Population 46,239 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in Perry County
Household size in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.51 | 2.41 | 2.51 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.51 | 2.43 | 2.53 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.51 | 2.42 | 2.50 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.54 | 2.44 | 2.46 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.03 | +0.03 | −0.05 | −0.03 |
Households in Perry County run a little small, averaging 2.54 people against 2.65 nationally, which usually means more singles and couples and fewer children. Locally, though, the typical household here is bigger than in the wider Harrisburg area, where it has 2.44 people. The biggest households, usually families with children, are concentrated in the west.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 40.4 | 39.8 | 40.3 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 41.6 | 40.6 | 41.0 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.9 | 40.9 | 41.8 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.6 | 40.7 | 42.0 | 40.1 |
| Change | +3.2 | +0.8 | +1.7 | +2.3 |
The median resident of Perry County is 43.6 years old, older than the national median of 40.1. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 40.4, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the center.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.1% | 10.0% | 10.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 10.7% | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 9.2% | 10.2% | 10.5% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.4% | 10.2% | 10.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | +0.2 pts | +0.2 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in ten households in Perry County (9.4%), below the national share of 11.6%. The Harrisburg area as a whole looks much the same.
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 Perry County
Renters in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 19.1% | 30.3% | 29.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 20.5% | 31.6% | 30.5% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 21.0% | 32.4% | 31.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 18.2% | 32.0% | 30.7% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.7 pts | +1.5 pts |
Perry County is largely a place of homeowners: only 18.2% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. About four in ten owners (39.6%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.9 points, even as the national share rose.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.1% | 8.1% | 10.3% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 11.0% | 8.6% | 10.5% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 12.4% | 8.6% | 10.7% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 8.8% | 6.5% | 9.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −2.3 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.2 pts | −1.8 pts |
About as many homes sit empty in Perry County as nationally: 8.8%, against 9.6%. The rate is higher than in the wider Harrisburg area (6.5%). Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 2.3 points, mirroring the country.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1970 | 1969 | 1963 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1971 | 1970 | 1964 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1972 | 1971 | 1965 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1974 | 1967 | 1980 |
| Change | +4 | +5 | +4 | +6 |
Homes in Perry County run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. The median year built has moved up from 1970 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the south, the oldest in the north.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $693 | $808 | $829 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $783 | $909 | $923 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $800 | $1,045 | $1,039 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $898 | $1,304 | $1,323 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$205 | +$496 | +$494 | +$606 |
A typical rental in Perry County costs $898 a month with utilities, well below the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $205 a month from 2006–10, a 30% rise, a slower climb than the nation's. Rent takes 27.3% of the typical renter's income, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. Rents run highest in the southeast and lowest in the north.
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 Perry County
Bachelor's degrees in Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.9% | 28.6% | 27.2% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 16.0% | 29.4% | 28.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 16.7% | 32.7% | 31.8% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.6% | 35.9% | 35.6% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.8 pts | +7.3 pts | +8.3 pts | +7.2 pts |
Fewer adults in Perry County have a four-year degree than in the country as a whole: 19.6%, against 35.6% nationally. The share with a degree is up 5.8 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the southeast and least in the west.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.3% | 89.0% | 87.3% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 87.4% | 89.8% | 88.8% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 87.3% | 90.8% | 90.3% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.1% | 91.8% | 91.8% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +2.8 pts | +4.5 pts | +4.3 pts |
About as many adults in Perry County have finished high school as nationally: 89.1%, against 89.3%. The rate is lower than in the wider Harrisburg area (91.8%). The share with a diploma has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
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 Perry County
| Period | Perry County | Harrisburg area | Pennsylvania | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.1% | 5.6% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 7.2% | 6.9% | 8.8% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.5% | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.2% | 4.2% | 5.4% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.9 pts | −1.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in Perry County has been low: just 3.2% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.9 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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).
Perry County compared with nearby counties
| County | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perry County | 2.54 | 43.6 | 9.4% | 18.2% | 8.8% | 1974 | $898 | 19.6% | 89.1% | 3.2% |
| Juniata County | 2.60 | 43.2 | 6.9% | 26.2% | 13.3% | 1972 | $763 | 14.8% | 83.5% | 2.1% |
| Dauphin County | 2.43 | 39.7 | 12.3% | 36.9% | 6.2% | 1971 | $1,286 | 33.6% | 90.5% | 5.0% |
| Lebanon County | 2.53 | 41.5 | 10.0% | 28.7% | 6.6% | 1971 | $1,242 | 24.6% | 88.2% | 4.2% |
| Huntingdon County | 2.38 | 44.7 | 7.5% | 20.8% | 21.6% | 1969 | $859 | 20.7% | 91.9% | 4.6% |
| Blair County | 2.38 | 42.9 | 10.0% | 27.6% | 10.5% | 1961 | $936 | 24.5% | 93.9% | 4.6% |
| Berks County | 2.64 | 40.8 | 13.2% | 28.7% | 5.9% | 1967 | $1,310 | 26.6% | 87.4% | 6.0% |
| Cambria County | 2.28 | 44.9 | 10.5% | 23.6% | 12.6% | 1958 | $774 | 24.3% | 93.1% | 4.6% |
| Lehigh County | 2.63 | 40.5 | 13.3% | 34.4% | 5.7% | 1968 | $1,516 | 33.8% | 89.9% | 6.0% |
| Hunterdon County | 2.56 | 45.9 | 5.6% | 14.9% | 3.5% | 1977 | $1,839 | 57.0% | 96.1% | 4.6% |
| Westmoreland County | 2.26 | 47.1 | 8.1% | 21.6% | 8.4% | 1966 | $990 | 33.0% | 95.6% | 4.7% |
All figures 2020–24.
Counties with similar populations: Kay County, OK · Laurens County, GA · Lamar County, TX · LaGrange County, IN · Lafayette County, MS · La Plata County, CO · Knox County, IL · Kittitas County, WA · Kerr County, TX · Kendall County, TX
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 Perry County. 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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