washington–Baltimore region. Together with the surrounding Washington and Quincy Townships, greater Waynesboro is home to about 31,166 people.

The town has deep roots. John Wallace, the son of an early Scottish settler, laid out the town of Waynesburg in 1797. It was reincorporated as Waynesboro in 1831 and named for Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne. Between 1880 and 1920, as its factories grew, the borough’s population rose fivefold, from just under 1,900 to almost 10,000, which is why so many of its homes date from that era.

Approximate driving distances from the center of town (OpenStreetMap routing):

Hagerstown, MD: about 12 miles, roughly 20 minutes
Chambersburg: about 16 miles, roughly 30 minutes
Gettysburg: about 23 miles, roughly 40 minutes
Frederick, MD: about 35 miles, roughly 50 minutes
York: about 55 miles
Harrisburg: about 69 miles
Washington Dulles International Airport: about 71 miles
Washington, D.C.: about 76 miles
Baltimore and BWI Marshall Airport: about 82 miles each

Hagerstown is the closest larger city for big-box shopping, and many Waynesboro residents cross the state line for work.

Waynesboro Population & Demographics

Waynesboro counted 10,951 residents inside borough limits at the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau’s 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) estimate is 11,047, with a median age of 37.4, younger than the county and state. About half of homes in the borough are owner-occupied, which reflects the number of apartments and rented rowhomes near downtown.

Measure (ACS 2020–2024)	Waynesboro	Franklin County	Pennsylvania	United States
Population	11,047	157,379	13,018,639	334,922,500
Median age	37.4	42.1	40.9	38.9
Median household income	$66,956	$77,003	$77,971	$80,734
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	19.0%	24.7%	35.2%	35.7%
Owner-occupied homes	52.4%	73.5%	69.3%	65.2%
Poverty rate	10.2%	8.5%	11.7%	12.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates via Census Reporter; 2020 Census count via Wikipedia.

Waynesboro has produced some well-known names over the years, including bowhunting pioneer Fred Bear and longtime football coach Rip Engle.

At the 2020 Census, the borough had 5,243 housing units, and 9.1% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%, so there is usually some choice for renters, while homes for sale move faster.

Is Waynesboro Safe?

We did not find a current, reliable crime source for Waynesboro that we felt comfortable quoting, so we are not going to publish a number. Conditions vary from block to block in any town this size. Call the borough’s police department with questions about a specific street, remember that homes in Washington or Quincy Township are covered by different agencies, and walk the neighborhood in the evening before you commit.

Cost of Living in Waynesboro

Home Prices

Waynesboro is one of the more affordable places to buy in south-central Pennsylvania. The ACS puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in the borough at $188,600 (2020–2024), compared with $249,800 for Franklin County and $254,500 statewide.

Zillow’s Home Value Index, which estimates the value of a typical home today, was about $278,052 for Waynesboro in August 2026, up 2.1% from a year earlier. That compares with about $290,638 for Franklin County and $290,401 for Pennsylvania as a whole. The 17268 ZIP code, which includes the townships around the borough, came in at about $277,854.

Rent

The ACS median gross rent in Waynesboro was $1,086 for 2020–2024, close to the Franklin County median of $1,093 and below the U.S. median of $1,413. For current asking rents, Zillow’s Observed Rent Index for the 17268 ZIP code was about $1,408 a month in August 2026. Downtown apartments and older rowhomes are the most common rentals, while single-family rentals in the townships are harder to find.

Best Neighborhoods in Waynesboro

Downtown and Main Street

Downtown Waynesboro runs along Main Street, with brick rowhomes, older single-family houses and apartments above storefronts. You can walk to the coffee shops, the Waynesboro Theatre, the Saturday farmers market and a good mix of restaurants. It suits first-time buyers, renters and anyone who likes being able to walk to dinner. Parking is mostly on the street, and many homes are more than a century old, so plan for a careful inspection.

Washington Township

Washington Township is part of greater Waynesboro. The Buchanan Trail East corridor outside the borough has a string of restaurants and local businesses, and the neighborhoods off the main road tend to have more single-family homes on bigger lots than you’ll find downtown. Hooverville Elementary sits on Buchanan Trail East. It suits families who want more yard while staying a few minutes from Main Street.

Quincy Township and the Mont Alto Side

Quincy Township is the other township in greater Waynesboro, and it is home to Quincy Retirement Community, one of the county’s larger employers. Outside its villages it is largely rural, with farms, country roads and homes on larger parcels. It suits buyers who want space, gardens or room for outbuildings, and who don’t mind a longer drive to the grocery store.

Weather & Climate

Waynesboro has a four-season climate. Waynesboro doesn’t have its own NOAA normals station, so we use Chambersburg’s, about 15 miles north. From 1991 to 2020, January averaged a high of 37.4°F and a low of 22.9°F. July averaged a high of 84.9°F and a low of 64.7°F.

That station averages 43.5 inches of precipitation and about 30.8 inches of snow a year. January (10.0 inches) is the snowiest month, followed by February (8.0), March (6.0) and December (5.5). Rain is spread fairly evenly across the year, with September and May the wettest months at just over 4 inches each.

Month	Avg. high	Avg. low	Precipitation
January	37.4°F	22.9°F	3.21 in.
April	63.2°F	41.6°F	3.98 in.
July	84.9°F	64.7°F	3.83 in.
October	64.0°F	44.6°F	3.53 in.

Source: NOAA 1991–2020 monthly normals, Chambersburg 1 ESE station.

The best moving months are usually April through early June and mid-September through October. Summer moves are fine but warm, and winter moves need a backup date.

Things to Do in Waynesboro

Renfrew Museum and Park

Renfrew, at 1010 East Main Street, preserves historic Pennsylvania German farmsteads and an Early American decorative arts collection. The grounds are open daily from dawn to dusk year-round, which makes it a favorite for walks. Guided farmstead tours run from mid-April through mid-October, and seasonal events include Christmas on the Farm.

Mont Alto State Park and Michaux State Forest

Mont Alto State Park, one mile north of the town of Mont Alto on PA Route 233, is the oldest park still in Pennsylvania’s state park system. It is small at 24 acres, but it offers trout fishing, picnicking, hiking and a distinctive pavilion, and it borders Michaux State Forest for more hiking and hunting.

Market at the Park

Mainstreet Waynesboro runs a seasonal Saturday farmers market, Market at the Park, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at 25 East Main Street, with themed weekends through late September. It is a good way to meet neighbors in your first few weeks.

Downtown Events and the Waynesboro Theatre

Downtown has a busy calendar, including the Christmas Parade, the Boro Brew Fest, the Downtown Food Stroll and art programs. Mainstreet Waynesboro describes the Waynesboro Theatre downtown as a state-of-the-art movie venue, and several art galleries and a ceramic arts center are close by.

Gettysburg and Civil War History

Confederate troops passed through Waynesboro in the days before the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, and Robert E. Lee’s army came back through during its retreat. Gettysburg itself is about 23 miles east, an easy day trip.

Historic Landmarks and Old Mills

Several Waynesboro sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including the Alexander Hamilton House, the Borough Hall, the Joseph J. Oller House and Welty’s Mill Bridge. The area is also dotted with old stone grain mills, such as Welty’s Mill, Shank’s Mill and the Hopewell Roller Mill, and most of them are still standing. Mainstreet Waynesboro’s Arts & Antiques Passport program is a fun way to explore the downtown shops and galleries as a new resident.

Where to Eat in Waynesboro

Rough Edges Brewing

Rough Edges Brewing is a downtown brewpub at 91 West Main Street pouring its own craft beer. It is one of the best-reviewed spots on Main Street and a natural stop after a Saturday at the market.

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant

Sapporo, at 5 East Main Street, serves Japanese food in the heart of downtown. It is among the highest-rated restaurants in Waynesboro on Restaurantji, with more than 200 reviews, so call ahead on busy weekend nights.

The Waynesburger

For something casual, The Waynesburger at 100 West Main Street serves burgers in a laid-back setting that works well for families. It’s a good spot to grab lunch between unloading boxes.

Jobs & Economy

Waynesboro’s manufacturing history still shapes the area, and health care, schools and distribution are big employers today. In Pennsylvania’s Top 50 Employers list for Franklin County (4th quarter 2023), the Waynesboro Area School District ranked 11th, WellSpan Waynesboro Hospital ranked 27th, and Quincy Retirement Community ranked 40th.

Across the county, the largest employers include the federal government, The Chambersburg Hospital, Walmart, the Chambersburg Area School District, Target, Manitowoc Crane Group, Ulta Beauty’s distribution center, Ventura Foods and Volvo Construction Equipment. Many residents also commute south to Hagerstown and Frederick in Maryland.

Schools in Waynesboro

The Waynesboro Area School District serves Waynesboro and the surrounding area, a resident population of 33,182 at the 2020 Census. NCES data for 2024–2025 show six schools with 4,090 students and a student-teacher ratio of about 15 to 1.

Waynesboro Area Senior High School (550 East 2nd Street): about 1,392 students, grades 9–12
Waynesboro Area Middle School (702 East 2nd Street): about 887 students, grades 6–8
Elementary schools (K–5): Fairview (597 students), Mowrey (534), Summitview (363) and Hooverville (317)

For college, Wilson College is in Chambersburg, about 16 miles away, and the Hagerstown and Frederick areas have more options across the state line. Check your attendance zone with the district for any address you’re considering.

Waynesboro Quick Facts

County	Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Municipality type	Borough (reincorporated as Waynesboro in 1831)
ZIP code	17268
Area codes	717, 223
Land area	About 3.4 square miles
Population	10,951 (2020 Census); about 31,166 in greater Waynesboro
School district	Waynesboro Area School District
Nearest large airports	Washington Dulles (about 71 miles), BWI Marshall (about 82 miles)
Nearest cities	Hagerstown, MD (about 12 miles), Chambersburg (about 16 miles)
Named for	Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne

Moving to Waynesboro: Tips From Our Crew

Plan parking downtown. Many Main Street and side-street homes have on-street parking only. Tell us about narrow streets, alleys or back entrances when you book so we send the right size truck.
Moving from Maryland? Handle the state paperwork early. If you’re coming up from Hagerstown, Frederick or elsewhere in Maryland, remember that Pennsylvania requires you to get a PA driver’s license and register your vehicle after you move, so gather your documents before moving week.
Measure for older staircases. Rowhomes and early-1900s houses often have steep, narrow stairs. Measure big furniture, and ask us about disassembly if something won’t make the turn.
Allow for winter weather. Waynesboro averages about 30 inches of snow a year at the nearest NOAA station, and back roads can be slow after a storm. Keep a flexible date between December and March.
Watch school traffic on East 2nd Street. The high school and middle school sit side by side, so mornings and afternoons get busy. We try to schedule around drop-off and dismissal times.
Use storage if your dates don’t line up. If your closing lands a few days after your lease ends, short-term storage keeps your things safe in between.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Waynesboro

Is Waynesboro, PA a good place to live?

Many people think so. Waynesboro offers home values below the county and state averages, a walkable downtown with regular events, easy access to state forest land, and a location that works for both Pennsylvania and Maryland commutes. Shopping is more limited than in Hagerstown or Chambersburg, so expect some short drives for errands.

How far is Waynesboro from Hagerstown and Washington, D.C.?

Hagerstown, Maryland is about 12 miles away, roughly 20 minutes by car. Frederick is about 35 miles, and Washington, D.C. is about 76 miles. Drive times to D.C. depend heavily on traffic, so test your commute at rush hour before you commit.

How much does it cost to hire movers in Waynesboro?

Cost depends on how much you’re moving, how far, stairs and parking, and any packing help you want. A local apartment move and a long-distance family move are priced very differently. Call for a free quote: an owner calls back within 15 minutes, and long-distance moves come with a binding estimate, so the price never changes after booking.

What school district serves Waynesboro?

The Waynesboro Area School District serves the borough and the surrounding area. It runs six schools with about 4,090 students, including Waynesboro Area Senior High School on East 2nd Street. Confirm the elementary school for any specific address with the district.

Is Waynesboro close to outdoor recreation?

Yes. Michaux State Forest and Mont Alto State Park are nearby, and Renfrew Museum and Park is right in town, with grounds open daily. Gettysburg is about 23 miles away, so there’s plenty to do on weekends.

Move to Waynesboro With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers is a family-owned company, founded in 2015, and our York PA & Maryland office covers Waynesboro and the towns along the state line. Every crew member is a background-checked, drug-tested W-2 employee, never a subcontractor. Under our Owner’s Promise, you talk to an owner, not a call center, and if anything is damaged, an owner calls you the same day. Moving from farther away? Our long-distance moves include a binding estimate, your own dedicated truck, the same crew door to door and a guaranteed delivery date. Military families get 5% off through our military moving program. See our Waynesboro movers page or the York movers hub, or call 717-844-5125.

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