The Town FilesElizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Borough in Lancaster County · population 11,639 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $238,700
- Household income
- $76,105
- Jan low / Jul high
- 23° / 87°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 15
- Median age
- 34.9
Elizabethtown is a borough of 11,639 people in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $238,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 96% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 92% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Elizabethtown ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Elizabethtown is worth $238,700, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $76,105, which is more affordable than 39% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,174 a month. 58.2% of households own their home.
| Housing | Elizabethtown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $238,700 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,174 | $996 |
| Median household income | $76,105 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 58.2% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1964 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Elizabethtown
| People | Elizabethtown | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 17.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 31.4% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 4.0% | — |
| Work from home | 11.1% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 22.3 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.5% | 89.0% |
Weather in Elizabethtown
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 23.0°F. About 44.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 22 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 101 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 8 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on July 14, 2004 about 9.0 miles from the town center. The most recent was on April 28, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 40 times; the largest was 2.50 inches on August 7, 1986.
Severe weather in Lancaster County since 1996
Lancaster County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| February 6, 2014 | Severe Ice Storm | EM-3367: Severe Winter Storm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Lancaster County
Lancaster County had 252,045 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $59,966 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Elizabethtown itself the ACS puts it at 3.4%.
Public schools in Elizabethtown
5 public schools with 3,647 students, about 15.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethtown Area SHS | 9-12 | 1,293 | 17.5 |
| Elizabethtown Area MS | 6-8 | 843 | 14.5 |
| Bear Creek School | 3-5 | 801 | 15.1 |
| East High Street El Sch | K-2 | 480 | 15.0 |
| Conewago El Sch | K-5 | 230 | 14.4 |
Towns near Elizabethtown
- West Donegal, PA1.9 mi · 8,944 people · home $345,500
- Mount Joy, PA2.8 mi · 10,721 people · home $311,800
- Conewago, PA4.4 mi · 2,952 people · home $382,500
- Conoy, PA4.9 mi · 3,361 people · home $246,500
- East Donegal, PA5.1 mi · 8,684 people · home $331,300
- Maytown, PA5.1 mi · 4,098 people · home $324,300
- Londonderry, PA5.6 mi · 4,899 people · home $241,700
- Mount Joy, PA5.7 mi · 8,325 people · home $266,500
Elizabethtown questions
Is Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Elizabethtown scores better for retirees than 27% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 7%. 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.9).
How much does a house cost in Elizabethtown?
The median owner-occupied home in Elizabethtown is valued at $238,700 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $76,105, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,174 a month.
What is the weather like in Elizabethtown?
July highs average 86.8°F and January lows 23.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 44.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.7 inches of snow.
Does Elizabethtown get tornadoes?
15 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Elizabethtown since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on July 14, 2004. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)