Cameron Estate · National Register of Historic Places
East Donegal Township’s story
East Donegal Township in pictures
The archive holds 6 maps from 1908 on.
7 places on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
East Donegal TownshipPA
A town of 8,780.
9 bordering townsMap →
Byers-Muma House · Photo: Smallbones · CC BY-SA 3.0
Population
8,780
2025 Census estimate · +1.1% since 2020
Median home value
$331K
Census ACS
Household income
$109K
median
Median age
37.4
years
Jobs based here
2,521
A commuter town
TownGrade
B
#616 of 1032 in PA
Is East Donegal Township a good place to live?
East Donegal Township grades B overall, 616th among Pennsylvania's 1032 graded towns, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. The median household earns $109K and 52% of its land is conserved. It also does better than most on health: it is healthier than 74% of U.S. towns. Its lowest everyday mark is in cost of living: the typical home is worth about $331K, 3.8 years of the Lancaster metro’s $87K median household income. 52% of the land in East Donegal Township is conserved, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 8.2% and U.S. towns at 4.3%. East Donegal Township has 7 places on the National Register of Historic Places, among them Cameron Estate and Donegal Mills Plantation. Most errands need a car: it is less walkable than 71% of U.S. towns.
What makes East Donegal Township stand out
Where East Donegal Township beats most towns.
A growing town
East Donegal Township has grown 13% since 2010
7,755 counted in 2010 and 8,684 in 2020; an estimated 8,780 in 2025.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How East Donegal Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far East Donegal Township is from typical.
Jobs & incomeA−Open →HealthPenn State Health Lancaster Medical Center 9.8 miles awayB+Open →Cost of livingCOpen →WalkabilityEPA walkability 6.1 of 20; 3% of households have no car; 1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitCOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 32% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →SchoolsBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors5 miles of trailsA−Open →HistoryA−Open →Civic life2.4 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 132 attractions →Hersheypark and 42 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around East Donegal Township. Close and well known come first.
15 mi Theme parkHersheypark3.0M visitors a year
33 mi National MonumentCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
15 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Stadium
15 mi MuseumHershey's Chocolate World
19 mi Theme parkDutch Wonderland
15 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Hersheypark: Michael Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Hersheypark Stadium: 45BearsFan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hershey's Chocolate World: Phillyfan0419, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Dutch Wonderland: FlugKerl2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hersheypark Arena: Hersheyarena4ever at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to East Donegal Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in East Donegal Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEast Donegal water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet7 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have East Donegal Township’s trash rules yet
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 hereLancaster County Board of ElectionsLancaster County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jan 2025
ZIP codes17547, 17552, 17550, 1751217547 63% · 17552 26% · 17550 9% · 17512 2%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 East Donegal Township.
East Donegal Township keeps more of its land conserved than most of Pennsylvania and has less tooth loss than most of Pennsylvania.
OutdoorsA−
Conserved land covers nearly a third of East Donegal Township
Its 7,787 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 99% of Pennsylvania towns.
4.5 miles of trail in 8 parks and preserves. The biggest park or preserve is River Front Park, at 237 acres. At 0.2 miles per square mile, East Donegal Township’s trail density is against 0.5 in Pennsylvania’s towns and 0.4 across U.S. towns.
#625for trails in PA
51.5%
conserved · 7,787 of 15,120 acres
4.5 mi
of trails · 0.2 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Chickies Rock County Park Chickies Creek Day Use Area | 0.9 mi | 52 |
| 2. Lloyd H. Fuhrman Memorial Park | 0.5 mi | 16 |
| 3. River Front Park | 0.1 mi | 237 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB
Public schools in East Donegal Township beat 59% of Pennsylvania districts
Its public schools are run by Donegal SD. Two of its 6 schools are below, each with why it’s listed. The largest public high school is Donegal HS, with 955 students.
59%of PA districts it outscoresBSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donegal Intermediate SchoolLargest public elementary schoolGrades 3–6 | Grades 3–6 | 806 | B− |
| Donegal HSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 955 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
East Donegal Township has 0.6 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
Most working residents leave East Donegal Township for work: only 6% work in town. Jobs based in East Donegal Township grew to 2,521 in 2023, 544 more than in 2013. 5.1% of residents live below the poverty line in East Donegal Township.
6%work in town
| East Donegal Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $109,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 5.1% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Work from home | 15% | 12% | 11% |
| Average trip to work | 24 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
Where working residents work
In East Donegal Township6%
Lancaster8%
East Hempfield Township6%
Derry Township5%
Manheim Township5%
13 mi
median commute distance
2,521
jobs based in East Donegal Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C
Walkability grade: more walkable than 29% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HealthB+
For health, East Donegal Township earns a B+
Its widest gap with Pennsylvania is tooth loss: 9.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.5% statewide. Against the 7,272 U.S. towns with household incomes like East Donegal Township’s, it is healthier than 54%, a smaller edge than it has nationally: part of it comes with its incomes.
20% of East Donegal Township adults binge drink. East Donegal Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 6 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 0. 30% of East Donegal Township adults have high blood pressure.
74%healthier than U.S. townsB+Health Grade
| East Donegal Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 20% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 34% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 12% | 14% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 21% | 24% | 25% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
6 better20 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | East Donegal Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 9.1% | 14.5% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.1% | 3.7% |
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
9.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
73rd
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Low risk in East Donegal Township, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 68% of U.S. communities. Since 1978, 23 flood insurance claims have been paid out in East Donegal Township.
32risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanes
23
paid flood claims since 1978
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
In East Donegal Township, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
East Donegal Township has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 22° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–41°
Spring40–63°
Summer63–84°
Fall45–65°
Oct 10
typical first frost
Apr 30
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Younger than Pennsylvania overall
People 65 and older are 13% of residents (20% statewide). East Donegal Township’s median age is 37.4 years. 36% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
37.4median age · PA 40.9
| East Donegal Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 13% | 21% | 18% |
| Median age | 37.4 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Under 18 | 23% | 20% | 22% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 36% | 29% | 29% |
East Donegal TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma3%
High school37%
Some college16%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s25%
Graduate11%
Women and men · all residents
50% women, 50% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women. Among residents 25 to 34, 65% are men (PA 51%).
| East Donegal Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.1% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7.6% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 15.4% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 11.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 16.7% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12.2% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 9.2% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 4.1% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 2.9% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 36.7% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 16% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.7% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 24.9% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 10.7% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Donegal Township
18pages on East Donegal Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
10 within 15 miles of the center of East Donegal Township
Elizabethtown CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Elizabethtown4.8 mi$37,950 tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State YorkUniversity or college · Public · York11.6 mi$15,208 in-state tuitionThaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyCommunity college · Public · Lancaster15 mi$9,050 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 East Donegal Township residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
Get outside
5 miles of trails in East Donegal Township
51.5% of the town is conserved land, across 8 parks and preserves.
1
Chickies Rock County Park Chickies Creek Day Use Area0.9 mi of trails · 52 acres
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Landmarks
7 places in East Donegal Township on the National Register of Historic Places.
East Donegal Township’s neighbors
9 towns share a border with East Donegal Township.
All 7 graded towns on its borders grade higher than its B; Rapho Township (B) is closest.
Rapho TownshipMariettaHellam TownshipMount JoyWest Hempfield TownshipWest Donegal TownshipConoy TownshipMount Joy TownshipRheemsEast Donegal Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Donegal Township | #616 | B | C | — | B | B+ |
| Rapho Township | #590 | B | C | — | B | B+ |
| Marietta | #488 | B+ | B | — | B | C+ |
| Hellam Township | #260 | A | B | A | B | B |
| Mount Joy | #93 | A+ | B− | A | B | A− |
| West Hempfield Township | #216 | A | B | — | A− | B |
| West Donegal Township | #582 | B | D | — | A− | A− |
| Conoy Township | #486 | B+ | C | — | A− | B+ |
East Donegal Township, Rapho Township, Marietta, West Hempfield Township, West Donegal Township and Conoy Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare East Donegal Township with a neighbor →
Questions about East Donegal Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Donegal Township, PA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. East Donegal Township grades B overall, better than 57% of U.S. towns and #616 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B+ for health and B for schools.
Is East Donegal Township, PA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.