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Living in
Hanover.
About
Life in Hanover
This mid-sized borough in York County sits in that sweet spot where you're close enough to Baltimore and the broader Mid-Atlantic for serious job opportunities, but far enough away to actually afford a house—median home values hover around $213,000 with median household incomes at $61,293, which means homeownership is genuinely achievable here rather than a fantasy. The job market itself is surprisingly stable thanks to the snack food manufacturing sector (Utz Brands and Snyder's of Hanover are legitimate employers with real staying power), plus a broader manufacturing and service economy that's kept unemployment at 4.1%, well below national averages. Your commute averages around 23 minutes, which is reasonable, though you'll absolutely need a car—this is rural-adjacent Pennsylvania, not a walkable urban core.
Hanover at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
41.2 yrs
Poverty Rate
14.5%
Foreign-Born
6.0%
Broadband Internet
88.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.4%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics6.0% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hanover: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hanover, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (47.8%), and 7.9% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
20.6%
of residents
65 and Older
18.3%
of residents
Households with Kids
27.9%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.0%
of households
Married Couples
33.8%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.20
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 6% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Hanover
In Hanover, rent runs 6% below the PA average, and home values are 16% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
45.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
18.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,017
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.4%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1956
median year built
Vacant Homes
7.0%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $295,012 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Hanover
Unemployment in York County, which includes Hanover, is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Hanover: York County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
York County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Hanover is about 4% of York County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Hanover Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.4 min avg
How Hanover residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hanover, most residents drive alone to work (81%), and 67% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 29 mi
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
Small hub810k passengers boarded in 2025
- 46 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 69% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Hanover runs 69% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
101.2
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
2,083.7
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Hanover Police Department
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 33 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
90.4 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
York County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In York County, which includes Hanover, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 33 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 33 | Thunderstorm Wind | $233,000 |
| 2024 | 13 | Thunderstorm Wind | $146,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | Thunderstorm Wind | $483,000 |
| 2022 | 12 | Thunderstorm Wind | $73,000 |
| 2021 | 19 | Thunderstorm Wind | $4.1M |
| 2020 | 14 | Thunderstorm Wind | $138,000 |
| 2019 | 17 | Thunderstorm Wind | $77,000 |
| 2018 | 18 | Thunderstorm Wind | $142,000 |
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
York County, county-wide
Hanover is about 4% of York County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in York County, which includes Hanover, is typically good — 217 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
45
Good Days
217
per year
Moderate Days
145
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
York County, county-wide
Hanover is about 4% of York County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate83°F summers, 23°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hanover has warm summers (avg high 83°F) and cold winters (avg low 23°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
62°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
83°/62°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/43°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
42°/23°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
47.0"
Annual Snowfall
28.2"
Hot Days/Year
18
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
122
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
128
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 21°F | 3.02" |
| Feb | 42°F | 23°F | 2.59" |
| Mar | 50°F | 30°F | 3.71" |
| Apr | 63°F | 40°F | 3.73" |
| May | 72°F | 50°F | 3.88" |
| Jun | 81°F | 60°F | 3.68" |
| Jul | 85°F | 64°F | 4.31" |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.86" |
| Sep | 77°F | 54°F | 4.83" |
| Oct | 66°F | 43°F | 3.86" |
| Nov | 54°F | 33°F | 3.13" |
| Dec | 44°F | 26°F | 3.51" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hanover
Hanover has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
5.8%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Upmc Hanover
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Gettysburg Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 13.3 mi away · Gettysburg
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hanover
Hanover's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 15.9% 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
15.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Parks & Recreationclosest: Gettysburg National Military Park, 13 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hanover
Hanover has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gettysburg National Military Park (13 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
13 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
15 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
28 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
29 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
34 mi awayMonocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
38 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
42 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
44 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hanover
Guthrie Memorial Library - Hanover'S Public L
2 Library Place, Hanover
Cities Near Hanover
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hanover?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hanover FAQ
Is Hanover, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Hanover's median rent is $1,137/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $61,293/year. Median home value is $212,800.
Is Hanover, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Hanover's violent crime rate was 101 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 2084 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hanover, Pennsylvania?⌄
York County, which includes Hanover, has an unemployment rate of 4.1%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hanover, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Hanover is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,137/month and median household income is $61,293/year. The median home value is $212,800. About 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hanover, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Hanover is 23 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