Overlook, 1907
Blue Ridge Summit’s story
150 years in pictures
The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1907.
- 1876Blue Ridge Summit is settled
Blue Ridge SummitPA
A town of 922, settled in 1876.
Population
922
Census survey, 2020–24
Median home value
$360K
Census ACS
Household income
$60K
median
Median age
42.1
years
Jobs based here
515
Balanced
Is Blue Ridge Summit a good place to live?
47% of households own their home in Blue Ridge Summit, below both Pennsylvania’s towns (78%) and U.S. towns (73%). Blue Ridge Summit has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.
Small town
922 people, and everyone knows the way
In a town this size, neighbors are the best guide. Ask them anything.
Nearby towns
Washington TownshipLiberty TownshipBlue Ridge Summit
Nearby attractions
All 147 attractions →Raven Rock Mountain Complex and 28 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Blue Ridge Summit. Close and well known come first.
Big draw3 mi LandmarkRaven Rock Mountain Complex
37 mi National MonumentCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
2 mi National park siteCatoctin Mountain Park461K visitors a year
14 mi Ancient siteGettysburg Battlefield
14 mi LandmarkGettysburg National Cemetery
11 mi National Military ParkGettysburg National Military Park730K visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Raven Rock Mountain Complex: US Government, Public domain · Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Catoctin Mountain Park: Acroterion, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Gettysburg Battlefield: Veggies, Public domain · Gettysburg National Cemetery: Photo: Henryhartley at en.wikipedia Statue: Randolph Rogers (1825-1892), Public domain · Gettysburg National Military Park: David Dugan, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
Moving to Blue Ridge Summit: who provides what
Blue Ridge Summit is unincorporated, so Franklin County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerAdams Electric Cooperative15.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWashington Twp Muni Auth water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesFranklin CountyFranklin County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereFranklin County Board of ElectionsFranklin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Nov 2025
ZIP code1721417214 100%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Blue Ridge Summit.
Natural hazards
Very low risk in Blue Ridge Summit, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 83% of U.S. communities.
17risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesStrong wind
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Blue Ridge Summit
Blue Ridge Summit has chilly, snowy winters and pleasant summers. At 83°F, Blue Ridge Summit’s July high is below both the Pennsylvania town median (85°F) and the median of U.S. towns (85°F).
33″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–40°
Spring40–61°
Summer61–81°
Fall45–63°
Oct 30
typical first frost
Apr 14
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Work & commute
Blue Ridge Summit has 1.4 jobs for every working resident, and 501 people commute in
Most working residents leave Blue Ridge Summit for work: only 4% work in town. Blue Ridge Summit’s average trip to work is 19 minutes. Jobs based in Blue Ridge Summit grew to 515 in 2023, 225 more than in 2013.
4%work in town
| Blue Ridge Summit | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 19 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Below the poverty line | 3.6% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.7% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Blue Ridge Summit4%
Washington Township10%
Waynesboro9%
Hagerstown4%
Chambersburg4%
18 mi
median commute distance
515
jobs based in Blue Ridge Summit
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Health
How healthy Blue Ridge Summit is
Blue Ridge Summit beats the Pennsylvania average on 2 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 2. 19% of adults binge drink in Blue Ridge Summit.
| Blue Ridge Summit | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 18% | 16% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 38% | 35% | 35% |
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 17% | 14% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 14% | 14% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
2 better22 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Blue Ridge Summit | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.3% | 14.5% |
| More adults getting cholesterol checked | 87.7% | 85.3% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.2% | 7.7% |
Wellspan Waynesboro Hospital
5.7 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Housing
A home in Blue Ridge Summit sells for about $238K at the median
The median rent in Blue Ridge Summit is $845 a month.
$238Kmedian sale price
2
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Blue Ridge Summit
16pages on Blue Ridge Summit
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Blue Ridge Summit
Mount St. Mary's UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Emmitsburg, MD6.9 mi$48,630 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State Mont AltoUniversity or college · Public · Mont Alto8.9 mi$14,408 in-state tuitionHagerstown Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Hagerstown, MD12.4 mi$4,320 in-state tuition
About 3 of every 100 Blue Ridge Summit residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Blue Ridge Summit
Unincorporated community in Pennsylvania, US
Blue Ridge Summit is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States, southwest of Gettysburg in the central part of the state, adjoining Pennsylvania's southern border with Maryland. It is less than 3 miles (5 km) east of Pen Mar, Maryland. The population of Blue Ridge Summit was 887 at the 2020 census. The community was the birthplace of Wallis Simpson, the wife of Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (previously King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom). It is also home to the Monterey Country Club, which has served as a summer retreat for many Washingtonians; and the American presidents Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge and Dwight D. Eisenho…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 0.7 sq mi
- Elevation
- 1,345 ft
- ZIP code
- 17214
- Area code
- 717
Questions about Blue Ridge Summit
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Blue Ridge Summit, PA a good place to live?
Blue Ridge Summit has fewer than 1,000 residents, too few for fair grades; the figures below are still real.