The Town FilesMechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Borough in Cumberland County · population 9,311 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $241,200
- Household income
- $84,421
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 40.1
Mechanicsburg is a borough of 9,311 people in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $241,200, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks hipper than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 93% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 88% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Mechanicsburg 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 Mechanicsburg is worth $241,200, above the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.9 times the median household income of $84,421, which is more affordable than 48% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,083 a month. 69.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Mechanicsburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $241,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,083 | $996 |
| Median household income | $84,421 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.9× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.6% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1959 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Mechanicsburg
| People | Mechanicsburg | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 16.8% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 42.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.6% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 11.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.5% | — |
| Work from home | 19.4% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 24.5 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Mechanicsburg
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 23.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mechanicsburg since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 7.1 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 31 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 1976.
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 Mechanicsburg itself the ACS puts it at 2.1%.
Public schools in Mechanicsburg
18 public schools with 13,843 students, about 14.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cumberland Valley HS | 9-12 | 3,114 | 18.4 |
| Mountain View MS | 6-8 | 1,387 | 15.1 |
| Mechanicsburg Area SHS | 9-12 | 1,371 | 13.6 |
| Mechanicsburg MS | 6-8 | 1,131 | 13.2 |
| Eagle View MS | 6-8 | 1,069 | 16.7 |
| Winding Creek El Sch | K-5 | 1,041 | 16.3 |
| Elmwood Academy | 4-5 | 720 | 15.7 |
| Green Ridge El Sch | K-5 | 554 | 16.8 |
| Sporting Hill El Sch | K-5 | 552 | 16.7 |
| Hampden El Sch | K-5 | 538 | 14.9 |
| Silver Spring El Sch | K-5 | 513 | 14.7 |
| Rossmoyne El Sch | K-5 | 476 | 14.4 |
Towns near Mechanicsburg
- Upper Allen, PA2.5 mi · 23,183 people · home $279,800
- Hampden, PA3.6 mi · 32,761 people · home $354,900
- Silver Spring, PA3.8 mi · 19,557 people · home $388,500
- Messiah College, PA3.9 mi · 2,841 people · home —
- Lower Allen, PA4.2 mi · 20,099 people · home $260,400
- Camp Hill, PA4.7 mi · 8,130 people · home $316,300
- Monroe, PA5.1 mi · 6,230 people · home $359,400
- Lower Allen, PA5.5 mi · 7,465 people · home $263,200
Mechanicsburg questions
Is Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Mechanicsburg scores better for retirees than 29% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 12%. 16.8% of residents are 65 or older (median age 40.1).
How much does a house cost in Mechanicsburg?
The median owner-occupied home in Mechanicsburg is valued at $241,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $84,421, so homes cost about 2.9 times income. Median rent is $1,083 a month.
What is the weather like in Mechanicsburg?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 23.9 inches of snow.
Does Mechanicsburg get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Mechanicsburg 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)