What are the schools like in Carlisle, PA?

Carlisle is served primarily by Carlisle Area SD. The district operates 7 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.4:1.

What is the median household income in Carlisle?

The median household income in Carlisle, PA is $55,756 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 4.1%.

What is the weather like in Carlisle, PA?

Carlisle has an average high temperature of 38.1°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 48.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 27.7 inches.

Carlisle, PA Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Carlisle, PA affordable or expensive?

Carlisle's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Carlisle is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $208,900 and the median rent is $964 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Carlisle, PA?

Carlisle has a violent crime rate of 168.5 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1145.0 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Carlisle, PA a Good Place to Live?

Carlisle is a small city of 20,846 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $55,756 and a 4.1% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Carlisle stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, lower-than-average crime, solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: No major red flags stand out in the available data. Whether Carlisle is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Carlisle city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 96.5

Carlisle's overall cost of living index is 96.5, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Carlisle costs roughly 4% less than the average American city.

Metric	Carlisle, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$208,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$964	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	47.7%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$55,756	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Carlisle's violent crime rate is 168.5 per 100,000 residents — 56% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

168.5 /100k

Property Crime

1145.0 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Carlisle is served primarily by Carlisle Area SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Carlisle, PA	National Avg
School District	Carlisle Area SD	—
Elementary Schools	7	—
Middle Schools	2	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.4:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	38.4%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	91.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Carlisle sees average highs of 38.1°F in January and 85.5°F in July, with 48.0 inches of annual precipitation and 27.7 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Carlisle, PA
Average High — January	38.1°F
Average High — July	85.5°F
Annual Precipitation	48.0"
Annual Snowfall	27.7"

Demographics

Metric	Carlisle, PA	National Avg
Population	20,846	—
Median Age	32.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	4.1%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	17.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	80.2%	59.3%
Black or African American	8.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	4.1%	18.9%
Asian	2.5%	6.3%
Under 18	21.0%	22.2%
65 and over	17.1%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Carlisle Barracks, PA 2 mi Schlusser, PA 3 mi Plainfield, PA 4 mi Boiling Springs, PA 4 mi Mount Holly Springs, PA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Carlisle

Carlisle, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

17013

Carlisle vs Other Cities

Carlisle, PA vs Carlisle Barracks, PA Carlisle, PA vs Schlusser, PA Carlisle, PA vs Plainfield, PA Carlisle, PA vs Boiling Springs, PA Carlisle, PA vs Mount Holly Springs, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Carlisle, PA affordable or expensive?

Carlisle's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Carlisle roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $208,900 and median rent is $964/month.

What is the crime rate in Carlisle, PA?

Carlisle's violent crime rate is 168.5 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1145.0 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Carlisle?

Public schools in Carlisle are operated by Carlisle Area SD. The district has 7 elementary, 2 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.4:1. 38.4% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Carlisle, PA a good place to live?

Carlisle, PA has a population of 20,846, a median household income of $55,756, and an unemployment rate of 4.1%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Carlisle?

Carlisle averages 38.1°F in January and 85.5°F in July. Annual rainfall is 48.0 inches with about 27.7 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Carlisle?

Carlisle, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 17013.

What is the population of Carlisle?

The population of Carlisle, Pennsylvania is 20,846 with a median age of 32.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Carlisle?

Key numbers for living in Carlisle: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $208,900, median household income $55,756, crime index 48 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Carlisle side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.