The Town FilesHarrisburg, Pennsylvania
City in Dauphin County · population 50,099 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $124,200
- Household income
- $48,099
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 22
- Median age
- 33.4
Harrisburg is a city of 50,099 people in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $124,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks more walkable than 98% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 97% of Pennsylvania towns, better transit than 95% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg is worth $124,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.6 times the median household income of $48,099, which is more affordable than 64% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,062 a month. 36.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Harrisburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $124,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,062 | $996 |
| Median household income | $48,099 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.6× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 36.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1947 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.3% | — |
Who lives in Harrisburg
| People | Harrisburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 12.9% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 27.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 25.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 30.5% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 4.8% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 9.5% | — |
| Work from home | 15.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 20.1 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 85.6% | 89.0% |
Weather in Harrisburg
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.8°F. About 45.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 18 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 111 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 2026.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 39 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 1976.
Severe weather in Dauphin County since 1996
Dauphin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| 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 |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Dauphin County
Dauphin County had 190,296 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,012 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Harrisburg itself the ACS puts it at 11.4%.
Public schools in Harrisburg
38 public schools with 22,688 students, about 15.2 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Dauphin SHS | 9-12 | 1,998 | 16.1 |
| Central Dauphin East SHS | 9-12 | 1,596 | 14.9 |
| Harrisburg HS | 9-12 | 1,333 | 17.8 |
| Dauphin County Technical School | 9-12 | 1,175 | 14.3 |
| Central Dauphin MS | 6-8 | 855 | 14.5 |
| Linglestown MS | 6-8 | 814 | 14.3 |
| Thomas W Holtzman Jr El Sch | 3-5 | 801 | 19.1 |
| Sara Lindemuth El Sch | K-2 | 789 | 16.8 |
| Susquehanna Twp HS | 9-12 | 774 | 13.6 |
| Susquehanna Twp MS | 6-8 | 744 | 17.3 |
| Benjamin Franklin Sch | PK-5 | 740 | 16.4 |
| North Side El Sch | K-5 | 705 | 16.4 |
Towns near Harrisburg
- Wormleysburg, PA1.7 mi · 3,043 people · home $223,400
- Penbrook, PA1.9 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,100
- Lemoyne, PA2.3 mi · 4,659 people · home $241,300
- Progress, PA2.6 mi · 11,168 people · home $202,500
- Enola, PA2.8 mi · 6,103 people · home $171,700
- East Pennsboro, PA2.9 mi · 20,910 people · home $236,000
- Susquehanna, PA2.9 mi · 26,736 people · home $227,100
- Camp Hill, PA3.2 mi · 8,130 people · home $316,300
Harrisburg questions
Is Harrisburg, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Harrisburg scores better for retirees than 1% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 1%. 12.9% of residents are 65 or older (median age 33.4).
How much does a house cost in Harrisburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Harrisburg is valued at $124,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $48,099, so homes cost about 2.6 times income. Median rent is $1,062 a month.
What is the weather like in Harrisburg?
July highs average 85.2°F and January lows 21.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.2 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Harrisburg get tornadoes?
22 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Harrisburg since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 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)