Ephrata is a small town tucked away in rural Pennsylvania.
Main St in Ephrata features plenty of small boutiques and restaurants for locals to enjoy.
An old train station in Ephrata has been converted into the visitors center.
Small boutique stores thrive along Main St in Ephrata.
Main St in Ephrata is a retail hub and one of the major hot spots in the area.

Ephrata, PA

Area Guide

Avg Rent

$1,257

Population

14,227

Renter Mix

41% Rent

Perfectly positioned to reach everything in southeast Pennsylvania

Commuter Suburb Schools

Sitting roughly halfway between Lancaster and Reading, Ephrata is the kind of Lancaster County borough where downtown still has a real pulse and the surrounding countryside gives you room to breathe. The small-town feel shows up in everyday life—whether you're picking up fresh produce at a local farmers market, strolling past well-kept historic architecture near the State and Main intersection, or heading north to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area for a morning hike. Philadelphia is close enough for a day trip, and both Lancaster and Reading are reachable in under 30 minutes.

Ephrata carries a genuinely fascinating past as home to the Ephrata Cloister, an 18th-century religious community and one of America's earliest communal societies. That heritage still shapes the borough's character today. Renters will find a solid mix of options here, from cozy townhomes and garden-style apartment communities to multi-bedroom units suited for roommates or extra space. The rental market stays accessible compared to larger Pennsylvania cities, and the walkable downtown core keeps everyday errands easy without the noise and congestion of urban living.

Explore the City

An old train station in Ephrata has been converted into the visitors center.

Small boutique stores thrive along Main St in Ephrata.

Main St in Ephrata is a retail hub and one of the major hot spots in the area.

Historic Old Colonial homes and Duplexes are prominent in Ephrata.

Cozy Bungalow style homes sit on a small hill and have ample street parking in Ephrata.

Find your new favorite book at the Ephrata Public Library.

Demographics

Median Household Income

$57,703

Average: $70,918

Education

2,908

Residents Have a Degree

Job Market

7,924

Workers Employed

Age Distribution
Get a sense of this area's population profile.

Median Age

39 Years

Largest Age Group

30-39 Years

Approximately 15% of Residents

Under 20

24%

Over 65

19%

Housing Distribution

Ephrata has more homeowners than renters.

Renters
41%
Non-Renters
59%

Education Distribution

Review this city's overall education levels.

Bachelor's or Higher
16%
Other Education
84%

Rent Trends

As of June 2026, the average apartment rent in Ephrata, PA is $1,257 for one bedroom, $1,431 for two bedrooms, and $1,473 for three bedrooms. Apartment rent in Ephrata has increased by 2.7% in the past year.

Property Type
Average Rent
Average Sq Ft
Apartment
$1,257/month
775 Sq Ft
See Rental Market Trends in Ephrata, PA

Getting Around

Moderately Walkable

Walkability

60 / 100

Limited Public Transit

Transit

30 / 100

Moderately Drivable

Drivability

70 / 100

Fairly Bikeable

Bikeability

40 / 100

Schools

Clay El School

Public

Grades K-5

377 Students

Highland El School

Public

Grades K-5

468 Students

EPHRATA INTERMEDIATE SCH

Public

Grades K-5

559 Students

Ephrata Intermediate School

Public

Grades K-5

559 Students

Fulton El School

Public

Grades K-5

316 Students

Ephrata Middle School

Public

Grades 6-8

631 Students

Ephrata Senior High School

Public

Grades 9-12

1,317 Students

Lancaster County Ctc-Brownstown Campus

Public

Grades 9-12

18 Students

Points of Interest

Top Apartments in Ephrata

Houses for Rent in Ephrata

Search Nearby Rentals

Methodology

† Our analysis of utilities, groceries, transportation, healthcare, home prices, and other goods and services is sourced from the Cost of Living Index, a respected benchmark published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER) that provides a thorough overview of living expenses across different regions.

Rent data is provided by CoStar Group’s Market Trend reports. As the industry leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, and news, CoStar conducts extensive research to produce and maintain a comprehensive database of commercial real estate information. We combine this data with public record to provide the most up-to-date rental information available.

Consumer goods, services, and home prices are sourced from the Cost of Living Index published by the Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER). The data on this page is updated quarterly. It was last published in June 2026.

Demographic information comes from Neustar and combines detailed address data with U.S. Census and American Community Survey statistics to produce reliable local estimates.