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Living in
Colonial Park.
Colonial Park is an unincorporated community in Dauphin County, PA. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Colonial Park
This unincorporated community in Lower Paxton Township sits right in the Harrisburg metro area's retail and commercial heart, which means job stability without feeling like you're living downtown—you get the economic benefits without the urban intensity. The median household income hovers around $73,105, and with a median home value of $231,100 and rent averaging $1,392 a month, it's reasonably affordable for the region, especially if you're coming from the Northeast corridor. The job market is solid with a 4.4% unemployment rate, and most residents find themselves with a manageable 21-minute commute to work, though a fair number drive to Harrisburg proper or further afield depending on their field.
Colonial Park at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
36.5 yrs
Poverty Rate
9.9%
Foreign-Born
17.9%
Broadband Internet
91.4%
of households
Median household income
Demographics17.9% foreign-born, most often from Vietnam
Who lives in Colonial Park: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Colonial Park, the largest foreign-born group is from Vietnam (15.7%), and 6.5% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.2%
of residents
65 and Older
16.6%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.0%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
31.2%
of households
Married Couples
40.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.52
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 15% above PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Colonial Park
In Colonial Park, rent runs 15% above the PA average, and home values are 9% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
47.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,448
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
46.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1969
median year built
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Colonial Park
Unemployment in Dauphin County, which includes Colonial Park, is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Colonial Park: Dauphin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dauphin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
What Colonial Park Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.2 min avg
How Colonial Park residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Colonial Park, most residents drive alone to work (68%), and 78% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
Small hub810k passengers boarded in 2025
- 78 mi
Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI)
Major hub12.3M 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 59% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Lower Paxton Township Police Department, which covers Colonial Park, runs 59% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
135.9
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
998
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Lower Paxton Township Police Department (township-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 19 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
91.1 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Dauphin County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Dauphin County, which includes Colonial Park, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 19 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $218,000 |
| 2024 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $234,000 |
| 2023 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $221,000 |
| 2022 | 5 | Winter Storm | $23,000 |
| 2021 | 22 | Thunderstorm Wind | $150,000 |
| 2020 | 9 | Thunderstorm Wind | $45,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $122,000 |
| 2018 | 13 | Winter Storm | $74,000 |
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.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Dauphin County, county-wide
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dauphin County, which includes Colonial Park, is typically good — 228 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
44
Good Days
228
per year
Moderate Days
136
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Dauphin County, county-wide
Climate83°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Colonial Park has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
60°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
63°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
39°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.2"
Annual Snowfall
23.9"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
111
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
125
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 22°F | 2.87" |
| Feb | 40°F | 23°F | 2.77" |
| Mar | 48°F | 30°F | 3.93" |
| Apr | 61°F | 40°F | 3.91" |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.02" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 4.00" |
| Jul | 85°F | 65°F | 4.81" |
| Aug | 83°F | 62°F | 4.28" |
| Sep | 75°F | 55°F | 4.58" |
| Oct | 63°F | 43°F | 3.77" |
| Nov | 51°F | 34°F | 2.87" |
| Dec | 41°F | 27°F | 3.42" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Colonial Park
Uninsured
10.0%
of residents
No hospitals inside Colonial Park's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 4.6 mi away · Harrisburg
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Psychiatric · ER available · 4.7 mi away · Harrisburg
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 6.8 mi away · Camp Hill
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.3:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Colonial Park
Colonial Park's student/teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 24.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
7
within city limits
Private Schools
0
within city limits
College Degree Rate
24.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.3:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Colonial Park (within 15 miles)
Harrisburg Area Community College
3.9 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 9,533 students · in-state tuition $7,193 · 23% graduate · median earnings $45,834 (10 yrs after entry)
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
4.6 mi awayPrivate nonprofit · 4-year · 615 students · in-state tuition $25,100 · 38% graduate · median earnings $48,379 (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: Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, 20 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Colonial Park
Colonial Park has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (20 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
20 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
21 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
40 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
42 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
55 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
57 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
62 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
71 mi awayPublic Libraries in Colonial Park
East Shore Area Library
4501 Ethel Street, Harrisburg
Cities Near Colonial Park
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Colonial Park?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Colonial Park FAQ
Is Colonial Park, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Colonial Park's median rent is $1,392/month, which is close to the national average. The median household income is $73,105/year. Median home value is $231,100.
Is Colonial Park, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Colonial Park is policed by the Lower Paxton Township Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 136 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 998 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Colonial Park, Pennsylvania?⌄
Dauphin County, which includes Colonial Park, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Colonial Park, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Colonial Park is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,392/month and median household income is $73,105/year. The median home value is $231,100. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Colonial Park, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Colonial Park is 20 minutes, which is shorter than 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