PA 194 shield not made correctly, 2009
Littlestown’s story
261 years in pictures
Census counts: 394 in 1850, 4,782 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2009 and 3 maps from 1911 on.
- 1765Littlestown is settled
LittlestownPA
Population
4,895
2025 Census estimate · +2.4% since 2020
Typical home
$340K
+3.5% in a year
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
38.9
years
Jobs based here
1,148
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#462 of 1032 in PA
Is Littlestown a good place to live?
Littlestown grades B+ overall, 462nd of 1032 graded towns in Pennsylvania, with clear strengths and some subjects that lag. It reports less crime per resident than 82% of U.S. towns and natural-hazard risk is low. It also does better than most on incomes: the median household earns $71K. Its lowest everyday mark is in health: CDC estimates put its residents' health behind 65% of the country. A typical home there costs about $340K, 4 years of the Gettysburg metro’s $84K median household income. Littlestown’s average commute is 35 minutes, against 26 minutes in Pennsylvania’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. Littlestown is easier to get around on foot or by transit than 75% of U.S. towns. The biggest park or preserve is Littlestown Community Park, at 22 acres.
What makes Littlestown stand out
Where Littlestown beats most towns.
Natural hazardsA
Very low risk of storm and flood damage
FEMA National Risk Index.
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Littlestown0.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
SafetyA−
91% less violent crime than PA
FBI data, 2025. Crimes reported to police.
0historic places
HistoryA−
Settled in 1765
A long history
A history going back 261 years.
A commuter town
93% of working residents leave Littlestown for work
Where Littlestown’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
1,148jobs based in Littlestown
7%of working residents work in town
15 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Littlestown grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Littlestown is from typical.
Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 12% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SafetyA−Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.8 of 20; 9.3% of households have no car; 2.2% of workers walk, bike or ride transitB+Open →HealthUPMC Hanover 6.9 miles awayCOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →SchoolsC+Open →Cost of livingBOpen →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors1 mile of trail; 6% conserved landB+Open →History3 notable people born hereA−Open →Civic life3.7 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market8 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 38.9; 16% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 289 attractions →Raven Rock Mountain Complex and 54 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Littlestown. Close and well known come first.
Big draw18 mi LandmarkRaven Rock Mountain Complex
32 mi National MonumentCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
9 mi Ancient siteGettysburg Battlefield
9 mi LandmarkGettysburg National Cemetery
7 mi National Military ParkGettysburg National Military Park730K visitors a year
10 mi National Historic SiteEisenhower National Historic Site75K 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 · 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 · Eisenhower National Historic Site: Jack E. Boucher, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Littlestown: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Littlestown, and how to reach them.
PowerAdams Electric Cooperative15.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterLittlestown Boro water systemNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Littlestown’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 hereAdams County Board of ElectionsAdams County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jun 2025
ZIP code1734017340 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 Littlestown.
Littlestown sends many workers across the state line to Westminster and is safe by national standards but not by Pennsylvania’s.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Littlestown has a very low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
56% of Littlestown’s expected losses from natural hazards come from inland flooding, followed by hurricanes at 14%. Storm and flood damage is expected to run lower than in 88% of U.S. communities. Households here have drawn federal disaster aid once, in 2011.
12risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC+
Littlestown’s schools rank behind 58% of Pennsylvania districts
The largest public high school is Littlestown SHS, with 532 students. Littlestown Area SD runs its public schools. Two of its 3 schools are shown below, with the reason for each.
42%of PA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alloway Creek El SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 746 | B− |
| Littlestown SHSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 532 | B− |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
SafetyA−
Littlestown’s grade for safety is an A−
At 7.8 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports less crime than 64% of Pennsylvania’s graded towns. Violent crime is rare: 1 reported in 2025, 0.2 per 1,000 residents.
Littlestown’s level of violent crime is 0.2 per 1,000 residents. Its level of property crime is 5.3 per 1,000 residents.
82%of U.S. towns report more crimeA−Safety Grade
| Littlestown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.2 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 5.3 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Littlestown0.2
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Littlestown5.3
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
82nd
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
64th
percentile among PA towns
1
violent crimes reported in 2025
26
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
Littlestown has 0.5 jobs for every working resident, so most commute out
30% of working residents cross a state line to work, Westminster among the top destinations. The average commute for its 2,102 working residents takes 34.9 minutes, against 26.3 across Pennsylvania.
The top destinations are Hanover (7%), Penn Township (5%) and Westminster (4%). Jobs in Littlestown grew by 337 from 2013 to 2023, reaching 1,148. The share of residents in Littlestown who live below the poverty line: 13%. For half of commuters, work is under 15 miles away.
7%work in town
| Littlestown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Below the poverty line | 13% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $71,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Littlestown7%
Hanover7%
Penn Township5%
Westminster4%
Gettysburg4%
15 mi
median commute distance
1,148
jobs based in Littlestown
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
B+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 75% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers: that is Littlestown’s year
In July, afternoons reach 86°; in January, nights fall to 22°, and about 28 inches of snow falls in a winter.
28″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–42°
Spring40–63°
Summer62–84°
Fall44–66°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+1.6°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC
Littlestown’s grade for health is a C
Littlestown: 25% of adults have been diagnosed with depression. 39% of adults locally have obesity; 15% report frequent physical distress.
35%healthier than U.S. townsCHealth Grade
| Littlestown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 35% | 35% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 14% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 38% | 36% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better19 too close to call7 worse
| What stands out | Littlestown | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 7.9% | 5.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.8% | 7.7% |
| More adults with heart disease | 8.6% | 7.4% |
UPMC Hanover
6.9 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
20th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B
Littlestown’s grade for cost of living is a B
Zillow values the typical Littlestown home at about $340,000, up 3.5% in a year, 19% above the Pennsylvania typical home. For Littlestown, the going rate for rent is $964 a month. In Littlestown, 25% of sales closed above the list price.
$340KZillow home value
| Littlestown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median rent | $964 a month | $1,116 a month | $1,185 a month |
| Households that own their home | 72% | 78% | 73% |
Typical home value
Littlestown$340K
Pennsylvania$287K
Market temperature
8
days on market
100.5%
sale-to-list price
+3.5%
value change, 1 year
8
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
OutdoorsB+
Conserved land covers 5.9% of Littlestown
0.9 miles of trail wind through 2 parks and preserves. The trail network density in Littlestown is 0.5 miles per square mile.
5.9%conserved
| Littlestown | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conserved land | 5.9% | 8.2% | 4.3% |
| Miles of trail per square mile | 0.5 miles per square mile | 0.4 | 0.4 |
5.9%
conserved · 68 of 1,165 acres
0.9 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Littlestown Community Park | — | 22 |
| 2. Crouse Park | — | 2 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Littlestown
20pages on Littlestown
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 58% of PA districts · 3 schoolsSafetyA−0.2 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthCBetter than PA on 0 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB$340K typical home · up 3.5% in a yearWork & commuteB$71K median household income · 1,148 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 12% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
4 within 15 miles of the center of Littlestown
Gettysburg CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Gettysburg10.2 mi$66,640 tuitionUnited Lutheran SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Gettysburg10.3 miMcDaniel CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Westminster, MD12 mi$52,081 tuition
About 4 of every 100 Littlestown residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
Famous people from Littlestown
3 notable people were born in Littlestown.
About Littlestown
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Littlestown is a borough in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,782 at the 2020 census. Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named Petersburg. German settlers in the area came to call the town Kleine Stedtle. In 1795, as confusion between the town and a neighboring town (also named Petersburg and now named York Springs) was growing, the town changed its name to Littlestown, an English translation of the German name Kleine Stedtle.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1765
- Area
- 1.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 627 ft
- ZIP code
- 17340
Littlestown’s neighbors
2 towns share a border with Littlestown.
Germany TownshipUnion TownshipLittlestown
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Littlestown | #462 | B+ | B | A− | C+ | C |
| Germany Township | #767 | C+ | C+ | — | C+ | B− |
| Union Township | #758 | C+ | C+ | — | C+ | B− |
Germany Township and Union Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Littlestown with a neighbor →
Questions about Littlestown
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Littlestown, PA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Littlestown grades B+ overall, better than 69% of U.S. towns and #462 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades C for health, A− for safety and C+ for schools.
Is Littlestown, 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.
What is Littlestown, PA known for?
3 notable people were born here, including Joseph A. Goulden and Halo Meadows.