East Petersburg, 2005
East Petersburg’s story
144 years in pictures
Census counts: 558 in 1890, 4,573 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2005 and 7 maps from 1902 on.
- 1882East Petersburg is settled
Population
4,702
2025 Census estimate · +2.9% since 2020
Typical home
$364K
+3.9% in a year
Household income
$92K
median
Median age
47.4
years
Jobs based here
1,410
A commuter town
Settled
1882
144 years ago
Is East Petersburg a good place to live?
Incomes are its strong suit — the median household earns $92K. Overall, East Petersburg earns an A, better than 91% of U.S. towns. That places it 179th of 1032 in Pennsylvania. Homes run about $364K for a typical one, 4.2 times the Lancaster metro’s $87K median household income. Add schools to its strengths: its schools rank ahead of 84% of Pennsylvania towns. Its trail network density is 1.3 miles per square mile, where Pennsylvania’s towns sit at 0.4 and U.S. towns at 0.4. On history, just 110 of Pennsylvania’s 1,749 towns do worse. 3.3% of residents live below the poverty line locally, against 7.6% in Pennsylvania’s towns and 9.6% across U.S. towns.
Figures: incomes, Census ACS, 2020–24 · schools, state test and graduation results · home values, Zillow · OpenStreetMap · National Register of Historic Places.
How East Petersburg grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far East Petersburg is from typical.
Jobs & incomeIncomes and work are among the strongest comparedAOpen →SchoolsIn the top fifth of the towns comparedA−Open →HealthPenn State Health Lancaster Medical Center 2.3 miles awayA−Open →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 30% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.1 of 20; 0.9% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitC+Open →Cost of livingNear typical for the towns comparedB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors2 miles of trails; 6% conserved landA−Open →HistoryLess recorded history than most townsCOpen →Civic life3.9 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 →
What makes East Petersburg stand out
Where East Petersburg beats most towns.
Hempfield SD schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| East Petersburg El Sch | K–6 | 480 |
SchoolsA−
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
7 better19 too close to call0 worse
| Widest gap | East Petersburg | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.5% | 14.5% |
HealthA−
Beats PA on 7 of 26 CDC measures, trails it on none
Less healthyHealthier
CDC PLACES 2025 estimates.
A commuter town
98% of working residents leave East Petersburg for work
Where East Petersburg’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,410jobs based in East Petersburg
2%of working residents work in town
6 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
The data
Ordered by what stands out in East Petersburg.
OutdoorsA−
Conservation land takes up 6.5% of East Petersburg
#150for trails in PA
There are 1.6 miles of trail across 2 parks and preserves.
| East Petersburg | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miles of trail per square mile | 1.3 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| Conserved land | 6.5% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
6.5%
conserved · 50 of 770 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. East Petersburg Civic Grounds | — | 7 |
| 2. Petersburg Fitness Park | — | 5 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsA−
East Petersburg earns an A− for schools
84%of PA districts it outscoresA−School Grade
Its public schools are run by Hempfield SD. 480 students attend East Petersburg’s public school.
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Petersburg El SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–6 | Grades K–6 | 480 | B |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
HealthA−
Residents of East Petersburg are healthier than three in four U.S. towns
76%healthier than U.S. townsA−Health Grade
16% of East Petersburg adults say their health is fair or poor. Two figures for adults in the town: 30% have high blood pressure, 12% report frequent physical distress.
| East Petersburg | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 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
7 better19 too close to call0 worse
| What stands out | East Petersburg | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 10.5% | 14.5% |
| Fewer adults who have had a stroke | 3.1% | 3.7% |
Penn State Health Lancaster Medical Center
2.3 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
74th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A
With only 0.7 jobs per working resident, most people in East Petersburg work out of town
2%work in town
East Petersburg had 1,410 jobs in 2023, down 313 from 2013. Its average commute stands at 22 minutes. The top destinations are East Hempfield Township (12%), Lancaster (12%) and Manheim Township (12%). The share of working residents in East Petersburg who work locally: 2.3%.
| East Petersburg | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 3.3% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Average trip to work | 22 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 2.3% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $92,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In East Petersburg2%
East Hempfield Township12%
Lancaster12%
Manheim Township12%
East Lampeter Township3%
6 mi
median commute distance
1,410
jobs based in East Petersburg
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
C+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 41% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
HousingCost of living grade B−
East Petersburg earns a B− for cost of living
$364KZillow home value
Values rose 3.9% in the 12 months to September 2026. 92% of households are owner-occupiers in East Petersburg. Homes sold in East Petersburg spent a median 5 days on the market.
| East Petersburg | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 92% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,341 a month | $1,114 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
East Petersburg$364K
Pennsylvania$287K
Market temperature
5
days on market
100.8%
sale-to-list price
+3.9%
value change, 1 year
7
homes sold in September
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
East Petersburg has a low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
30risk score of 100
The national flood insurance program has paid 2 claims in East Petersburg since 2000. Expected damage from storms and floods is lower here than in 70% of U.S. communities. Of the losses FEMA expects here, 60% come from inland flooding and 15% from hurricanes.
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes
2
paid flood claims since 2000
2
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA disaster declarations and aid · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
East Petersburg has four seasons and pleasant summers
21″snow a winter
Expect chilly winters and warm summers in East Petersburg. Summer afternoons peak near 86° in July, and January nights bottom out around 22°; snowfall runs to about 21 inches a winter.
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–41°
Spring40–63°
Summer62–84°
Fall44–65°
Oct 25
typical first frost
Apr 18
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Who lives here
Fewer adults under 35 in East Petersburg than across Pennsylvania
47.4median age · PA 40.9
Four-year graduates: just over a third of adults 25 and older here, 35% across Pennsylvania. Adults 18 to 34 are 14% of residents (22% statewide); people 65 and older are 25% of residents (20% statewide). East Petersburg’s midpoint age stands at 47.4 years. Since 2020, East Petersburg has grown 2.9%, to 4,702 residents in the Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate.
| East Petersburg | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 47.4 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 34% | 29% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 20% | 20% | 22% |
East PetersburgPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
17%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school34%
Some college16%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate14%
Women and men · all residents
54% women, 46% men
About 84 men for every 100 women (the survey’s margin: ±4.1 points). Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| East Petersburg | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 9.4% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 10.2% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.5% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 10.5% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.8% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 17.1% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 12% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 13.8% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 10.8% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.1% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 34% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 15.9% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 8.8% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 14.3% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 4,700, single groups can be off by several points
Keep exploring
Everything we know about East Petersburg
18pages on East Petersburg
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Nearby attractions
All 154 attractions →Hersheypark and 37 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around East Petersburg. Close and well known come first.
21 mi Theme parkHersheypark3.1M visitors a year
9 mi Theme parkDutch Wonderland
39 mi GardenLongwood Gardens
21 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Stadium
10 mi MuseumEphrata Cloister
21 mi MuseumHershey's Chocolate WorldSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Hersheypark: Epicgenius, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dutch Wonderland: FlugKerl2, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Longwood Gardens: P. Hughes, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hersheypark Stadium: 45BearsFan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ephrata Cloister: 1549bcp at English Wikipedia, Public domain · Hershey's Chocolate World: Phillyfan0419, CC BY-SA 3.0
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to East Petersburg: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in East Petersburg, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterEast Petersburg Borough water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNearest public drop-offLancaster County Solid Waste, 3 miOpenStreetMap
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 code1752017520 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.
After high school
Colleges nearby
9 within 15 miles of the center of East Petersburg
Lancaster Bible CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Lancaster3.7 mi$29,990 tuitionThaddeus Stevens College of TechnologyCommunity college · Public · Lancaster5.5 mi$9,050 in-state tuitionMillersville University of PennsylvaniaUniversity or college · Public · Millersville7.1 mi$11,128 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 East Petersburg residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
East Petersburg’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with East Petersburg.
East Hempfield TownshipManheim TownshipEast Petersburg
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Petersburg | #179 | A | B− | — | A− | A− |
| East Hempfield Township | #256 | A | C | B+ | A− | A− |
| Manheim Township | #227 | A | C− | B+ | A | A− |
East Petersburg reports no FBI crime data of its own. Compare East Petersburg with a neighbor →
Questions about East Petersburg
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is East Petersburg, PA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. East Petersburg grades A overall, better than 91% of U.S. towns and #179 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades A− for health and A− for schools.
Is East Petersburg, 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 B−.
East Petersburg is in here
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