The Town FilesCarlisle, Pennsylvania
Borough in Cumberland County · population 20,118 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $224,100
- Household income
- $61,720
- Jan low / Jul high
- 21° / 86°
- Snow a year
- 28 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 9
- Median age
- 35.8
Carlisle is a borough of 20,118 people in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $224,100, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, better for cycling than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 97% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Carlisle ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Carlisle is worth $224,100, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $61,720, which is more affordable than 17% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,094 a month. 48.7% of households own their home.
| Housing | Carlisle | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $224,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,094 | $996 |
| Median household income | $61,720 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 48.7% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1953 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Carlisle
| People | Carlisle | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.8 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 15.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 37.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 15.1% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 7.9% | — |
| Work from home | 9.9% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 18.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 89.4% | 89.0% |
Weather in Carlisle
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 20.5°F. About 48.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 27.7 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 24 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 126 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on May 26, 2011 about 9.6 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 27, 2022.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 17 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on May 14, 2010.
Severe weather in Cumberland County since 1996
Cumberland County has been included in 19 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 29, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3356: Hurricane Sandy |
| September 12, 2011 | Flood | DR-4030: Tropical Storm Lee |
Jobs and pay in Cumberland County
Cumberland County had 137,668 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $65,149 a year. Unemployment was 2.7% in 2023; in Carlisle itself the ACS puts it at 4.4%.
Public schools in Carlisle
10 public schools with 5,241 students, about 14.1 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carlisle Area HS | 9-12 | 1,581 | 14.4 |
| Wilson MS | 6-8 | 576 | 13.1 |
| Lamberton MS | 6-8 | 549 | 13.4 |
| Crestview El Sch | K-5 | 546 | 17.6 |
| Bellaire El Sch | K-5 | 397 | 14.2 |
| Middlesex El Sch | K-5 | 393 | 11.6 |
| Mooreland El Sch | K-5 | 388 | 14.9 |
| Hamilton El Sch | K-5 | 368 | 13.6 |
| Letort El Sch | K-5 | 242 | 14.2 |
| North Dickinson El Sch | K-5 | 201 | 14.4 |
Towns near Carlisle
- North Middleton, PA3.2 mi · 12,039 people · home $253,500
- Schlusser, PA3.2 mi · 6,806 people · home $241,000
- Boiling Springs, PA4.4 mi · 3,449 people · home $379,900
- South Middleton, PA4.9 mi · 16,135 people · home $272,400
- Middlesex, PA5.3 mi · 7,021 people · home $234,200
- West Pennsboro, PA6.9 mi · 5,595 people · home $282,600
- Monroe, PA7.5 mi · 6,230 people · home $359,400
- Dickinson, PA8.2 mi · 5,294 people · home $390,500
Carlisle questions
Is Carlisle, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Carlisle scores better for retirees than 20% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 3%. 18.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 35.8).
How much does a house cost in Carlisle?
The median owner-occupied home in Carlisle is valued at $224,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $61,720, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is $1,094 a month.
What is the weather like in Carlisle?
July highs average 85.5°F and January lows 20.5°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 48.0 inches of precipitation a year and 27.7 inches of snow.
Does Carlisle get tornadoes?
9 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Carlisle since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on May 26, 2011. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)