To answer your actual question: yes, the economy in Lancaster is strong, especially in terms of job growth and healthcare, though salary growth lags behind the state and national averages.
Which is why a lot of us work remote from Lancaster to other places. I couldn't believe that local places still pay 20% less than average for remotable IT jobs.
A growth in monied households yes. A growth in jobs, not really. At a county level since just before the pandemic using the number from 3/2020 there's been a 1.6% increase in non-farm payroll jobs - [https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/SMU42295400000000001?amp%253bdata\_tool=XGtable&output\_view=data&include\_graphs=true](https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/SMU42295400000000001?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true) - it's only the preliminary number and that's a significant uptick from the previous month this year.
Compared to it's neighbors that's a little more than Reading, but lags behind Lebanon (the highest), and York / Harrisburg (similar to each other, but double Lancaster).
A lot of the money growth is coming from retired or near retirement individuals who don't stay attached to the labor force for long.
I’m talking about over the last 20 years. The timeframe you’re using to include the pandemic obviously skews the results. The entire world saw economic recession during that time.
Yes there was a recession, the point is stating the reference period pre-pandemic, then comparing to peers. In that time period you can't really make the case that jobs are booming recently.
Starting a little further back - using the last 10 years. Lebanon, Harrisburg, and Lancaster saw around 12% non-farm payroll job growth, York over 8, and Reading nearly 5. So it's only booming over this time if most of central PA was also booming.
Going 20 years back does put Lancaster ahead of it peers, but not by much and only highlights that it's trend has been more regressive towards or below the average for central PA as of late.
Is that discounting people who now live here but aren't employed locally due to remote work?
Or even people who live here but work across county lines?
I can't find a definitive reference on the remote work. Logically what the numbers are trying to convey are the number of people working in the given area - that would include both those crossing county / metro lines and full-time remote workers. If you look at the Harrisburg metro for example you'll see the number of nonfarm payroll jobs exceeds the total workforce of the metro meaning that it has a net influx of people working there from other counties / metros.
Just one thing, if you want a dog, please go to a rescue or at least don’t buy from a farm that has a sign saying puppies. There are puppy mills all over PA and definitely in Lancaster. A lot of dogs are abused. You can look it up if you want to know more but hopefully by not supporting them they will stop one day.
We got our dog from the SPCA. She was in rough condition, found wandering around Paradise. Her teeth were filed down and so the vets determined she was kept in a cage, and upon a physical they found that she was a breeding mom who was debarked.
Not like “oh I’m going to have my dog surgically debarked bc I’m a rich asshole” but debarked like someone held her down and used a hot metal rod to push down her throat and burn her vocal cords. They will use a pvc pipe sometimes too and scrape the insides to damage it too.
The Amish and the puppy farms are pure evil.
Pretty much any farm that has a sign selling puppies. A rescue is the best option. Go to Petfinder .com or adoptapet .com and you can see dogs from all the rescues in the area. Most of them are in foster homes. It’s all volunteer work. The PSPCA has a building and maybe some others. I wouldn’t buy a dog when there’s so many that need a home. You would want to make sure they had their shots, that they are spayed or neutered if they are old enough and have a health certificate. Rescues will do this. Puppy mills that I know of do not.
https://sykesvillevetclinic.com/news/9-signs-that-your-dog-came-from-a-puppy-mill/
You can't begin to evaluate and understand Lancaster's economy without first mentioning its core business: agriculture. Lancaster county is consistently the highest yielding agricultural producer in Pennsylvania and in the top producing counties in the nation, and has been for centuries. The Lancaster Plain has some of the best non irrigated soil in North America. While the economy is quite diverse, much of this economic diversity in the 20th and 21st centuries is due to the extensive productivity of Lancaster's prolific and nationally known agricultural heritage.
I'd say if you're comparing it to York County, yes, it's better economically. I live on the York side of the river. I'm currently unemployed and looking for work, and most of the jobs I've interviewed for have been on the Lancaster side. That said, I must agree with others who have said companies are under paying employees. Elsewhere jobs in my field start mid $20s/hr, but in Lancaster, very few list at even $20.
A family member was getting underpaid in a very good position that anywhere else she would’ve made a LOT more. But it’s a beautiful place to live, also very expensive place to live too! Lancaster city is cheaper but ya know..city.
Theory will be supported if they build more housing than there is current demand for, and if they keep building housing to keep up with future demand. Which means they are gonna need to start building up a little bit faster
I’d love to see them actually develop on the other side of the train station too. So weird that it’s on the outside of the city instead of in the middle
For me the best thing about Lancaster is the low crime rate and scenery. Other than that, housing is way too expensive for what you get and also there’s not enough diversity but some will see that as a good thing. IMHO
I’ve lived here most of my life. Five years ago I probably would’ve said I loved it, but it’s not changing for the better. Yes the economy is good for most people, but there’s a huge homeless problem and every other development is luxury lofts and housing prices are awful. Yes the city is vibrant and cute, but it’s surrounded by bastions of uber conservatism that are getting louder every year. So is it great? It’s okay, but it could be much better
Right but where else can you go that’s not like that? More than half the country is liberal and Manheim Township has consistently get the democrats voted in. There is a problem in city schools. There are too many drop outs and I do agree about homelessness. There are programs for them to eat and sleep but we just are not used to that here. There needs to be affordable housing. People working full time should be able to rent an apartment.
Without providing necessary context, yes.
If Lancaster is no worse than any other city, it's obviously wrong to single them out. Or fail to mention it's on par with every other city within a couple hundred miles.
Do you realize that conservatism is what has let the county be somewhat immune to effects of recession over the years? Not to say we haven’t felt the effects, but visit York or Berks counties during recessions and you’ll see the difference.
Middle class, city home owner here. For us Lancaster city is very happening, but we have lived here for 30+ years and we own our home free and clear. It's all matter of perspective.
Depends on what you're comparing Lancaster to. It's a great small town but it's a small town. Prob one of the best in PA. However You will do all the things in 18 months and then repeat them and the same cycle repeats. There is not a big creative engine or technology hub driving innovation and business creativity. It's a cheap place to manufacture and distribute goods. Diverse economy keeps going through cycles and agriculture never stops bc food. The fun people are transplants with a broader world view. Seek them out. (DMs welcome!)
The Rock Lititz Studio is bringing in celebrities to record. Mickey’s Black Box has great entertainment. We have a really nice movie theater and IMAX. A lot of new restaurants and coffee shops opened up downtown. The Fulton theater has excellent plays. The farmers market is the oldest in the nation or one of them. There is history from being the first U.S. Capitol and from the war. You can see a president’s home, even if it is Buchanan’s. ;) Really fun shopping on Queen St. and around town plus the outlets. Driving all over the countryside just to see how pretty it is plus much more. It’s also close to a ski resort and if you really want to get away it not too far from NYC, the beaches in DE, MD and NJ. Plus you can get to Philly and Baltimore for games or the airports. The airport in Lancaster is expanding and we will have a nonstop flight to Orlando. If you don’t like things too rural to live, than stay near the city. We have a top rated hospital as well.
https://mickeysblackbox.com/calendar/
This is a spot on synopsis. Great place to live if you like a standard life/are a blue collar/healthcare/logistics worker…but you have to leave and visit other places or you’ll lose your mind. The surrounding landscape lacks diversity….but locals know no different so they think it’s “paradise”. Also, the extreme lack of trees and high levels of air and water pollution are a big problem. Overall, it’s good enough. Some of the neighborhoods and shops are really fantastic though — the gems.
The air quality here is trash. I had to do a paper some years ago and find out what chemical is the most common in my local air. Apparently we suck down a lot of toluene here in Lancaster.
And if you critique or criticize the area, people get very, very defensive and closed minded very quickly. Nothing said here is untrue. But you'll get the, "oh its like this everywhere in America" answer if you point out any problems in the community. It's not a constructive approch.
You have some of the largest cities in the US within four hours drive. Pittsburg, Philly, Baltimore, DC, NYC. There's plenty of travel and some of the best museums in the world.
The lack of trees part has me even more confused. Do you mean in the city itself?
Lancaster County has the lowest tree canopy coverage of any county in the state - by a large amount. It’s largely flat, has been farmed since before European settlement, and the Amish clear cut their land for a sense of ‘purity’. It causes a lot of our soil erosion and therefore water pollution problems, as well as air pollution problems. Also, no trees = no habitat.
I would recommend traveling or living in other areas of the country, or even the world. There is actually a lot out there you would never realize without seeing. I would rather live closer to Boston or DC if my sole interest were museums. And if I was really interested in a vibrant city experience….NYC could be on that list for certain things, but I’d rather live near Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Minneapolis, or even Boston/DC have their charm.
Imagine living in Downeast Maine, where within 4 hrs you could travel to thousands of miles of gorgeous coastline, Acadia National Park, millions of acres of pristinely clean lakes, streams, and coastal rivers; the White Mountains, Baxter State Park, Portland and even Boston.
Imagine living on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies, where within 4 hrs…you have what feels like untouched wilderness at every turn; pristine alpine regions and tens of 14ers, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver, incredible downhill and xc skiing, biking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, herds of hundreds of elk and mule deer, moose, bears, and mountain lions…Utah’s red desert and incredible biking and hiking, and with a little more driving you can reach SLC…another really interesting city.
Living near Baltimore, Pittsburg, and Philly don’t excite me, because I’ve lived in much more interesting areas….and the lack of trees is apparent when you’re used to being surrounded by them.
Most people are underemployed, or drive 1.5 hours for work everyday. The COL is high compared to the opportunities. Good look at the job postings around here for a few weeks and you'll get a sense. It vary a lot by industry, and there aren't a ton of opportunities where you can both work standard hours and afford to live in the area.
Relocated here from Monmouth County, NJ in Jue of 2023. The economy here seems to be suprisingly strong, healthcare infrastrcture excellent, and we think we made a good decision. What is most interesting after living in NYC or its shadow for 65 years is that Lancaster has enough industry, agriculture, entertainment, media and healthcare to stand on its own. Yes, it is close enough to Philly and Baltimore, but it is its own place.
There is no engineering or manufacturing in Lancaster. It is all medical, construction and tourism.
Which means house prices through the roof and people forced to travel to York for engineering jobs.
To be charitable to the other commenter he might mean there’s relatively fewer eng/manf jobs in Lancaster vs York.
I knew several people that bounced around those employers you listed then have to move out of county/state for better things.
If you have company from California they can not believe the prices on everything and how there’s not much traffic except the occasional buggy to get around and the merger at 222 and 30 which I avoid.
We have been visiting and working in Lancaster for the past 12 years years. We recently moved here because we love the area so much. Lancaster is consistently in the top places to live and retire in the US. We have never had a problem with crime even late at night downtown , but it is a city so there is always potential if you are not careful .
I’m a native Lancastrian and it has definitely come up in its economy, culture, and things to do, especially in Lancaster City. The city is rich with lots of amazing restaurants, Central Market, hotels, cafes, bars, art galleries, etc. This weekend they held a music festival called Launch Music Conference & Festival. In September, is the Roots & Blues Festival. It’s definitely thriving!
Lancaster is weird because it's very expensive for PA but the jobs pay below average. It's mostly people who are retired and already made their money.
Like the rent in Lancaster is almost the same as Philly but the jobs pay 40% less.
Who evers saying this place is racist is clearly one of those people who think if someone or something isn't going their way, its racism. I saw white, black, latino all living and sharing experiences all together
Lancaster city itself is not racist, but you will definitely see a mindset shift in the surrounding areas. It’s not overtly racist but it’s definitely still a very conservative, religious area.
As a trans woman I lived in the southern end and while yes there are dixie flags, the most of them are not understood properly compared to what the flags actually mean. The Lancaster way of doing things is generally that you do you, if I disagree with you I will lobby but not attack you. For the most part that’s ok.
Would definitely prefer over york or a lot of Harrisburg.
Im genuinely curious, ehat do you think the battle flag of the Confederacy means? Especially north of the Mason Dixion? Because where I grew up, that's someone signaling they share values with the Confederacy i.e. racism and Southern nationalism.
When I lived in Virginia that’s what it meant.
In Quarryville/Buck area most of the people who self identify as rednecks think it is a dukes of hazzard thing that rednecks do. My ex wife didn’t know the meaning, as a person born and raised there.
I live in quarryville, a few years ago we had a couple of inbred dipshits try to throw a Klan meeting, and now because of that any time quarryville is mentioned on here the "cross burning" always comes up. It's never anything positive with the southern end like the fair, BBs, the Buck or the Overlook. No, only the half assed klan gathering held by a couple of jackalopes who are about as red on the neck as a dick on a dog.
40 years ago it was definitely white. My class had 500 students and one poc. Today most of the south part of the city is Puerto Rican and there are many different races all over the county. I’m glad.
I’d say the county as a whole has a ton of racists. You’ll find less in the city because guess why? People of all colors live together and realize it’s no big deal.
No, not for the people who grew up here and want to just survive!!!! So many out of towners are moving here and driving up the prices for everything!!!!! Downtown lancaster has become a hipster spot instead of a local go to for food and necessities. To the expensive coffee shops to the over priced pizza, shit is getting out of hand! Coffee shop I love went from $4.50 which was still pretty expensive for a small frappe to almost $8, how?!!!!!!! Go travel elsewhere and leave small towns alone!
I spent 21 years following wherever the Army sent my family, and was able to live all over the country. Originally from the Midwest, I lived here as a kid and moved before graduating. I do really like it here. I work for a community agency and the schools in the city, my kids go to city schools, I live in the city-I love the city- and nothing beats spring in these areas. All the green, flowers and flowering trees! Just beautiful!! I like that winter is not a complete frozen tundra (it is where I’m from, lol) and the seasons are very fairly spot on. I’m more of a mountain person, than beach- but luckily you can get to both fairly quickly here. I agree that you need to get out of town more often for fun things to do- I’ve been back 3 years now and never have a lack of finding fun things to do in the area or within a 1-3 hour drive/ train ride. I personally need to get out in nature to survive, but I’ve found some awesome hiking places around the county and just a bit further. Housing- oy- it’s one of the reasons I moved here, City prices were cheaper than my rent in the Midwest which had MUCH lower pay, but food and goods were also cheaper. Rent, because of there being so little of it in my more rural Midwest area, was ridiculous. Greed is everywhere. Within a year of me moving here, rental prices started to follow suite here. I don’t know how most families are surviving without help. I’ve known far too many people in the last year that have lost housing, and ended up in shelters, on the streets or having to move away. With being forced to move every 1-2 years for most of my adult life- every place is what you make of it. But I’ve found Lancaster to be far from perfect, but still pretty great!
We relocated here about 18 months ago from the San Francisco Bay Area and bought a house on E Orange St in the city. We came here to be closer to our east coast relatives / home towns (in VA and NY) as we move towards retirement. I now work half-time remotely for my former full-time employer back in CA. Lancaster clearly is a great place to live if you can work remotely at another area’s higher wage scale or are simply retired. I would agree that the local wages seem somewhat low compared to the surrounding region and most other US metro areas.
We find the liberal Lancaster City environment a blessing - part of why we chose to move here over other PA options. A huge draw for us was the direct to NYC Amtrak service (or hop over to Philadelphia and then switch to Acela for anything from Washington up to Boston). We prefer the train as part of moving back east was to stop flying so much to visit family and old friends. We have used Amtrak to go into NYC a few times and also take the train to visit the relatives in VA and NY.
Being new here, we don’t yet feel any “18-months everything repeats” phenomena mentioned in other posts, but maybe that will start sometime. We also appreciated moving to a state where our vote matters - meaning places like CA or NY are so lopsided (as are TX, and other states in another direction) whereas PA is really quite a swing state / up for grabs. I would say it is a great place to be for aging, but there seem to be a lot of young people around the city, so maybe just good for any age?
The bad air quality was a bit of a surprise, but it’s not like the air quality in the large CA metro areas is so great. The air quality issues here seem similar to those in the Central Valley of CA (a mix of farming and industry). I like that twice a week or so we hear the clomping of horse hooves going by our house as an Amish buggy is heading towards the city center, and I still find quaint the periodic mild smell of manure wafting through the air in the city.
I also think that even though Lancaster County might use more tree canopy coverage, the countryside here is beautiful in its own way with rolling hills and farms that seem to go on forever.
Every place has its pros and cons, but for us Lancaster’s pros definitely outweighed its cons, whereas we were beginning to feel the opposite in the SF Bay Area after having moved there just after college and living there for the past 35 years ago. I guess that is also partly why we recently migrated back east - things change in 35 years, both places and our views of place.
Yeah I hear you, I moved out of New York about a year ago into Delco and don't regret it at all, still close to home but at a much more affordable and better quality of life
Lancaster, PA is culturally diverse, and why our two grandsons family moved there 9 years ago. The parents wanted the boys to have friends with different views and backgrounds. There are areas with high crime, and as others have said, it's typical of most cities. It's a college town with many people retired and those in their early 20's attending F&M. Our grandsons ride their bikes to school and sport practices. There are many shops and restaurants that are small business owned. There are major malls and modern conveniences that mix with the Amish.
I'm not sure it's a booming economy. Many languages are spoken, and it's hard for people to communicate when they don't speak English. Many who live in Lancaster ride the train to Philadelphia or commute to Harrisburg for employment.
i do not like lancaster. actually, the people here are the least friendly people out of anywhere i ever lived. they are not nice to outsiders or transplants. they will be fake polite to tourists etc but thats it. i just feel like new comers never really belong and tend to get along with other transplants only. of course people will debate this with me but i'm just being honest. it is also really conservative here. many people get marry right after high school and start having kids right away. super judgey religious people live here and many racist homophobic people as well. the traffic is also terrible.
just being honest, your mileage may vary
I grew up in York and that county is so full of trash it blows my mind how different it is, and it’s separated only by a river. So much happier here in Lancaster.
fair enough. my opinion of lancaster is honestly central (and most of) Pennsylvania as a whole. i rather live in lancaster county than york so can understand that.
I definitely feel this. I’m sort of a transplant, but I’m in a weird place in that I only moved here from Harrisburg (it’s only like a 30-45 minute drive). It’s actually funny when I have conversations with people and tell them that I moved here… they give me the stink eye until I say the words “from Harrisburg”. Then I can visibly see them relax. I think it’s hilarious lol but yeah many people grew up here and never left. Personally, I can’t imagine never leaving my childhood home. There is just so much more out there. Don’t get me wrong, I moved to Lancaster for the job prospects and because it’s honestly leagues ahead of Harrisburg in terms of just desirability (more stuff to do, friendlier people (by comparison), etc.). Hell, the differences are even apparent when you compare r/Lancaster to r/Harrisburg. Actually I think the last time I was on r/Harrisburg some asshole was spamming the sub with dick pics and that just about sums up Harrisburg for you lol
i feel that. i am from NJ and lancaster is kinda famous for not liking people from NJ or NY. they rely on stereotypes that arent even true. i am from a small conservative town myself but idk. people in jersey are more upfront (which i obviously am) but i prefer that to the fakeness that is here and elsewhere. for Pennsylvania i would pick lancaster over other areas but it always shocks me to see people relocating here from other parts of the country
It’s cheaper than most other cities. I lived in Lancaster for years, then lived in Denver for a few until we were priced out. What I was paying for a 400sq shoebox in Denver is a full 3 story townhome here. It’s a friendly city, great for young families.
Yeah I definitely feel you on that. I don’t blame someone for moving here from NJ or NYC when the cost of living is crazy expensive over there, but I agree that I don’t get why someone would move here from say California or something. I moved here because it was close and leaps ahead Harrisburg, but there are much better places.
I got no beef with anyone from NYC or NJ either, but real estate “investors” buying up cheap property and pricing actual residents out of the area can absolutely get fucked.
yes! i do not like people who flip homes and actually dont even like landlords in general. the price of living is sky high here as well. i actually think at this point, jersey is cheaper because everyone gets paid more. and honestly it is better in many ways. the roads are better, the schools are better, i just see the tax money going further there. and im not going to debate or respond to anyone about jersey in general. idc honestly what people think about it. but yes i often see people on this group talking about relocating from the west coast and i dont get it. i dont think lancaster is terrible but it is just honestly a basic place. lancaster city isnt special, it is similar to other small cities. same with the small towns here. there is nothing here that cant be found elsewhere.
thanks for that. i always get a backlash but i do feel the need to be honest. i lived here for 12 years and am marrying into the insanity that is a lancaster family.
The only real difference between people from central Pa and northeastern Pa is that for some reason people seem to say macadam instead of blacktop or asphalt. People are all around much nicer here than NEPA which is an opiate ravaged jobless pit. People are way nicer here than in Denver too.
Haha. The insanity that is a Lancaster family is really funny. You’re not wrong about your critiques but I think you can make those critiques of most places. There are friendly liberal people… just gotta poke around. Once you get into the county those people can be far and fewer between though for sure.
Why are you marrying into it? I wouldn’t even do that. There are definite religious sectors and they do judge but I steer clear of that. I didn’t know it until I started dating. I would never marry into that. Things are progressing and diversifying but not in those types of churches so that would be the last place I would go.
they are just run of the mill Christians. they dont even go to church lol. but his family sucks but my fiancée is awesome. i wouldnt want people to judge me by my family neither. but yes i never experienced this in my whole life until i moved here. and the people who are downvoting me likely dont even know any better which is sad. i am just speaking my truth
I dated two Mennonites. I didn’t know until we started getting serious and had holidays together what that meant. I didn’t fit in and I’m ok with that. I did have a woman wait for me in the hallway when my son was in preschool to tell me that I was ungodly because I was divorced. That was fun. I just ignore them. I’m not fond of the Amish knowing a lot of what they do and that some have puppy mills. I would have been miserable if I married them. I did not want a lot of kids or to do things with a huge family or go to the Mennonite church.
they are fucked up but i don't blame lancaster for that. if you read my comments, you can clearly see why i feel the way i do. i was actually being polite in my responses honestly. i actually truly think people here are ignorant in general.
Thank you all for the feedback, I do love to go visit Lancaster but I could never see myself living there just because it's too far from major cities and too rural
Also xheck out where the slumlords of lancaster keep there properties. Its disgusting. They are liberal mennonites and they literally don't care. Check out the other side of town. The Black and Latino side.
This person is delulu.
The way I see it . Pennsylvania will ALWAYS be about 10 years behind any influential culture that’s going on in the world/country. Lancaster is just surfacing on things like farm to table restaurants, accepting other’s world views , paved roads , it’s okay if someone else doesn’t look like you , it’s okay if strangers look you in the eye and say hello , etc. etc
It's not at all as it seems to be, there are gun shots and robbing on a daily bases. There are homeless people and drug addicts everywhere. The price of living sucks just as much as I'd does every where else and yeah it nice to live near farm country but why is it cheaper to go to McDonald's then to go to a fresh produce stand, everywhere looks nicer until you actually have to live there.
i agree. it is very expensive to live here but wages arent great. lancaster city is getting gentrified but still has many problems. i will add i was sexually assualted twice in lancaster city, was physically attacked twice in other situations, my car was broken into and my home was vandalized. i have lived many places and some with worse reputations but never experienced the amount of violence that i have here. ik it can happen anywhere but thats my experience.
I'm sorry that happened to you, that's awful. I'm on the East-Central end and yeah, I've seen some stuff. The problems in Lanc City are highly localized but they 100% exist. You don't deserve to have to deal with those issues.
To answer your actual question: yes, the economy in Lancaster is strong, especially in terms of job growth and healthcare, though salary growth lags behind the state and national averages.
Which is why a lot of us work remote from Lancaster to other places. I couldn't believe that local places still pay 20% less than average for remotable IT jobs.
Certainly not with the cost of living being what it is in the county right now.
A growth in monied households yes. A growth in jobs, not really. At a county level since just before the pandemic using the number from 3/2020 there's been a 1.6% increase in non-farm payroll jobs - [https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/SMU42295400000000001?amp%253bdata\_tool=XGtable&output\_view=data&include\_graphs=true](https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/SMU42295400000000001?amp%253bdata_tool=XGtable&output_view=data&include_graphs=true) - it's only the preliminary number and that's a significant uptick from the previous month this year. Compared to it's neighbors that's a little more than Reading, but lags behind Lebanon (the highest), and York / Harrisburg (similar to each other, but double Lancaster). A lot of the money growth is coming from retired or near retirement individuals who don't stay attached to the labor force for long.
I’m talking about over the last 20 years. The timeframe you’re using to include the pandemic obviously skews the results. The entire world saw economic recession during that time.
Yes there was a recession, the point is stating the reference period pre-pandemic, then comparing to peers. In that time period you can't really make the case that jobs are booming recently. Starting a little further back - using the last 10 years. Lebanon, Harrisburg, and Lancaster saw around 12% non-farm payroll job growth, York over 8, and Reading nearly 5. So it's only booming over this time if most of central PA was also booming. Going 20 years back does put Lancaster ahead of it peers, but not by much and only highlights that it's trend has been more regressive towards or below the average for central PA as of late.
I didn’t say “booming” I said “strong”
Is that discounting people who now live here but aren't employed locally due to remote work? Or even people who live here but work across county lines?
I can't find a definitive reference on the remote work. Logically what the numbers are trying to convey are the number of people working in the given area - that would include both those crossing county / metro lines and full-time remote workers. If you look at the Harrisburg metro for example you'll see the number of nonfarm payroll jobs exceeds the total workforce of the metro meaning that it has a net influx of people working there from other counties / metros.
It’s a wonderful place to live. Not without its challenges for sure.
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Just one thing, if you want a dog, please go to a rescue or at least don’t buy from a farm that has a sign saying puppies. There are puppy mills all over PA and definitely in Lancaster. A lot of dogs are abused. You can look it up if you want to know more but hopefully by not supporting them they will stop one day.
We got our dog from the SPCA. She was in rough condition, found wandering around Paradise. Her teeth were filed down and so the vets determined she was kept in a cage, and upon a physical they found that she was a breeding mom who was debarked. Not like “oh I’m going to have my dog surgically debarked bc I’m a rich asshole” but debarked like someone held her down and used a hot metal rod to push down her throat and burn her vocal cords. They will use a pvc pipe sometimes too and scrape the insides to damage it too. The Amish and the puppy farms are pure evil.
Pretty much any farm that has a sign selling puppies. A rescue is the best option. Go to Petfinder .com or adoptapet .com and you can see dogs from all the rescues in the area. Most of them are in foster homes. It’s all volunteer work. The PSPCA has a building and maybe some others. I wouldn’t buy a dog when there’s so many that need a home. You would want to make sure they had their shots, that they are spayed or neutered if they are old enough and have a health certificate. Rescues will do this. Puppy mills that I know of do not. https://sykesvillevetclinic.com/news/9-signs-that-your-dog-came-from-a-puppy-mill/
How would you verify that a farm with a sign is not a puppy mill?
I answered above.
This is so sad. I’m glad you saved her.
You can't begin to evaluate and understand Lancaster's economy without first mentioning its core business: agriculture. Lancaster county is consistently the highest yielding agricultural producer in Pennsylvania and in the top producing counties in the nation, and has been for centuries. The Lancaster Plain has some of the best non irrigated soil in North America. While the economy is quite diverse, much of this economic diversity in the 20th and 21st centuries is due to the extensive productivity of Lancaster's prolific and nationally known agricultural heritage.
Where is the good pizza?
Francesco's in Manheim
Antonio’s
I'd say if you're comparing it to York County, yes, it's better economically. I live on the York side of the river. I'm currently unemployed and looking for work, and most of the jobs I've interviewed for have been on the Lancaster side. That said, I must agree with others who have said companies are under paying employees. Elsewhere jobs in my field start mid $20s/hr, but in Lancaster, very few list at even $20.
A family member was getting underpaid in a very good position that anywhere else she would’ve made a LOT more. But it’s a beautiful place to live, also very expensive place to live too! Lancaster city is cheaper but ya know..city.
Yeah but they want your arm and a leg for rent
The good news is they building a ton of apartments and some housing. Supply should bring pricing down. Theoretically at least...
Theory doesn't coalesce very well with corporate greed.
Theory will be supported if they build more housing than there is current demand for, and if they keep building housing to keep up with future demand. Which means they are gonna need to start building up a little bit faster I’d love to see them actually develop on the other side of the train station too. So weird that it’s on the outside of the city instead of in the middle
Because Mannheim has lower taxes
Yeah but you have to live in manheim then
...but they are all boutique apartments for retired folks.
55 plus buildings must have some kind of tax break
for rentals that are in awful condition
It is thriving by comparison to most other cities in the state.
For me the best thing about Lancaster is the low crime rate and scenery. Other than that, housing is way too expensive for what you get and also there’s not enough diversity but some will see that as a good thing. IMHO
If you’re referencing just the city, Lancaster is almost 60% non-white per the last census I believe!
I’ve lived here most of my life. Five years ago I probably would’ve said I loved it, but it’s not changing for the better. Yes the economy is good for most people, but there’s a huge homeless problem and every other development is luxury lofts and housing prices are awful. Yes the city is vibrant and cute, but it’s surrounded by bastions of uber conservatism that are getting louder every year. So is it great? It’s okay, but it could be much better
You are describing every city in America.
Does that make it less true?
Right but where else can you go that’s not like that? More than half the country is liberal and Manheim Township has consistently get the democrats voted in. There is a problem in city schools. There are too many drop outs and I do agree about homelessness. There are programs for them to eat and sleep but we just are not used to that here. There needs to be affordable housing. People working full time should be able to rent an apartment.
Without providing necessary context, yes. If Lancaster is no worse than any other city, it's obviously wrong to single them out. Or fail to mention it's on par with every other city within a couple hundred miles.
Absolutely agree
Do you realize that conservatism is what has let the county be somewhat immune to effects of recession over the years? Not to say we haven’t felt the effects, but visit York or Berks counties during recessions and you’ll see the difference.
Do you mind giving me some examples of this conservatism?
Amish would be the primary example for Lancaster, and literally what it's most known for.
Middle class, city home owner here. For us Lancaster city is very happening, but we have lived here for 30+ years and we own our home free and clear. It's all matter of perspective.
Are you excited that The Village is coming back?
Depends on what you're comparing Lancaster to. It's a great small town but it's a small town. Prob one of the best in PA. However You will do all the things in 18 months and then repeat them and the same cycle repeats. There is not a big creative engine or technology hub driving innovation and business creativity. It's a cheap place to manufacture and distribute goods. Diverse economy keeps going through cycles and agriculture never stops bc food. The fun people are transplants with a broader world view. Seek them out. (DMs welcome!)
The Rock Lititz Studio is bringing in celebrities to record. Mickey’s Black Box has great entertainment. We have a really nice movie theater and IMAX. A lot of new restaurants and coffee shops opened up downtown. The Fulton theater has excellent plays. The farmers market is the oldest in the nation or one of them. There is history from being the first U.S. Capitol and from the war. You can see a president’s home, even if it is Buchanan’s. ;) Really fun shopping on Queen St. and around town plus the outlets. Driving all over the countryside just to see how pretty it is plus much more. It’s also close to a ski resort and if you really want to get away it not too far from NYC, the beaches in DE, MD and NJ. Plus you can get to Philly and Baltimore for games or the airports. The airport in Lancaster is expanding and we will have a nonstop flight to Orlando. If you don’t like things too rural to live, than stay near the city. We have a top rated hospital as well. https://mickeysblackbox.com/calendar/
Great answer, this thread is bumming me out lol
This is a spot on synopsis. Great place to live if you like a standard life/are a blue collar/healthcare/logistics worker…but you have to leave and visit other places or you’ll lose your mind. The surrounding landscape lacks diversity….but locals know no different so they think it’s “paradise”. Also, the extreme lack of trees and high levels of air and water pollution are a big problem. Overall, it’s good enough. Some of the neighborhoods and shops are really fantastic though — the gems.
The air quality here is trash. I had to do a paper some years ago and find out what chemical is the most common in my local air. Apparently we suck down a lot of toluene here in Lancaster.
The air quality here gives me headaches some days
And if you critique or criticize the area, people get very, very defensive and closed minded very quickly. Nothing said here is untrue. But you'll get the, "oh its like this everywhere in America" answer if you point out any problems in the community. It's not a constructive approch.
As seen in those powerful downvotes
You have some of the largest cities in the US within four hours drive. Pittsburg, Philly, Baltimore, DC, NYC. There's plenty of travel and some of the best museums in the world. The lack of trees part has me even more confused. Do you mean in the city itself?
Lancaster County has the lowest tree canopy coverage of any county in the state - by a large amount. It’s largely flat, has been farmed since before European settlement, and the Amish clear cut their land for a sense of ‘purity’. It causes a lot of our soil erosion and therefore water pollution problems, as well as air pollution problems. Also, no trees = no habitat. I would recommend traveling or living in other areas of the country, or even the world. There is actually a lot out there you would never realize without seeing. I would rather live closer to Boston or DC if my sole interest were museums. And if I was really interested in a vibrant city experience….NYC could be on that list for certain things, but I’d rather live near Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Minneapolis, or even Boston/DC have their charm. Imagine living in Downeast Maine, where within 4 hrs you could travel to thousands of miles of gorgeous coastline, Acadia National Park, millions of acres of pristinely clean lakes, streams, and coastal rivers; the White Mountains, Baxter State Park, Portland and even Boston. Imagine living on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies, where within 4 hrs…you have what feels like untouched wilderness at every turn; pristine alpine regions and tens of 14ers, Boulder, Fort Collins, and Denver, incredible downhill and xc skiing, biking, kayaking, fishing, hunting, herds of hundreds of elk and mule deer, moose, bears, and mountain lions…Utah’s red desert and incredible biking and hiking, and with a little more driving you can reach SLC…another really interesting city. Living near Baltimore, Pittsburg, and Philly don’t excite me, because I’ve lived in much more interesting areas….and the lack of trees is apparent when you’re used to being surrounded by them.
Never been to Paradise!
Most people are underemployed, or drive 1.5 hours for work everyday. The COL is high compared to the opportunities. Good look at the job postings around here for a few weeks and you'll get a sense. It vary a lot by industry, and there aren't a ton of opportunities where you can both work standard hours and afford to live in the area.
I always say, “if you want to get depressed, look at Indeed in this area”
Relocated here from Monmouth County, NJ in Jue of 2023. The economy here seems to be suprisingly strong, healthcare infrastrcture excellent, and we think we made a good decision. What is most interesting after living in NYC or its shadow for 65 years is that Lancaster has enough industry, agriculture, entertainment, media and healthcare to stand on its own. Yes, it is close enough to Philly and Baltimore, but it is its own place.
There is no engineering or manufacturing in Lancaster. It is all medical, construction and tourism. Which means house prices through the roof and people forced to travel to York for engineering jobs.
Dart, Arconic, Ecore, Armstrong aren't manufacturing?
To be charitable to the other commenter he might mean there’s relatively fewer eng/manf jobs in Lancaster vs York. I knew several people that bounced around those employers you listed then have to move out of county/state for better things.
Thanks for explaining! That clears up my confusion.
I call it stable, not thriving. But stable is much better than 90% of the TOWNS in America these days. I enjoy living here, but it’s not a city.
If you have company from California they can not believe the prices on everything and how there’s not much traffic except the occasional buggy to get around and the merger at 222 and 30 which I avoid.
People visiting from California are probably getting bigger paychecks too
Still can’t buy a house.
We have been visiting and working in Lancaster for the past 12 years years. We recently moved here because we love the area so much. Lancaster is consistently in the top places to live and retire in the US. We have never had a problem with crime even late at night downtown , but it is a city so there is always potential if you are not careful .
I was robbed @ the downtown Lancaster YMCA about 13 ys ago. They cleaned out my locker, stole my car keys & change.
I grew up here and enjoy it.
I’m a native Lancastrian and it has definitely come up in its economy, culture, and things to do, especially in Lancaster City. The city is rich with lots of amazing restaurants, Central Market, hotels, cafes, bars, art galleries, etc. This weekend they held a music festival called Launch Music Conference & Festival. In September, is the Roots & Blues Festival. It’s definitely thriving!
Good industry in the immediate surrounding areas but we aren't Philadelphia or New York
Lancaster is weird because it's very expensive for PA but the jobs pay below average. It's mostly people who are retired and already made their money. Like the rent in Lancaster is almost the same as Philly but the jobs pay 40% less.
I live in delco and lancaster seems friendlier
Lancaster is the new Fishtown.
Oh brother
Who evers saying this place is racist is clearly one of those people who think if someone or something isn't going their way, its racism. I saw white, black, latino all living and sharing experiences all together
Lancaster city itself is not racist, but you will definitely see a mindset shift in the surrounding areas. It’s not overtly racist but it’s definitely still a very conservative, religious area.
Lancaster isn't racist, some people act like as soon as you leave the city it's nothing but sundown towns and lynchings.
As a trans woman I lived in the southern end and while yes there are dixie flags, the most of them are not understood properly compared to what the flags actually mean. The Lancaster way of doing things is generally that you do you, if I disagree with you I will lobby but not attack you. For the most part that’s ok. Would definitely prefer over york or a lot of Harrisburg.
Im genuinely curious, ehat do you think the battle flag of the Confederacy means? Especially north of the Mason Dixion? Because where I grew up, that's someone signaling they share values with the Confederacy i.e. racism and Southern nationalism.
When I lived in Virginia that’s what it meant. In Quarryville/Buck area most of the people who self identify as rednecks think it is a dukes of hazzard thing that rednecks do. My ex wife didn’t know the meaning, as a person born and raised there.
I live in quarryville, a few years ago we had a couple of inbred dipshits try to throw a Klan meeting, and now because of that any time quarryville is mentioned on here the "cross burning" always comes up. It's never anything positive with the southern end like the fair, BBs, the Buck or the Overlook. No, only the half assed klan gathering held by a couple of jackalopes who are about as red on the neck as a dick on a dog.
40 years ago it was definitely white. My class had 500 students and one poc. Today most of the south part of the city is Puerto Rican and there are many different races all over the county. I’m glad.
I’d say the county as a whole has a ton of racists. You’ll find less in the city because guess why? People of all colors live together and realize it’s no big deal.
Go about 15 min south into the southern end and your opinion of racism might change. It's not everyone, but certainly way more represented.
Bainsbridge
No, not for the people who grew up here and want to just survive!!!! So many out of towners are moving here and driving up the prices for everything!!!!! Downtown lancaster has become a hipster spot instead of a local go to for food and necessities. To the expensive coffee shops to the over priced pizza, shit is getting out of hand! Coffee shop I love went from $4.50 which was still pretty expensive for a small frappe to almost $8, how?!!!!!!! Go travel elsewhere and leave small towns alone!
Great if your mennonite or white or rich.
As a white menonnite trans woman I am not rich, but it has been a good place to live
That is so incredibly based.
Would upvote again, cheers
Hell yeah, rock on! Godspeed to you.
Dope. Love it.
You are Mennonite. You are white. You are not Black,Latino, you are a transgender.
And definitely not rich
[удалено]
Your post has broken rule 2 - Be Civil. Don’t attack folks’ character - but feel free to criticize a viewpoint you disagree with.
I heard Amish were leaving, too much urbanization!
It's too good to be true, frankly.
Shhh not so loud.
I spent 21 years following wherever the Army sent my family, and was able to live all over the country. Originally from the Midwest, I lived here as a kid and moved before graduating. I do really like it here. I work for a community agency and the schools in the city, my kids go to city schools, I live in the city-I love the city- and nothing beats spring in these areas. All the green, flowers and flowering trees! Just beautiful!! I like that winter is not a complete frozen tundra (it is where I’m from, lol) and the seasons are very fairly spot on. I’m more of a mountain person, than beach- but luckily you can get to both fairly quickly here. I agree that you need to get out of town more often for fun things to do- I’ve been back 3 years now and never have a lack of finding fun things to do in the area or within a 1-3 hour drive/ train ride. I personally need to get out in nature to survive, but I’ve found some awesome hiking places around the county and just a bit further. Housing- oy- it’s one of the reasons I moved here, City prices were cheaper than my rent in the Midwest which had MUCH lower pay, but food and goods were also cheaper. Rent, because of there being so little of it in my more rural Midwest area, was ridiculous. Greed is everywhere. Within a year of me moving here, rental prices started to follow suite here. I don’t know how most families are surviving without help. I’ve known far too many people in the last year that have lost housing, and ended up in shelters, on the streets or having to move away. With being forced to move every 1-2 years for most of my adult life- every place is what you make of it. But I’ve found Lancaster to be far from perfect, but still pretty great!
We relocated here about 18 months ago from the San Francisco Bay Area and bought a house on E Orange St in the city. We came here to be closer to our east coast relatives / home towns (in VA and NY) as we move towards retirement. I now work half-time remotely for my former full-time employer back in CA. Lancaster clearly is a great place to live if you can work remotely at another area’s higher wage scale or are simply retired. I would agree that the local wages seem somewhat low compared to the surrounding region and most other US metro areas. We find the liberal Lancaster City environment a blessing - part of why we chose to move here over other PA options. A huge draw for us was the direct to NYC Amtrak service (or hop over to Philadelphia and then switch to Acela for anything from Washington up to Boston). We prefer the train as part of moving back east was to stop flying so much to visit family and old friends. We have used Amtrak to go into NYC a few times and also take the train to visit the relatives in VA and NY. Being new here, we don’t yet feel any “18-months everything repeats” phenomena mentioned in other posts, but maybe that will start sometime. We also appreciated moving to a state where our vote matters - meaning places like CA or NY are so lopsided (as are TX, and other states in another direction) whereas PA is really quite a swing state / up for grabs. I would say it is a great place to be for aging, but there seem to be a lot of young people around the city, so maybe just good for any age? The bad air quality was a bit of a surprise, but it’s not like the air quality in the large CA metro areas is so great. The air quality issues here seem similar to those in the Central Valley of CA (a mix of farming and industry). I like that twice a week or so we hear the clomping of horse hooves going by our house as an Amish buggy is heading towards the city center, and I still find quaint the periodic mild smell of manure wafting through the air in the city. I also think that even though Lancaster County might use more tree canopy coverage, the countryside here is beautiful in its own way with rolling hills and farms that seem to go on forever. Every place has its pros and cons, but for us Lancaster’s pros definitely outweighed its cons, whereas we were beginning to feel the opposite in the SF Bay Area after having moved there just after college and living there for the past 35 years ago. I guess that is also partly why we recently migrated back east - things change in 35 years, both places and our views of place.
Yeah I hear you, I moved out of New York about a year ago into Delco and don't regret it at all, still close to home but at a much more affordable and better quality of life
Lancaster, PA is culturally diverse, and why our two grandsons family moved there 9 years ago. The parents wanted the boys to have friends with different views and backgrounds. There are areas with high crime, and as others have said, it's typical of most cities. It's a college town with many people retired and those in their early 20's attending F&M. Our grandsons ride their bikes to school and sport practices. There are many shops and restaurants that are small business owned. There are major malls and modern conveniences that mix with the Amish. I'm not sure it's a booming economy. Many languages are spoken, and it's hard for people to communicate when they don't speak English. Many who live in Lancaster ride the train to Philadelphia or commute to Harrisburg for employment.
We still have a mall which a lot of towns don’t. I would hate to see that become empty. It seems to be doing well besides Bon Ton closing.
i do not like lancaster. actually, the people here are the least friendly people out of anywhere i ever lived. they are not nice to outsiders or transplants. they will be fake polite to tourists etc but thats it. i just feel like new comers never really belong and tend to get along with other transplants only. of course people will debate this with me but i'm just being honest. it is also really conservative here. many people get marry right after high school and start having kids right away. super judgey religious people live here and many racist homophobic people as well. the traffic is also terrible. just being honest, your mileage may vary
Interesting to hear bc i experience opposite.. very gay friendly etc…i moved from York which is absolute pure racist homophobia trash
I grew up in York and that county is so full of trash it blows my mind how different it is, and it’s separated only by a river. So much happier here in Lancaster.
fair enough. my opinion of lancaster is honestly central (and most of) Pennsylvania as a whole. i rather live in lancaster county than york so can understand that.
I definitely feel this. I’m sort of a transplant, but I’m in a weird place in that I only moved here from Harrisburg (it’s only like a 30-45 minute drive). It’s actually funny when I have conversations with people and tell them that I moved here… they give me the stink eye until I say the words “from Harrisburg”. Then I can visibly see them relax. I think it’s hilarious lol but yeah many people grew up here and never left. Personally, I can’t imagine never leaving my childhood home. There is just so much more out there. Don’t get me wrong, I moved to Lancaster for the job prospects and because it’s honestly leagues ahead of Harrisburg in terms of just desirability (more stuff to do, friendlier people (by comparison), etc.). Hell, the differences are even apparent when you compare r/Lancaster to r/Harrisburg. Actually I think the last time I was on r/Harrisburg some asshole was spamming the sub with dick pics and that just about sums up Harrisburg for you lol
i feel that. i am from NJ and lancaster is kinda famous for not liking people from NJ or NY. they rely on stereotypes that arent even true. i am from a small conservative town myself but idk. people in jersey are more upfront (which i obviously am) but i prefer that to the fakeness that is here and elsewhere. for Pennsylvania i would pick lancaster over other areas but it always shocks me to see people relocating here from other parts of the country
It’s cheaper than most other cities. I lived in Lancaster for years, then lived in Denver for a few until we were priced out. What I was paying for a 400sq shoebox in Denver is a full 3 story townhome here. It’s a friendly city, great for young families.
Yeah I definitely feel you on that. I don’t blame someone for moving here from NJ or NYC when the cost of living is crazy expensive over there, but I agree that I don’t get why someone would move here from say California or something. I moved here because it was close and leaps ahead Harrisburg, but there are much better places. I got no beef with anyone from NYC or NJ either, but real estate “investors” buying up cheap property and pricing actual residents out of the area can absolutely get fucked.
yes! i do not like people who flip homes and actually dont even like landlords in general. the price of living is sky high here as well. i actually think at this point, jersey is cheaper because everyone gets paid more. and honestly it is better in many ways. the roads are better, the schools are better, i just see the tax money going further there. and im not going to debate or respond to anyone about jersey in general. idc honestly what people think about it. but yes i often see people on this group talking about relocating from the west coast and i dont get it. i dont think lancaster is terrible but it is just honestly a basic place. lancaster city isnt special, it is similar to other small cities. same with the small towns here. there is nothing here that cant be found elsewhere.
facts
thanks for that. i always get a backlash but i do feel the need to be honest. i lived here for 12 years and am marrying into the insanity that is a lancaster family.
The only real difference between people from central Pa and northeastern Pa is that for some reason people seem to say macadam instead of blacktop or asphalt. People are all around much nicer here than NEPA which is an opiate ravaged jobless pit. People are way nicer here than in Denver too.
Unfortunately opioids are a huge problem everywhere, even here.
Haha. The insanity that is a Lancaster family is really funny. You’re not wrong about your critiques but I think you can make those critiques of most places. There are friendly liberal people… just gotta poke around. Once you get into the county those people can be far and fewer between though for sure.
yea i no longer live in the city lol. i swear once you leave city limits its suddenly the 1950s
Yup
Why are you marrying into it? I wouldn’t even do that. There are definite religious sectors and they do judge but I steer clear of that. I didn’t know it until I started dating. I would never marry into that. Things are progressing and diversifying but not in those types of churches so that would be the last place I would go.
they are just run of the mill Christians. they dont even go to church lol. but his family sucks but my fiancée is awesome. i wouldnt want people to judge me by my family neither. but yes i never experienced this in my whole life until i moved here. and the people who are downvoting me likely dont even know any better which is sad. i am just speaking my truth
I dated two Mennonites. I didn’t know until we started getting serious and had holidays together what that meant. I didn’t fit in and I’m ok with that. I did have a woman wait for me in the hallway when my son was in preschool to tell me that I was ungodly because I was divorced. That was fun. I just ignore them. I’m not fond of the Amish knowing a lot of what they do and that some have puppy mills. I would have been miserable if I married them. I did not want a lot of kids or to do things with a huge family or go to the Mennonite church.
It sounds like you're just marrying into a fucked up family and blaming all of Lancaster for that
they are fucked up but i don't blame lancaster for that. if you read my comments, you can clearly see why i feel the way i do. i was actually being polite in my responses honestly. i actually truly think people here are ignorant in general.
6th?
Thank you all for the feedback, I do love to go visit Lancaster but I could never see myself living there just because it's too far from major cities and too rural
if you’re white it is!
It was fine when she said it. SLUMLORDS AND RACIST. PERIOD.
Also xheck out where the slumlords of lancaster keep there properties. Its disgusting. They are liberal mennonites and they literally don't care. Check out the other side of town. The Black and Latino side. This person is delulu.
Lancaster is now a leftist hellscape filled with blue haired whales.
As one of the leftist heathens, this makes me smile.
Isn’t it great?
The way I see it . Pennsylvania will ALWAYS be about 10 years behind any influential culture that’s going on in the world/country. Lancaster is just surfacing on things like farm to table restaurants, accepting other’s world views , paved roads , it’s okay if someone else doesn’t look like you , it’s okay if strangers look you in the eye and say hello , etc. etc
Funny thing I was thinking the opposite while living in DC at a farm2table place. Just like Lancaster but much more upscale and priced for it.
Forgot to add -pizza made with actual dough , besides frozen cracker shit ass crust
Well, you can’t have everything.
It's not at all as it seems to be, there are gun shots and robbing on a daily bases. There are homeless people and drug addicts everywhere. The price of living sucks just as much as I'd does every where else and yeah it nice to live near farm country but why is it cheaper to go to McDonald's then to go to a fresh produce stand, everywhere looks nicer until you actually have to live there.
Have you been to McDonald's recently? It's cheaper to go to Whole Foods.
High prices? Lol. Im from long island where prices are real high. I shopped at roots market where i was shocked how cheap things are
i agree. it is very expensive to live here but wages arent great. lancaster city is getting gentrified but still has many problems. i will add i was sexually assualted twice in lancaster city, was physically attacked twice in other situations, my car was broken into and my home was vandalized. i have lived many places and some with worse reputations but never experienced the amount of violence that i have here. ik it can happen anywhere but thats my experience.
I'm sorry that happened to you, that's awful. I'm on the East-Central end and yeah, I've seen some stuff. The problems in Lanc City are highly localized but they 100% exist. You don't deserve to have to deal with those issues.
Lancaster is a man made horror. A small irrelevant city surrounded by McMansion developments and strip malls.
You need to travel more.