Moving to York, PA: 2026 Living in York Guide

York is the city where the Continental Congress met from September 1777 to June 1778, and it still wears that history on its sleeves. Locals call it the White Rose City, the county bills itself as the Snack Food Capital of the World, and the downtown grid is packed with brick rowhouses, a 19th-century market house and a minor-league ballpark with a left-field wall taller than Fenway’s Green Monster. It is also one of the more affordable small cities within an hour of Baltimore, which is a big reason people keep moving here.

York suits first-time buyers, commuters who split time between Harrisburg and Baltimore, and anyone who wants a walkable downtown without big-city prices. Our crews work here every week, so this guide sticks to the practical stuff: where York is, what homes and rent cost, which neighborhoods fit which households, and how to make moving day go smoothly.

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

Where Is York, PA?

York is the county seat of York County in South Central Pennsylvania, just west of the Susquehanna River and a short drive north of the Maryland line. The city covers about 5.3 square miles of land, but the “York” address stretches well into the surrounding townships.

According to Explore York, the county’s tourism office, key distances from York County are:

Harrisburg, PA: 22 miles
Lancaster, PA: 28 miles
Gettysburg, PA: 31 miles
Hershey, PA: 37 miles
Baltimore, MD: 54 miles
Washington, DC: 93 miles
Philadelphia, PA: 97 miles
New York, NY: 195 miles

The two roads you will use most are Interstate 83, which runs north to Harrisburg and south to Baltimore, and U.S. Route 30, the east-west route toward Lancaster and Gettysburg. York does not have a commercial airport. Explore York puts Harrisburg International Airport about 30 minutes away, Baltimore-Washington International about an hour, and Philadelphia International about two hours. The small York Airport sits about seven miles southwest in Thomasville for private and general aviation.

York Population & Demographics

York had 44,800 residents at the 2020 Census, and the Census Bureau estimated 45,342 as of July 1, 2025. York County as a whole counted 461,058 people in 2020. The city skews young, with a median age of about 34, and nearly a quarter of residents are under 18.

Measure	York city	Data year
Population (2020 Census)	44,800	2020
Population estimate	45,342	July 1, 2025
Median age	34.3	ACS 2020–2024
Persons under 18	23.9%	ACS 2020–2024
Persons 65 and over	13.1%	ACS 2020–2024
Median household income	$48,420	ACS 2020–2024 (2024 dollars)
Per capita income	$26,308	ACS 2020–2024 (2024 dollars)
Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+)	17.5%	ACS 2020–2024
Owner-occupied housing rate	43.7%	ACS 2020–2024
Mean travel time to work	23.1 minutes	ACS 2020–2024

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts and Census Reporter (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Is York Safe?

Like most small cities, safety in York varies from block to block, and a single citywide number does not tell you much about the street you are looking at. The best move is to check current information straight from the source. The York City Police Department posts a police log on the city’s website (yorkcity.org), and the non-emergency line is listed there too. Before you sign a lease or make an offer, look up the specific address, drive the block at night and on a weekend, and talk to a neighbor or two. Many buyers also compare the city with nearby townships such as Spring Garden, York Township and Springettsbury.

Cost of Living in York

York’s biggest selling point is price. Both home values and rents run well below Pennsylvania and national medians, which makes it one of the easier markets in the region for first-time buyers.

Home Prices

Redfin reports that the median sale price of a home in York was about $175,000 over the three months ending August 2026, up 2.9% from a year earlier, and says that figure is 60% lower than the national average. Homes are moving quickly: Redfin shows a median of 9 days on market and about 5 offers per home, with a Compete Score of 82 (“Very Competitive”).

The Census Bureau’s longer-term measure tells the same story. The median value of owner-occupied homes in York city was $119,700 (2020–2024), compared with $254,500 for Pennsylvania and $332,700 for the United States.

Rent

The Census Bureau puts York’s median gross rent at $1,014 a month (2020–2024), below Pennsylvania’s $1,209 and the national $1,413. For current listings, Rent.com’s September 2026 averages for York were $1,014 for a studio, $1,200 for a one-bedroom and $1,380 for a two-bedroom. Expect the newer loft conversions downtown to sit at the top of that range and older walk-ups to sit lower.

Best Neighborhoods in York

York city is small enough to learn quickly, and each section has a different feel. Here are three we see often on moving day.

Downtown York

The York Historic District covers roughly 723 acres at the heart of the city, including the 1888 Central Market House. Housing here is a mix of apartments above storefronts, converted industrial lofts and brick rowhomes. It suits young professionals, empty nesters and anyone who wants to walk to dinner, a show at the Appell Center or a Revolution game. Expect tight streets, metered parking and plenty of stairs, so plan the truck spot early.

Northwest York (the Avenues)

The Northwest York Historic District includes 815 contributing buildings, most built between 1882 and 1930 in Late Victorian, Colonial Revival and American Foursquare styles. These are bigger houses with porches, deep lots and real character, a good fit for families and buyers who want more space for the money. Older homes like these often have narrow, turning staircases, so large furniture pieces sometimes need to come in through a window or be disassembled.

Springdale

Just south of downtown, the Springdale Historic District was developed between 1920 and 1950 and features Colonial Revival and Classical Revival homes. It is a quieter, established residential area that works well for households who want to be close to downtown and York Hospital without living right on the main commercial streets. The nearby Fairmount Historic District, with Queen Anne and Second Empire homes built from 1889 to about 1915, is another option worth a look.

Weather & Climate

York has four real seasons. Weather Spark describes the summers as humid and warm and the winters as snowy and very cold, with temperatures typically ranging from 23°F to 85°F over the year. July is the warmest month, with an average high of 84°F. January is the coldest, averaging a low of 24°F and a high of 38°F.

Snow can fall from mid-November to early April, and February is the snowiest month at about 8.4 inches on average. Annual precipitation is about 41 inches, spread fairly evenly through the year.

For moving, Weather Spark rates early June through late September as the best stretch for warm-weather activities. Many families aim for late spring or early fall to avoid both snow and the stickiest summer days. If you do move in winter, build in a weather backup day.

Things to Do in York

Central Market York

Central Market, at 34 West Philadelphia Street, fills nearly an entire city block and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is open Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with local produce, baked goods, prepared food and coffee. It is the easiest way to feel like a local your first week in town.

York County History Center

The History Center Museum at 121 North Pershing Avenue has about 11,000 square feet of exhibits covering more than 300 years of York County history, from the colonial era to the factories that made the region. The same organization runs the Colonial Complex, the Agricultural and Industrial Museum and a Fire Museum in the 1903 Royal Fire House.

Appell Center for the Performing Arts

The Appell Center at 50 North George Street operates two historic downtown theaters, the Capitol and the Strand. Its 2026–27 season includes touring Broadway shows, national acts and York Symphony Orchestra concerts.

York Revolution at WellSpan Park

The York Revolution play in the Atlantic League at WellSpan Park, 5 Brooks Robinson Way. The 2026 schedule included 63 home games. The ballpark’s left-field wall stands 37 feet, 8 inches, taller than Fenway Park’s Green Monster.

York County Heritage Rail Trail

The Heritage Rail Trail runs 27 miles from the Mason-Dixon Line near New Freedom north through Glen Rock and Seven Valleys, through the Howard Tunnel and into the city at the Colonial Courthouse. At the state line it connects to Maryland’s 20-mile Torrey C. Brown Trail, so you can ride or walk all the way toward Baltimore County.

Where to Eat in York

White Rose Bar & Grill

At 48 North Beaver Street, right beside Central Market, White Rose Bar & Grill has been family owned since 1933. The menu covers burgers, seafood and salads, and it is a reliable pick for lunch after a morning of unpacking.

Roosevelt Tavern

Roosevelt Tavern at 50 North Penn Street sits in a building dating to 1860 that became the Roosevelt Tap Room in 1933. The current menu is farm-to-table and seasonal, built around regional producers. Check hours before you go; the dining room is open Wednesday through Saturday evenings.

Collusion Tap Works

Collusion Tap Works at 105 South Howard Street is a brewpub with 24 taps pouring beer, cider and cocktails, plus a seasonal food menu that leans on local ingredients. It is closed Mondays and opens in the afternoon the rest of the week.

Jobs & Economy

York County has a broad mix of health care, manufacturing, logistics and government jobs. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry’s list of the county’s top employers for the first quarter of 2026 is led by York Hospital, the federal government, Amazon, WellSpan Health, Walmart and York County government. The top 15 also includes Giant Food Stores, BAE Systems Land & Armaments, Kinsley Construction, Utz Quality Foods, FedEx, York International and Harley-Davidson Motor Company.

WellSpan York Hospital alone employs more than 5,000 people and operates a Level 1 trauma center, according to its Wikipedia profile. UPMC Memorial Hospital is the city’s other hospital. York International, a Johnson Controls company and a major HVAC manufacturer, is headquartered in neighboring Spring Garden Township, and Harley-Davidson’s motorcycle plant is in Springettsbury Township. Snack makers are part of the local identity too: Explore York names Snyder’s of Hanover and Martin’s among the county’s snack brands.

Many York residents commute. Interstate 83 puts both Harrisburg and the Baltimore suburbs within reach, and Rabbit Transit runs RabbitEXPRESS commuter buses toward Harrisburg.

Schools in York

The York City School District serves the city itself, covering about 5 square miles. Its schools include William Penn Senior High School and several K–8 buildings such as McKinley, Jackson and Phineas Davis, plus Edgar Fahs Smith STEAM Academy. The wider York area is served by 15 public school districts, including Central York, York Suburban, Dallastown, West York, Red Lion and Eastern York, so your exact address matters. Always confirm the district for a specific property before you sign.

For higher education, York College of Pennsylvania (founded 1787), Penn State York and the York campus of Harrisburg Area Community College are all in the area. Private options include York Catholic High School and the Christian School of York.

York Quick Facts

County	York County (county seat)
ZIP codes	17401, 17403, 17404, 17405
Area codes	717 and 223
Land area	5.29 square miles
Founded	1741 (incorporated as a city in 1887)
Nicknames	The White Rose City; First Capital
Main highways	I-83, U.S. Route 30
Nearest major airports	Harrisburg International (MDT), about 30 minutes; BWI, about 1 hour
Public school district	York City School District
Hospitals	WellSpan York Hospital, UPMC Memorial Hospital

Moving to York: Tips From Our Crew

Plan the truck spot around rowhome streets. Much of the city is rowhomes on narrow one-way streets. Measure how close a truck can get, and ask neighbors to leave the curb open the night before. If you need to block a lane or reserve curb space, call the city ahead of time to ask what is required.
Check the street cleaning schedule. York posts street cleaning information on yorkcity.org. A truck parked on the wrong side on cleaning day can mean a ticket or a forced move halfway through loading.
Expect tight, turning staircases. Older homes in the Avenues and Springdale often have narrow stairs with a landing turn. Measure box springs, sectionals and dressers before moving day so we can plan to disassemble or hoist.
Avoid I-83 rush hour when you can. If you are coming from or heading to Harrisburg or Maryland, a mid-morning start usually beats the commuter traffic on I-83.
Book early for summer and month-end. The warm months and the last few days of each month fill up first. Two to four weeks of notice gives you the best choice of dates.
Keep a winter backup day. Snow is possible from mid-November into early April. If you are moving in January or February, pick a backup date and keep walkways salted.
Know which district you are in. A York mailing address can fall in the York City, York Suburban, Central York or several other school districts. Confirm before you buy if schools matter to you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to York

How much do movers cost in York, PA?

It depends on the size of the home, the distance, stairs, how much packing you want and the day of the week. A one-bedroom apartment move across town is a very different job from a four-bedroom house going to Maryland. The fastest way to get a real number is 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 York, PA a good place to live?

For many people, yes. York offers home prices far below the state and national medians, a walkable historic downtown, a Saturday market, minor-league baseball and quick access to Harrisburg and Baltimore. Like any city, blocks vary, so tour the specific street and compare nearby townships before you decide.

How far is York from Baltimore?

Explore York lists Baltimore as 54 miles from York County. Interstate 83 is the direct route, and BWI Airport is about an hour’s drive. That makes York a popular choice for people who work in northern Baltimore County but want lower housing costs.

What is the best time of year to move to York?

Late spring and early fall usually offer the most comfortable moving weather. Summer is popular but humid, and snow is possible from mid-November to early April. Weekdays and mid-month dates are typically easier to book than weekends and the last days of the month.

Do you move people from York to other states?

Yes. Our York office handles local moves around York County and long-distance moves, including moves into Maryland. We also offer packing and unpacking, storage and junk removal if you are downsizing.

Move to York With A & M Friendly Movers

A & M Friendly Movers has been family owned since 2015, and our 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 our five locations, and you can read them here.

From rowhomes downtown to family homes in the townships, our York movers handle local moves, piano and safe moving, office moves and military moves. Pennsylvania PUC license A-8927313. Call our York team at 717-844-5125 or visit the York moving page.

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Moving to York, PA: Living in York Guide