Southwest Lancaster City (SoWe)

With its stunning street art and close-knit community, SoWe is an up-and-coming neighborhood that adds both character and life to the City of Lancaster, PA.

As indicated by its nickname, SoWe is located in the South West section of the city. In 2012, the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP) began focusing on revitalization efforts in this neighborhood. Working closely with Lancaster County Community Foundation (LCCF), their efforts have contributed to SoWe’s lively community that residents are proud to be a part of. SoWe is located in the School District of Lancaster, which offers award-winning arts programs and extensive career training. It is also one of only 13 school districts in Pennsylvania to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme—known for challenging students to excel in their studies and encouraging both personal and academic achievement.

The average price of homes in SoWe is $95,889. Although some homes are "newer" (built between 1940 and 1969), many of the homes are considered historic, as they were built no later than 1939. SoWe has put an emphasis on creating a safe, clean environment—including two large city parks, a baseball field, a wading pool, basketball courts, and playgrounds.

As the neighborhood is just outside of the Downtown Investment District (DID), it has easy access to some of Lancaster’s favorite destinations including Lancaster Central Market, The Exchange, Prince Street Cafe, and Annie Bailey’s Irish Public House.