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Living in
Harrisburg.
About
Life in Harrisburg
Living in Harrisburg means joining a rapidly growing Charlotte suburb that's genuinely family-oriented—nearly half of all households have kids, and the median household income of $148,254 reflects a community that's economically stable and attracting young professionals. The housing market is competitive (median home value around $478,000), but the 89% homeownership rate tells you locals are buying in and staying put, which speaks to real confidence in the area. You're looking at a 30-minute average commute, mostly heading toward Charlotte or staying local for work; the 3.5% unemployment rate suggests jobs aren't hard to find if you're educated, and 55.7% of residents hold bachelor's degrees.
Harrisburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
40.1 yrs
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Foreign-Born
16.5%
Broadband Internet
97.1%
of households
Population Growth
+9.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics16.5% foreign-born, most often from India
Who lives in Harrisburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Harrisburg, the largest foreign-born group is from India (46.1%), and 6.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.1%
of residents
65 and Older
10.7%
of residents
Households with Kids
50.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
15.1%
of households
Married Couples
74.4%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.18
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent 115% above NC average
Rent, home values, and income in Harrisburg
In Harrisburg, rent runs 115% above the NC average, and home values are 65% above the NC average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
30.3%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
20.4%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
97.3
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$3,391
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
91.5%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
2006
median year built
Home Value Trend
Latest: $492,123 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for NC
Unemployment in Harrisburg and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Cabarrus County, which includes Harrisburg, is close to the NC average.
Unemployment rate
Harrisburg: Cabarrus County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Cabarrus County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Harrisburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area
Commute29.6 min avg
How Harrisburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Harrisburg, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 58% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 6 mi
Concord-Padgett Regional Airport (USA)
Regional airport · few flights196k passengers boarded in 2025
- 18 mi
Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT)
Major hub25.9M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 79% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, which covers Harrisburg, runs 79% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
67.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
553.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 7 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
87.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Cabarrus County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Cabarrus County, which includes Harrisburg, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 7 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 7 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2024 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $97,000 |
| 2023 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $232,000 |
| 2022 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $20,000 |
| 2021 | 4 | Thunderstorm Wind | $15,000 |
| 2020 | 12 | Flood | $575,000 |
| 2019 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $41,000 |
| 2018 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $17,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
3 earthquakes of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Cabarrus County, county-wide
Air Quality51 median AQI — Moderate
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Mecklenburg County, NC (the nearest EPA-monitored county, about 11 miles from Harrisburg) is typically moderate — acceptable for most people, but can affect those unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Median AQI
51
Good Days
176
per year
Moderate Days
189
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Nearest EPA monitor county: Mecklenburg County, NC (11 mi away)
Climate90°F summers, 31°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Harrisburg has hot summers (avg high 90°F) and cold winters (avg low 31°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
73°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
90°/67°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
74°/49°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
55°/31°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
3.3"
Hot Days/Year
61
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
74
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
111
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53°F | 29°F | 3.68" |
| Feb | 57°F | 31°F | 3.12" |
| Mar | 65°F | 38°F | 4.10" |
| Apr | 74°F | 47°F | 4.03" |
| May | 81°F | 56°F | 3.71" |
| Jun | 88°F | 65°F | 4.67" |
| Jul | 92°F | 69°F | 5.31" |
| Aug | 90°F | 67°F | 4.53" |
| Sep | 84°F | 61°F | 4.24" |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 3.49" |
| Nov | 64°F | 37°F | 3.48" |
| Dec | 56°F | 32°F | 3.51" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Harrisburg
Uninsured
7.3%
of residents
No hospitals inside Harrisburg's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Novant Health Mint Hill Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Charlotte
Atrium Health University City
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.9 mi away · Charlotte
Carolinas Medical Center-northeast
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 9 mi away · Concord
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education17.4:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Harrisburg
Harrisburg's student/teacher ratio is 17.4:1 (higher than the national average of 16:1), and 56.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
56.5%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
17.4:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Harrisburg (within 15 miles)
University of North Carolina at Charlotte
4.8 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 24,453 students · in-state tuition $7,317 · 69% graduate · median earnings $63,486 (10 yrs after entry)
Central Piedmont Community College
12.2 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 15,067 students · in-state tuition $2,454 · 22% graduate · median earnings $43,413 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,244 students · in-state tuition $22,370 · 40% graduate · median earnings $44,849 (10 yrs after entry)
Queens University of Charlotte
13.5 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 1,211 students · in-state tuition $48,445 · 66% graduate · median earnings $58,736 (10 yrs after entry)
Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte
12.7 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 1,184 students · in-state tuition $44,581 · 52% graduate · median earnings $53,928 (10 yrs after entry)
Cabarrus College of Health Sciences
9.4 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 2-year · 712 students · in-state tuition $17,030 · 72% graduate · median earnings $62,982 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, 43 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Harrisburg
Harrisburg has 4 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail (43 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
43 mi awayKings Mountain National Military Park
National Military Park
44 mi awayCowpens National Battlefield
National Battlefield
67 mi awayGuilford Courthouse National Military Park
National Military Park
73 mi awayPublic Libraries in Harrisburg
Harrisburg Library
201 Sims Pkwy, Harrisburg
Cities Near Harrisburg
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Harrisburg?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Harrisburg FAQ
Is Harrisburg, North Carolina affordable?⌄
Harrisburg's median rent is $2,640/month, which is significantly above the national average. The median household income is $148,254/year. Median home value is $478,000.
Is Harrisburg, North Carolina safe?⌄
Harrisburg is policed by the Cabarrus County Sheriff's Office, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 68 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is well below the national average — one of the safer cities in the country of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 554 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Harrisburg, North Carolina?⌄
Cabarrus County, which includes Harrisburg, has an unemployment rate of 3.6%, which is solid, slightly below the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Harrisburg, North Carolina?⌄
The cost of living in Harrisburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $2,640/month and median household income is $148,254/year. The median home value is $478,000. About 30% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Harrisburg, North Carolina?⌄
The average commute in Harrisburg is 30 minutes, which is about average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from