The Town FilesPenbrook, Pennsylvania
Borough in Dauphin County · population 3,274 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $168,100
- Household income
- $62,312
- Jan low / Jul high
- 22° / 85°
- Snow a year
- 24 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 21
- Median age
- 34.1
Penbrook is a borough of 3,274 people in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $168,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for first-time buyers than 100% of Pennsylvania towns, more walkable than 99% of Pennsylvania towns, hipper than 99% of Pennsylvania towns.
- #6 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in Pennsylvania
- #23 in The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #24 in The 25 Hippest Small Towns in Pennsylvania
- #29 in The 50 Most Walkable Small Towns in America
- #42 in The 50 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in America
- #44 in The 50 Best Places for First-Time Home Buyers in America
How Penbrook 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 Penbrook is worth $168,100, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $62,312, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $987 a month. 56.8% of households own their home.
| Housing | Penbrook | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $168,100 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $987 | $996 |
| Median household income | $62,312 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 56.8% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1952 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Penbrook
| People | Penbrook | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.1 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 9.7% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 24.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.3% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.3% | — |
| Work from home | 14.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 19.6 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.2% | 89.0% |
Weather in Penbrook
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
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penbrook 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 10.0 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 41 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 Penbrook itself the ACS puts it at 8.8%.
Towns near Penbrook
- Progress, PA1.0 mi · 11,168 people · home $202,500
- Harrisburg, PA1.9 mi · 50,099 people · home $124,200
- Colonial Park, PA2.6 mi · 16,243 people · home $231,100
- Lawnton, PA2.8 mi · 4,967 people · home $222,600
- Susquehanna, PA2.8 mi · 26,736 people · home $227,100
- Swatara, PA3.2 mi · 27,824 people · home $214,400
- Wormleysburg, PA3.5 mi · 3,043 people · home $223,400
- Lemoyne, PA3.6 mi · 4,659 people · home $241,300
Penbrook questions
Is Penbrook, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Penbrook scores better for retirees than 5% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 0%. 9.7% of residents are 65 or older (median age 34.1).
How much does a house cost in Penbrook?
The median owner-occupied home in Penbrook is valued at $168,100 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $62,312, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $987 a month.
What is the weather like in Penbrook?
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 Penbrook get tornadoes?
21 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Penbrook 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)