A small college town with a big sense of community
Surrounding the 250-acre campus of Millersville University, the borough of Millersville is home to longtime residents, professors and students alike. "It's definitely got a college town vibe," says Jesse Hersh, leader of the Jesse Hersh team at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices and alumni of Millersville University. "It gets busier during the school year and quieter in the summer when school's not in session." That sense of community extends far beyond campus, and the borough continues to attract much more than just university students. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that between 2020 and 2023, the borough saw the most growth of any municipality in Lancaster County, with an estimated 17% increase in population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 population estimate, Millersville's population now hovers around 9,300.
Less than 5 miles from Downtown Lancaster and just east of the county’s rolling farmland, Millersville combines the spirit of a college town with the tranquility of rural Lancaster County. “The people that live here year-round really love the community. It’s also centrally located between the best Lancaster city has to offer and the best the countryside has to offer, so it’s easy to enjoy all of that with friends and neighbors,” says Jason Burkholder, an associate broker with the Jason Burkholder Team at Hometown Property Sales.
Millersville is made up of both suburban and rural areas.
Millersville University in Millersville, has everything you need to help you go further.
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Millersville has single-family homes, townhouses and student apartments
Residential subdivisions surround Millersville University. “The great thing about Millersville is that there are traditional and classic homes with character, but there’s also newer construction that’s been built up over the past few years,” Burkholder says. Established neighborhoods feature a mix of ranch-style, Cape Cod, split-level and Colonial Revival homes built around the mid-1900s. The median price of single-family homes is approximately $315,000, almost 30% less than the national median. There are also several townhouse developments in the borough, including new construction communities like the Bellaride at Crossgates. The median price of townhouses is just over $440,000, and properties sell after an average of 42 days on the market. Apartment complexes such as The Cottages are popular spots for students, and more than 60% of Millersville University students live off-campus.
Semi-detached homes can be found throughout Millersville.
Large single family homes can be found throughout Millersville.
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The Penn Manor School District partners with Millersville University
The Penn Manor School District serves the borough and earns an overall grade of A-minus from Niche. It operates seven elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school, all of which receive a B or higher from Niche. The school district has several partnerships with Millersville University, including a program that allows juniors and seniors to enroll in free college courses taught on the university’s campus. The university itself has just over 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students, with 19 sports teams competing in NCAA Division II athletics.
Students attend Millersville University in Millersville.
Older students attend Penn Manor High School in Millersville.
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Homecoming weekend includes the annual Millersville Parade
The Millersville Parade has been a staple in the community since 1997. Starting with a group of volunteers hoping to promote connections between the borough and Millersville University, it continues to bring together students, longtime residents, and community groups nearly 30 years later. It’s part of MU’s Homecoming weekend and typically lasts two hours as themed floats, vintage cars and marching bands from across the country make their way through the borough. After the parade, a block party provides plenty of entertainment until it’s time for everyone to head over to Biemesderfer Stadium and cheer on the Marauders in the Homecoming football game.
Freedom Memorial Park and swimming at the Millersville Lions Club Pool
According to the Trust for Public Land, 58% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The borough’s only community green space is Freedom Memorial Park, which has a playground, various athletic facilities and picnic pavilions. A paved walking path loops around the park and leads past the Millersville Veterans Memorial. Residents can join the Millersville Lions Club, a volunteer group that’s been serving the community for nearly a century. One of their contributions to the borough is the Millersville Lions Club Pool, which offers pool memberships to the public and is a popular gathering spot in the summer. Golfers can play a round at the nearby Crossgates Golf Club, a public 18-hole course with views of the Conestoga River. The borough sees all four seasons, with humid summers and snowy winters.
Bring the kids to the Freedom Memorial Park in Millersville.
Quaker Hills
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Shopping and dining includes local businesses on Manor Avenue
While the borough lacks a central business district, Manor Avenue is its main commercial corridor. It features a mix of mom-and-pop shops, local eateries and fast-casual chain restaurants. Standouts include Front Porch Baking Co., and a 2022 article from Food & Wine magazine highlights their sourdough loaves and baguettes as some of the best locally-sourced bread in the state. There’s also a local grocery store where residents can grab the necessities. More shops and restaurants surround the Millersville University campus. “One of the classic local establishments there is Jack’s Tavern,” Burkholder says. Historic Downtown Lancaster is less than 5 miles from the borough, and residents are less than 10 miles from Park City Center, the largest indoor mall in Lancaster County. It has over 100 shops and restaurants, including department stores like Boscov’s and JCPenney.
Tobias Frogg in Wheatland is one of the neighborhoods most popular hang out spots.
El Serrano is a family run restaurant that serves Peruvian and Mexican cuisine in Wheatland.
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RRTA bus service and access to PA Routes 999 and 741
A comprehensive sidewalk system allows residents to walk along many of the borough’s streets. The Red Rose Transit Authority provides local bus service, with stops concentrated along Route 999 and around the Millersville University campus. Pennsylvania Routes 999 and 741 are the borough’s main thoroughfares. Traffic is most common at that intersection, and 43 vehicle crashes were reported there between 2018 and 2020. With nearby highway access, the borough offers proximity to major cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore, both of which are about a 75-mile drive away. Lancaster Airport is 12 miles from Millersville, and the closest international airport is Harrisburg International Airport, about 35 miles away.
Pennsylvania UCR Program shows a decrease in crime
According to data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting Program, the total number of offenses reported to the Millersville Borough Police Department decreased by nearly 9% between 2023 and 2024. Most crimes reported in 2024 were theft, representing nearly 70% of the city’s total number of reported offenses.
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