Elizabethtown is the town people find when they draw a circle between Lancaster, Harrisburg, and Hershey and look for the sweet spot in the middle. Locals call it E-town, and if you commute east — or take the train — it's one of the smartest places to live in the county.

I'm Austin Curtiss, a Coldwell Banker realtor in Lancaster County. Here's the honest version.

The Vibe

E-town is a classic college town. Elizabethtown College gives the borough a youthful energy — coffee shops, bookstores, and events that a town of 12,000 wouldn't normally have. The downtown square is historic and walkable in the small-town sense: you can actually park once and handle your errands on foot.

It's got character you can't fake. On some days the air smells like chocolate from the Mars plant nearby; on other days, well, the locals joke about "cow days" when the wind comes from the farm side. That's Lancaster County for you.

One genuinely useful feature: Elizabethtown has its own Amtrak station. The Keystone train stops right in town, which is a bigger deal than it sounds — more on that below.

Home Prices

E-town sits in the middle of the county's price range. Homes typically sell from the mid-$300s up toward $400K and beyond, with a wide spread — older in-town homes and townhomes at the lower end, and newer single-family homes and township properties running higher. Recent medians have landed around $400K or so, with plenty of sales on either side of that.

Compared to Hershey or the Harrisburg suburbs just across the county line, you're getting Lancaster County living — often at a lower price point and with a different tax picture. It's not the bargain it was a decade ago, but for commuters it's still one of the better value plays in the area.

Homes here have been selling at or near asking, usually within a few weeks. Not the frenzy of Lititz, but don't expect to lowball either.

Schools

Elizabethtown is served by the Elizabethtown Area School District — E-town Area for short — which covers the borough and the surrounding townships. It's a well-regarded district, and like everywhere in the county, school quality is a major driver of home values.

One thing to know: "Elizabethtown" as a mailing address covers the borough plus parts of West Donegal and Mount Joy Townships, and district and municipal boundaries don't always line up the way you'd guess. Verify the actual school district on any property you're considering — it takes thirty seconds and it matters.

Commuting

This is where E-town earns its reputation. Hershey is about 20 minutes up the road. Harrisburg runs roughly 20–25 minutes via Route 283. Lancaster city is about 20 minutes the other direction. If you work in healthcare, government, or distribution anywhere in that triangle, E-town puts you in the middle of all of it.

And the Amtrak station is the sleeper feature: Keystone service runs from Elizabethtown to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia. If you're a hybrid worker who needs to be in Philly a couple of days a week, living walking distance from that station is genuinely hard to beat.

Driving to Philly is roughly 90 minutes — fine for occasional trips, a lot for a daily commute. But that's what the train is for.

Who It Fits

E-town fits the east-west commuter better than anywhere else in the county. Hershey Medical Center employees, state workers in Harrisburg, and hybrid Philly workers all land here. It also fits people who like the college-town feel — a little more going on than a pure bedroom suburb, without the price tag or bustle of the city.

Young families get good schools and a real neighborhood feel. Retirees get a walkable downtown and easy access to Hershey's medical corridor. And Pennsylvania doesn't tax retirement income, which is part of why the county keeps attracting them.

The Honest Cons

• Route 283 rush hour. The highway that makes E-town convenient also bottlenecks. Morning and evening rush toward Harrisburg can be slow, and the E-town exits back up. Budget extra time or shift your hours if you can.
• Train noise. The Amtrak line runs right through town. If you're looking at a home near the tracks, visit at a time when a train is passing and decide honestly how you feel about it.
• Older housing stock downtown. The borough's historic homes have charm and they have deferred maintenance — sometimes both in the same house. Get a thorough inspection, and budget for the things old houses need.
• It's a bedroom town at heart. For all the college-town energy, E-town quiets down at night. Big nights out mean Harrisburg, Hershey, or Lancaster — all close, but none in your backyard.
• New construction premium. The newer developments around the borough are nice, but you're paying a premium over the in-town stock. Run the comparison before you fall in love with the model home.

Let's Talk E-town

Elizabethtown is the county's best answer to a simple question: where can I live in Lancaster County and still get to Hershey, Harrisburg, or Philly without hating my commute? For a lot of people, the answer is E-town.

Thinking about Elizabethtown? Call or text me at (717) 406-7337 — I'll talk you through it honestly.

Explore Nearby Communities

Comparing your options? See how Elizabethtown stacks up against Mount Joy and Ephrata — each has its own honest guide with prices, schools, commutes, and tradeoffs. If you’re relocating to the area, start with my Moving to Lancaster, PA guide.

Browse all Lancaster County towns →

Frequently Asked Questions

What do homes cost in Elizabethtown, PA?

E-town sits in the middle of the county's price range — typically from the mid-$300s up toward $400K and beyond, with recent medians around $400K. Homes have been selling at or near asking, usually within a few weeks.

Does Elizabethtown have an Amtrak station?

Yes — Keystone service runs from Elizabethtown to Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. Living within walking distance of that station is a genuine advantage for hybrid Philly workers.

How far is Elizabethtown from Hershey and Harrisburg?

Hershey is about 20 minutes, Harrisburg roughly 20–25 minutes via Route 283, and Lancaster city about 20 minutes the other direction. E-town sits in the middle of the whole triangle.

What school district serves Elizabethtown?

The Elizabethtown Area School District, covering the borough and surrounding townships. Note that an Elizabethtown mailing address can span the borough plus parts of West Donegal and Mount Joy Townships — always verify the actual district on a property.

Is Elizabethtown a college town?

Yes — Elizabethtown College gives the borough a youthful energy with coffee shops, bookstores, and events a town of 12,000 wouldn't normally have.