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Living in
Hershey.
Hershey 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 Hershey
If you're considering a move here, understand that this is a small community of about 14,000 people where the Hershey Company and its amusement park anchor the local economy—but that's really just the foundation of daily life, not the whole story. The real draw is stability: unemployment sits at 4.4%, the median household income hovers around $78,750, and median home values at $379,200 are reasonable for the region, though rent averages $1,268 a month and the market has been shrinking slightly. The humid continental climate means real seasons: summers hit 95°F and winters dip below 20°F, so you need to be comfortable with that trade-off and genuine winter maintenance.
Hershey at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
38.6 yrs
Poverty Rate
17.6%
Foreign-Born
13.1%
Broadband Internet
92.1%
of households
Population Growth
-2.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics13.1% foreign-born, most often from Mexico
Who lives in Hershey: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Hershey, the largest foreign-born group is from Mexico (40.9%), and 7.4% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
16.9%
of residents
65 and Older
21.2%
of residents
Households with Kids
24.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
32.8%
of households
Married Couples
44.7%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.17
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 about average for PA
Rent, home values, and income in Hershey
In Hershey, home values are 49% above the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
42.2%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
23.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
98.7
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,810
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
53.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1970
median year built
Vacant Homes
3.2%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $407,367 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment about average for PA
Unemployment in Hershey
Unemployment in Dauphin County, which includes Hershey, is close to the PA average.
Unemployment rate
Hershey: Dauphin County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Dauphin County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Hershey is about 5% of Dauphin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Hershey Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute16.2 min avg
How Hershey residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Hershey, most residents drive alone to work (64%), and 82% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 9 mi
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
Small hub810k passengers boarded in 2025
- 77 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 66% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Derry Township Police Department, Dauphin County, which covers Hershey, runs 66% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
110.7
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
806.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Derry Township Police Department, Dauphin County (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 Hershey, 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
Hershey is about 5% of Dauphin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality44 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Dauphin County, which includes Hershey, 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
Hershey is about 5% of Dauphin County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate85°F summers, 25°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Hershey has warm summers (avg high 85°F) and cold winters (avg low 25°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
63°/43°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
85°/65°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
66°/47°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
41°/25°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
44.2"
Annual Snowfall
29.9"
Hot Days/Year
22
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
101
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
126
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 39°F | 23°F | 3.03" |
| Feb | 42°F | 25°F | 2.59" |
| Mar | 51°F | 32°F | 3.70" |
| Apr | 64°F | 43°F | 3.55" |
| May | 74°F | 53°F | 3.83" |
| Jun | 82°F | 63°F | 3.98" |
| Jul | 87°F | 68°F | 4.74" |
| Aug | 85°F | 66°F | 3.77" |
| Sep | 78°F | 58°F | 4.83" |
| Oct | 66°F | 46°F | 3.81" |
| Nov | 54°F | 36°F | 2.97" |
| Dec | 43°F | 28°F | 3.43" |
Healthcare1 hospital, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Hershey
Hershey has 1 hospital, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
1
within city limits
Uninsured
3.9%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Upmc Pinnacle Hospitals
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12 mi away · Harrisburg
Wellspan Good Samaritan Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 12.8 mi away · Lebanon
Lebanon VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 13 mi away · Lebanon
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education12.5:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Hershey
Hershey's student/teacher ratio is 12.5:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 50.2% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
4
within city limits
College Degree Rate
50.2%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
12.5:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Hershey (within 15 miles)
Harrisburg Area Community College
12.5 mi awayPublic · 2-year · 9,533 students · in-state tuition $7,193 · 23% graduate · median earnings $45,834 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,868 students · in-state tuition $39,370 · 74% graduate · median earnings $66,572 (10 yrs after entry)
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
12.2 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: Appalachian National Scenic Trail, 14 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Hershey
Hershey has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Appalachian National Scenic Trail (14 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Appalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
14 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
28 mi awayGettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
45 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayHopewell Furnace National Historic Site
National Historic Site
47 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
60 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
61 mi awayValley Forge National Historical Park
National Historical Park
65 mi awayPublic Libraries in Hershey
Hershey Public Library
701 Cocoa Ave., Hershey
Cities Near Hershey
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Hershey?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Hershey FAQ
Is Hershey, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
Hershey's median rent is $1,268/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $78,587/year. Median home value is $379,200.
Is Hershey, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
Hershey is policed by the Derry Township Police Department, Dauphin County, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 111 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 807 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Hershey, Pennsylvania?⌄
Dauphin County, which includes Hershey, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Hershey, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in Hershey is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,268/month and median household income is $78,587/year. The median home value is $379,200. About 42% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Hershey, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in Hershey is 16 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