What it's like to live in Carlisle
Carlisle is a small city in Pennsylvania with rent below the national average, home prices that remain within reach, county unemployment below the national average, and crime rates well below the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Carlisle deals with household incomes below the national average, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, cold winters, and fewer dining and entertainment options than a bigger city.
The good
- Rent below the national average
- Affordable home prices
- Low unemployment in the county
- Low crime rates
- Short commutes
- Fast-growing population
The not so good
- Below-average household incomes
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
- Smaller place — fewer dining and entertainment options
How Carlisle compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Carlisle
Based on Carlisle's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$2,188
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $43,760 a year
- 52% of Carlisle renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$44,820
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $22,410
- Homes cost 3.6× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▼ 23% below US
$1,094/mo median rent
Cost of living works in this city's favor. Median rent sits around $1,094 a month, nothing that raises eyebrows. Solid value overall. Home prices here are genuinely accessible, with a median around $224,100. That kind of affordability is rare in today's market.
Median home value $224,100 · 52% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
3.5% county unemployment
Unemployment in Cumberland County is 3.5%, a little below the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Cumberland County (county-wide)
Safety▼ 48% below US
173 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1066/100k · Carlisle Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▼ 28% below US
19 min average commute
Commutes are reasonable, averaging 18.6 minutes. Nothing heroic, and there's still time left over for a life after work. 7 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 83°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 22°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 4.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforceNear US average
38% bachelor's degree or higher
Education levels run about average, with 38% college-educated. It's a mix of white-collar and blue-collar work, which can be an asset or a limitation depending on the field.
Schools
6 public schools inside the boundary
There are 6 public schools inside the boundary and 3 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14:1, well below the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (1 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Carlisle's strongest points are rent below the national average and home prices that remain within reach; the main tradeoffs are household incomes below the national average and a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin. A year of median rent ($1,094/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit people watching their budget, anyone prioritizing low crime, and people who want short commutes.
Other places near Carlisle
All Pennsylvania guides →Moving to Harrisburg →
18 mi away · pop. 50,287
Rent $1,062/mo · Income $48,099
Compare with Carlisle →Moving to Colonial Park →
22 mi away · pop. 18,032
Rent $1,392/mo · Income $73,105
Compare with Carlisle →Not sure Carlisle is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.