Mechanicsburg is a charming borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area, the borough was given the name Mechanicsburg after the increased settlement of Conestoga Wagon mechanics to the area. Today, Mechanicsburg is known for being home to Jubilee Day, the largest and longest-running-one-day street fair on the east coast. 

What is the community of Mechanicsburg like?  

Located just 8 miles west of the capital city of Pennsylvania – Harrisburg – Mechanicsburg is a small, lovely community that enjoys the charms of small-town living while also serving as a great jumping-off point for exploring the nearby cities and towns such as the resort town of Hershey. 

With a population of 8,990 people and 13 constituent neighborhoods, Mechanicsburg is the 133rd largest community in Pennsylvania. Mechanicsburg offers unique attractions of its own that attract droves of visitors year-round. The town plays home to the historic Williams Grove Speedway, which is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious automobile dirt racing tracks, opened to the public on May 21, 1939. Throughout its decades of operations, the track has hosted some of the United States' most preeminent national touring racing series, including events connected to the World of Outlaws Sprint Cars, United States Auto Club, United Racing Club, and All-Star Circuit of Champions. 

The town is also home to the Rolls-Royce Foundation that honors the legacy of one of the world's greatest motorcar brands, operated as a subsidiary of BMW since the late 20th century. The foundation manages the Rolls-Royce Foundation Museum, which the largest museum and research facility in the United States dedicated to the Rolls-Royce and Bentley vehicle brands. Visitors are welcomed every week to visit the facility and expert guides are there to help them grasp the rich historical evolution and legacy of the two brands.  

The town is also dotted by several immersive eateries such as THEA - a delicious Mediterranean-style restaurant that was opened in 2016; the Duke's Bar and Grille, which has been one of the region’s favorite restaurant offering everything from steaks and seafood to sizzling fajita platters; and the Zahra Restaurant, which brings the flavors of Pakistan and the Middle East to Mechanicsburg. 

What is Real Estate like in Mechanicsburg?    

Real estate in Mechanicsburg has shown an average growth of 2.17% per year since the year 2000. Since 2000, the prices of homes in Mechanicsburg have overall appreciated by 56.91%. National real estate firm Berkshire Hathaway categorizes Mechanicsburg’s housing market as ‘very competitive’. The sale prices of homes in Mechanicsburg have experienced strong growth of more than 17.4% since May last year.   

The median home price in Mechanicsburg is $275,000. Currently, there are 466 active homes for sale in Mechanicsburg, and normally it takes just 47 days for a listed home sell. 

How is the economic landscape of Mechanicsburg?    

Over the last year, Mechanicsburg’s job market has grown by 0.3%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 5.1%. The US average is 6%. Also, the town’s job market is expected to grow by 28.6% over the next ten years.  

On average, a Mechanicsburg resident earns around $30,000 per annum, modestly higher than the US average of $28,500. The town’s median household income of almost $58,300 per resident is also slightly greater than the US average of approximately $53,000. Most of the residents of Mechanicsburg work in construction, manufacturing, retail, finance, transportation, education, public administration, professional and technical services, and healthcare.  

How are the schools in Mechanicsburg?     

Mechanicsburg is covered by 5 school districts, with Mechanicsburg Area School District being the town’s major school district encompassing 8 schools and 3,821 enrolled students. Besides, Mechanicsburg also lies in proximity to many colleges including, among others, Harrisburg Area Community College, Messiah College, and Dickinson College. 

When it comes to higher education, Mechanicsburg lies in proximity to many universities such as the University of Phoenix Harrisburg Campus and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.    

Notably, Mechanicsburg also lies less than two hours’ drive away from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1740, UPenn is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the U.S. Declaration of Independence with its founder and the first president being the great Benjamin Franklin. Today, UPenn has four undergraduate schools as well as twelve graduate and professional schools, including the famous Wharton School of Business. Undergraduate admissions to the University of Pennsylvania are considered by US News to be "most selective". 

Mechanicsburg in a nutshell        

To sum up, Mechanicsburg is a cute, little town offering the charms of small-town living just a skip away from Pennsylvania's capital city, Harrisburg. The town plays home to unique museums, diverse eateries, great schools, and a rich cultural and historical heritage. If you are mulling over moving to Pennsylvania and like living in small-town settings, Mechanicsburg is definitely a place to look out for.