© OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap
Living in
York.
About
Life in York
If you're considering York, understand that you're looking at an affordable, working-class city with real industrial roots and a genuinely diverse community—not a polished suburb. Median home values around $120,000 and rents near $1,014 make it accessible, though median household income of $48,420 reflects the blue-collar character. The trade-off is that this isn't a college town—only 17% hold degrees—so the job market skews toward skilled trades and production work.
York at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
34.3 yrs
Poverty Rate
21.1%
Foreign-Born
11.1%
Broadband Internet
85.2%
of households
Population Growth
+1.2%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics11.1% foreign-born, most often from Dominican Republic
Who lives in York: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In York, the largest foreign-born group is from Dominican Republic (38.7%), and 25.6% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
23.9%
of residents
65 and Older
13.1%
of residents
Households with Kids
31.5%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
37.8%
of households
Married Couples
26.5%
of households
Avg Household Size
2.44
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 16% below PA average
Rent, home values, and income in York
In York, rent runs 16% below the PA average, and home values are 53% below the PA average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
53.1%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
25.3%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
96.0
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$2,938
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
43.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1941
median year built
Vacant Homes
8.3%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $278,056 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 1.7 pts above PA average
Unemployment in York
Unemployment in York is 1.7 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 York Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Commute23.1 min avg
How York residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In York, most residents drive alone to work (65%), and 73% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 16 mi
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
Small hub810k passengers boarded in 2025
- 54 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 35% above national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in York runs 35% above the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
443.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,437.5
per 100,000 residents
Below average (1,552 national, 2025)
York 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 York, 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
Air Quality45 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in York County, which includes York, 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
Climate86°F summers, 24°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
York has warm summers (avg high 86°F) and cold winters (avg low 24°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
66°/40°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
86°/61°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
68°/44°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
44°/24°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
45.1"
Annual Snowfall
24.6"
Hot Days/Year
28
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
120
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
127
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 41°F | 21°F | 3.27" |
| Feb | 45°F | 23°F | 2.81" |
| Mar | 55°F | 30°F | 4.01" |
| Apr | 67°F | 40°F | 3.62" |
| May | 77°F | 50°F | 4.20" |
| Jun | 84°F | 59°F | 4.29" |
| Jul | 88°F | 63°F | 4.52" |
| Aug | 86°F | 62°F | 3.96" |
| Sep | 80°F | 55°F | 5.10" |
| Oct | 68°F | 43°F | 3.94" |
| Nov | 56°F | 33°F | 3.22" |
| Dec | 45°F | 26°F | 3.52" |
Healthcare2 hospitals, avg 4.0/5
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in York
York has 2 hospitals, averaging 4.0 out of 5 on CMS's quality rating — above-average care.
Hospitals
2
within city limits
Uninsured
10.6%
of residents
Avg Hospital Rating
4.0 / 5
Wellspan York Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available
Wellspan Surgery and Rehabilitation Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals
Nearby hospitals · within 15 miles
Upmc Memorial
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.2 mi away · York
Oss Orthopaedic Hospital
Acute Care Hospitals · 3.8 mi away · York
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education14.7:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in York
York's student/teacher ratio is 14.7:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 17.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
11
within city limits
Private Schools
5
within city limits
College Degree Rate
17.5%
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
Colleges Near York (within 15 miles)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 1,868 students · in-state tuition $39,370 · 74% graduate · median earnings $66,572 (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: Gettysburg National Military Park, 28 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for York
York has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Gettysburg National Military Park (28 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Gettysburg National Military Park
National Military Park
28 mi awayCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
National Monument
29 mi awayEisenhower National Historic Site
National Historic Site
31 mi awayAppalachian National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
35 mi awayHampton National Historic Site
National Historic Site
39 mi awayCatoctin Mountain Park
Park
45 mi awayStar-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail
National Historic Trail
47 mi awayFort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine
National Monument and Historic Shrine
49 mi awayPublic Libraries in York
York County Library System
159 East Market Street, York
Martin Memorial Library
159 East Market St., York
Cities Near York
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to York?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
York FAQ
Is York, Pennsylvania affordable?⌄
York's median rent is $1,014/month, which is below the national average, making it relatively affordable. The median household income is $48,420/year. Median home value is $119,700.
Is York, Pennsylvania safe?⌄
York's violent crime rate was 443 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is above the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1438 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in York, Pennsylvania?⌄
York has an unemployment rate of 6.0%, which is above the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in York, Pennsylvania?⌄
The cost of living in York is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,014/month and median household income is $48,420/year. The median home value is $119,700. About 53% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in York, Pennsylvania?⌄
The average commute in York 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