Moving to Lancaster, PA: The Local's Guide
Neighborhoods, utilities, DMV deadlines, schools, winter prep and moving-day tips from our York crew.
Thinking About Moving to Lancaster?
Lancaster mixes a busy, historic downtown with row-home neighborhoods, growing suburbs and the farmland Lancaster County is known for. People move here for jobs, Franklin & Marshall, the food scene and a lower cost of living than the big East Coast cities. Our York crew moves families across Lancaster County every week.
Every fact below links to the official source so you can double-check it. Rules and numbers change, so confirm anything important before you rely on it.
Lancaster at a Glance
Population
57,719 (ACS 2024 5-year estimate); 58,039 at the 2020 census (source)
County
Lancaster County (county seat) (source)
Median home value
$219,500 median value of owner-occupied housing units (ACS 2024 5-year) (source)
Median household income
$63,690 (ACS 2024 5-year) (source)
Climate
Transitional humid continental/humid subtropical; July mean daily high 87.0°F, January mean daily low 22.2°F, about 44 inches of precipitation and 21.4 inches of snow a year (1991–2020 normals) (source)
Lancaster Neighborhoods
A quick look at the areas new residents ask us about most. Our crews move families into all of them.
Downtown / Center City
The core of the Lancaster City Historic District, whose buildings mostly date from 1860 to 1930, where metered parking is managed by the Lancaster Parking Authority.
Cabbage Hill
A historic city neighborhood named for the cabbage patches kept by German residents; expect older city housing.
Chestnut Hill
One of Lancaster city's named neighborhoods.
Historic East Side
One of Lancaster city's named neighborhoods.
West End
One of Lancaster city's named neighborhoods; the city is also home to Franklin & Marshall College.
Musser Park
One of Lancaster city's named neighborhoods, within the city's largely 1860-1930 building stock.
Manheim Township
The county's second-largest municipality (about 44,000 residents), bordering the city to the north and including Neffsville and Landis Valley.
Lancaster Township
A township of about 18,600 residents that immediately surrounds the city and shares Lancaster mailing addresses.
East Hempfield Township
One of the six immediate suburbs of Lancaster city, with about 26,000 residents.
Millersville
A borough of about 7,600 residents and home to Millersville University.
Your First 30 Days in Lancaster: Setup Checklist
Utilities
- Electric: PPL Electric Utilities — start, stop or move service online (source)
- Water & sewer: Lancaster City Water, a public utility owned and operated by the City of Lancaster; the city also provides wastewater service. Billing questions: Bureau of Treasury, 39 W. Chestnut St., 717-735-3425; water bills are monthly (source)
- Natural gas: UGI Utilities — submit an online start/transfer request (allow seven working days) (source)
- Trash, bulky items & recycling: City Public Works provides weekly curbside trash and recycling: up to six 32-gallon/30-lb bags a week, set out after 6 p.m. the night before. One oversized item (sofa, mattress set) is allowed per week, which lowers that week’s limit to four containers; appliances go through a monthly collection with a tag bought at the Treasury Office. Solid Waste Hotline (717) 291-4744 (source)
Driver’s license & car
- Driver’s license: Get a PA driver’s license within 60 days of establishing residency; apply in person at a Driver License Center, surrender your out-of-state license, pass a vision screening, complete Form DL-180R and bring proof of identity, residency and your Social Security card (source)
- Vehicle title & registration: Apply for PA title and registration within 20 days of establishing residency, through an authorized agent (most notaries, dealers and messenger services); bring your out-of-state title, proof of PA insurance, a VIN tracing/verification and a valid PA photo ID (source)
- Nearest DMV offices: Find a PennDOT Driver License Center or online messenger near Lancaster with the PennDOT location finder (source)
Register to vote
- Register online, by mail or at PennDOT and other state agencies at least 15 days before the next election; you must live in PA and your election district for 30 days before the election (source)
Schools
- School district: School District of Lancaster (serves Lancaster City and Lancaster Township) — link (source)
- How to enroll: Create a ParentVUE account, start online enrollment, then schedule a visit to the enrollment office (251 South Prince St., 717-291-6140) to sign paperwork. Bring proof of birth, immunization record, parent/guardian proof of residency (mortgage, lease or utility bill dated within 30 days) and prior-school records (source)
- Find your zoned school: SDL School Finder (search by address): link (source)
Property taxes
- Pennsylvania personal income tax is a flat 3.07% of taxable income (source)
- The City of Lancaster bills and accepts online payment of city real estate tax along with water, sewer, stormwater and trash bills (source)
- Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program benefits eligible residents 65 and older, widows and widowers 50 and older, and people with disabilities 18 and older, with income limits now tied to cost of living (source)
Weather & Winter Prep
- Winter weather: Lancaster averages about 21.4 inches of snow a year (1991–2020 normals); the snowiest winter on record, 2009–10, brought 72 inches (source)
- Snow emergencies: The city typically declares a Snow Emergency when 8+ inches is forecast; cars on snow emergency routes must be moved within one hour or risk a ticket or tow. Property owners must clear sidewalks within five hours after snow ends (by 10 a.m. if it ends overnight) (source)
- Check flood risk: FEMA Flood Map Service Center (search by address) (source)
Winter moves are very doable here. We lay down floor protection, clear a safe path and keep a backup date in case of a big storm.
Getting Around Lancaster
- Main roads: US 30, US 222, PA 283, PA 72 and PA 272 pass through or around the city (source)
- Airport: Lancaster Airport, about 6 miles north of downtown near Lititz, with commercial service by Southern Airways Express (source)
- Public transit: Red Rose Transit Authority buses (hub at Queen Street Station); Amtrak’s Pennsylvanian and Keystone Service stop at the Lancaster Train and Bus Station, 53 E. McGovern Ave.; OurBus runs to New York City (source)
Things to Do in Lancaster
Lancaster Central Market
Lancaster Central Market — America’s oldest continuously operated public farmers market, open Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 6 a.m.–3 p.m. (source)
Fulton Theatre
Fulton Theatre — America’s oldest continuously operating theatre, in a nationally registered historic landmark (source)
Wheatland
Wheatland, President James Buchanan’s 1828 Federal-style home, and the LancasterHistory museum (Mon–Sat; Wheatland tours 10 a.m.–3 p.m.) (source)
Gallery Row
Gallery Row on the 100 block of North Prince Street, part of a city with 40+ galleries and studios (source)
Lancaster Stormers Baseball
Lancaster Stormers Atlantic League baseball at Penn Medicine Park (source)
Local Events Worth Knowing
Moving Day in Lancaster: Tips From Our Crew
Parking, trash pickup, traffic and building rules we plan around on every local move.
Courtesy no-parking signs
For non-metered spaces, the Bureau of Police provides courtesy no-parking signs at 39 W. Chestnut St.; post them at least 48 hours ahead. They aren’t enforced by ticketing or towing, but drivers usually respect them.
Reserve meters through the Parking Authority
Metered spaces must be reserved through the Lancaster Parking Authority (717-299-0907), which also enforces meters, street cleaning and residential permit parking.
Street cleaning every week or two
Street cleaning runs year-round on weekly or bi-weekly routes, so check the signs on your block when choosing a move date.
One oversized item per week
City trash collection lets each household set out one oversized item a week (such as a sofa or mattress set), which lowers that week’s limit to four trash containers; appliances go through a separate monthly white-goods collection.
Historic housing stock
The Lancaster City Historic District has more than 13,000 contributing buildings, most built between 1860 and 1930, so expect older homes with narrower stairs in city neighborhoods.
Moving to Lancaster: FAQs
New residents have 60 days to get a PA driver’s license and 20 days to apply for PA title and registration. You need a valid PA photo ID to title and register, so it helps to get the license first.
PPL supplies electricity, UGI supplies natural gas, and the City of Lancaster provides water, sewer and trash service. City water billing questions go to the Bureau of Treasury at 717-735-3425.
When 8 or more inches is forecast the city usually declares a Snow Emergency, and cars on snow emergency routes must move within an hour. Sidewalks must be cleared within five hours after the snow stops.
The School District of Lancaster uses ParentVUE for online enrollment, followed by a scheduled visit to the enrollment office at 251 South Prince Street. Use the district’s School Finder to see your assigned school.
Local moves are billed by the hour, with the clock starting when our crew arrives at your home. Long-distance moves get a binding, flat-price estimate that won’t change after you book. Call 717-844-5125 for a free written quote.
Yes. Our long-distance moves come with your own truck, the same crew from door to door and a guaranteed delivery date.
Ready to Move to Lancaster?
Get a free, written quote from our York crew. Family-owned since 2015.