The Harrisburg metro area: Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties · Population 604,155 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in the Harrisburg area
Household size in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.41 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.43 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.44 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in the Harrisburg area run small, averaging 2.44 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Since 2006–10, household size has crept up from 2.41, even as the national average fell. The Harrisburg area has smaller households than the great majority of large metro areas.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 39.8 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 40.9 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 40.7 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.8 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
At 40.7, the median age in the Harrisburg area is close to the national median of 40.1, so its age mix looks much like the country's. The median age has crept up from 39.8 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. The youngest areas are in the center, the oldest in the north.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.0% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.7% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 10.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in the Harrisburg area than nationally: 10.2%, against 11.6%. Pennsylvania comes in at about the same level.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in the Harrisburg area
Renters in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.3% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 31.6% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.4% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 32.0% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Nearly a third of households in the Harrisburg area rent their homes (32.0%), close to the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 39.7% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. Renting is most common in the center and least common in the northwest. The renter share is up 1.7 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.6% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in the Harrisburg area: 6.5% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 1.6 points, in line with the national trend. The Harrisburg area has a lower vacancy rate than the great majority of large metro areas.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Housing in the Harrisburg area leans a little older: the median home dates to 1974, against 1980 nationally. Still, homes here are newer than in Pennsylvania overall, where the median home dates to 1967. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the northeast, while the center has the oldest housing.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $808 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $909 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,045 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,304 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$496 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in the Harrisburg area costs $1,304 a month with utilities, below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $496 a month from 2006–10, a 61% jump, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 27.8% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the south and lowest in the northwest.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in the Harrisburg area
Bachelor's degrees in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.6% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 29.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 32.7% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 35.9% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are about as common in the Harrisburg area as nationally: 35.9% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor's or higher, against 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 7.3 points from 2006–10, in line with the national trend. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northwest.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 89.0% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 89.8% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 91.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.8 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in the Harrisburg area is a bit above the national rate: 91.8% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. Pennsylvania comes in at about the same level. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has risen 2.8 points, mirroring the country.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in the Harrisburg area
| Period | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.6% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in the Harrisburg area runs below the national rate: 4.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged down 1.4 points, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
Largest cities in the Harrisburg area
| City | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg area (all) | 2.44 | 40.7 | 10.2% | 32.0% | 6.5% | 1974 | $1,304 | 35.9% | 91.8% | 4.2% |
| Mechanicsburg | 2.47 | 42.6 | 6.1% | 25.7% | 4.4% | 1989 | $1,606 | 51.4% | 96.5% | 2.4% |
| Carlisle | 2.32 | 43.4 | 9.3% | 33.5% | 6.5% | 1973 | $1,249 | 33.7% | 93.3% | 3.8% |
| Camp Hill | 2.51 | 42.4 | 5.3% | 23.7% | 6.5% | 1966 | $1,429 | 49.6% | 94.3% | 3.4% |
| Shippensburg | 2.51 | 36.7 | 11.2% | 34.7% | 12.8% | 1981 | $1,079 | 25.1% | 85.7% | 4.4% |
| Hummelstown | 2.44 | 40.5 | 7.9% | 28.6% | 4.2% | 1986 | $1,474 | 59.4% | 97.3% | 2.9% |
| Middletown | 2.23 | 39.7 | 12.0% | 33.5% | 7.5% | 1973 | $1,146 | 28.5% | 93.1% | 3.2% |
| Enola | 2.42 | 40.0 | 6.5% | 26.3% | 3.4% | 1983 | $1,494 | 37.4% | 95.0% | 4.0% |
| Hershey | 2.34 | 38.6 | 9.5% | 43.0% | 5.5% | 1974 | $1,308 | 44.6% | 91.0% | 5.1% |
| New Cumberland | 2.40 | 41.7 | 9.0% | 24.7% | 3.7% | 1967 | $1,194 | 37.0% | 94.5% | 2.8% |
| Colonial Park | 2.62 | 38.4 | 17.2% | 51.6% | 7.3% | 1966 | $1,376 | 24.3% | 88.4% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Metro areas of similar size: Springfield area · Chattanooga area · Spokane area · Chapel Hill area · Toledo area · Melbourne area · Augusta area · Jackson area · Ogden area
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up the Harrisburg area. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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