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Living in
Harrisburg.
About
Life in Harrisburg
Housing is genuinely affordable compared to Northeast urban centers, with median home values around $124,000 and rents averaging under $1,000, so your money goes further. The trade-off is that summers get genuinely hot and humid, averaging about 32 days over 90 degrees, and you'll deal with frequent thunderstorms and variable winters—some years bring over 40 inches of snow, others very little. You're close enough to major cities for weekend trips (Philadelphia and Baltimore are within two hours), and there's solid outdoor access with the Appalachian Trail 25 minutes away and several state parks nearby, though the landscape is more rolling farmland and river valley than dramatic.
Harrisburg at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
33.4 yrs
Poverty Rate
30.5%
Foreign-Born
9.5%
Broadband Internet
85.6%
of households
Population Growth
+0.9%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics9.5% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in Harrisburg: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Harrisburg, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (44.0%), and 17.2% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
27.5%
of residents
65 and Older
12.9%
of residents
Households with Kids
26.1%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
43.0%
of households
Married Couples
21.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.23
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 12% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in Harrisburg
In Harrisburg, rent runs 12% below the PA average, and home values are 51% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.5%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.9%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,370
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
36.6%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1947
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $263,909 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.4 pts above PA average
Unemployment in Harrisburg
Unemployment in Harrisburg is 1.4 percentage points higher than the PA average.
Unemployment rate
City-level rate · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
City-level (BLS) · Annual averages
What Harrisburg Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute20.1 min avg
How Harrisburg residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Harrisburg, most residents drive alone to work (58%), and 82% 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
- 76 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 93% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in Harrisburg runs 93% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
634
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,825.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Harrisburg Police Department
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 Harrisburg, 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 Harrisburg, 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
Harrisburg 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" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Harrisburg
Harrisburg has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
9.4%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
- Main campus: Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals · 409 South Second Street
- Hospital campus: UPMC West Shore · 1995 Technology Pkwy, Mechanicsburg
- Hospital campus: UPMC Harrisburg · 111 S Front St, Harrisburg
Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute
Psychiatric · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.6 mi away · Camp Hill
Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 5.5 mi away · Enola
Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 11.1 mi away · Hershey
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs. Campus locations © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Education16.2:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Harrisburg
Harrisburg's student/teacher ratio is 16.2:1, close to the national average of 16:1, and 25.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
17
within city limits
Private Schools
8
within city limits
College Degree Rate
25.9%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
16.2:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges & Universities in Harrisburg
Harrisburg Area Community College
Public · 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
Private 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, 16 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Harrisburg
Harrisburg has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (16 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
16 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
25 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
37 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
39 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
53 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
59 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
61 mi awayMonocacy National Battlefield
National Battlefield
69 mi awayPublic Libraries in Harrisburg
Kline Library
530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg
Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library
2410 North Third St., Harrisburg
Mccormick Riverfront Library
101 Walnut Street, 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, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Harrisburg's median rent is $1,062/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,099/year. Median home value is $124,200.
Is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Harrisburg's violent crime rate was 634 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is significantly above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1825 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?⌄
Harrisburg has an unemployment rate of 5.7%, which is slightly above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Harrisburg is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,062/month and median household income is $48,099/year. The median home value is $124,200. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Harrisburg 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