York Apartments and Rentals

York, Penn.'s prime location in the heart of south central Pennsylvania puts 40 percent of the population of North America within a four-hour drive. Indeed, six of the 10 major U.S. market areas lie within a 500-mile radius of the city, which is equidistant between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. (both two-hour drives away). York apartments for rent have multiplied in recent years, as York County is one of the fastest-growing areas of Pennsylvania and particularly attracts those in the 20-to-35-year-old set.

Named after York, England, the York of today is home to nearly 44,000 people. It was laid out by two surveyors with the William Penn family sometime before 1741, but did not gain notoriety until the Continental Congress moved the location of the colonies' central government from Philadelphia to York in 1777. Although York was the nation's capital for just nine months, a lot happened in that time - Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, founded Thanksgiving and signed the French Treaty of Alliance.

York is well-known among locomotive history buffs for another reason - the first coal-burning locomotive was built in the city by Phineas Davis in 1832. The Phineas Davis Elementary School is named in his honor.

A number of industries are booming in York, from agriculture and tourism to medical and manufacturing. York Hospital is the county's top employer, with the federal government, the local government, Wal-Mart Associates Inc., and Giant Food Stores LLC making up the top five.

York College of Pennsylvania is another major employer. It is attended by approximately 4,600 full-time undergraduate students, plus 300 graduate students. Its most popular majors include business administration, nursing, criminal justice, engineering and psychology.

Additionally, Penn State University has a York campus that offers a wide range of educational opportunities to the more than 1,500 students in attendance, including six associate degrees and the first two years of most of Penn State's 160 majors. With an average class size of 23 and a student to faculty ratio of less than 16 to 1, its students are well set up for success.

In terms of K-12 education, the York City School District offers six elementary schools, two middle schools and a high school, plus an alternative education program for disruptive students at Lindbergh Education Center.

The cost of living in York is 94.5 - below the national average of 100 - according to City-Data.com's March 2012 cost of living index. Those looking for apartments in York can expect to pay a median gross rent of $637 per month.

The arts are a big part of York's culture. The York Symphony Orchestra has a 67-year history, and the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center is the place to catch big musical acts when they come to town, as well as films and plays. Founded in 1990, YorkArts houses a gallery, artists' studios and classrooms, and hosts a number of artistic events including poetry readings and gallery exhibits.

York is also home to several quirky museums. The Fire Museum of York County exhibits two centuries of firefighting equipment, the Police Heritage Museum offers a tour through 250 years of law enforcement and the Agricultural & Industrial Museum of York County reflects the area's agricultural heritage.

York puts on a number of city events throughout the year, including the New Year's Revolution, York Bike Night, the Yorkfest Arts Festival and the Annual Olde York Street Fair.

To find your next rental apartment or house in York, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.