What are the schools like in Dauphin, PA?

Dauphin is served primarily by Central Dauphin SD. The district operates 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 13.9:1.

What is the median household income in Dauphin?

The median household income in Dauphin, PA is $57,000 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.5%.

What is the weather like in Dauphin, PA?

Dauphin has an average high temperature of 36.6°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.5 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Dauphin, PA affordable or expensive?

Dauphin's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Dauphin is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $171,300 and the median rent is $963 per month.

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

Dauphin has a violent crime rate of 172.1 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 430.1 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Dauphin, PA a Good Place to Live?

Dauphin is a small town of 1,123 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $57,000 and a 3.5% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Dauphin stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, solid school ratings (A), a well-educated population, short average commutes.

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

All Dauphin 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

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

Metric	Dauphin, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$171,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$963	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	77.8%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$57,000	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Dauphin's violent crime rate is 172.1 per 100,000 residents — 55% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

172.1 /100k

Property Crime

430.1 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Dauphin is served primarily by Central Dauphin SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Dauphin, PA	National Avg
School District	Central Dauphin SD	—
Elementary Schools	13	—
Middle Schools	4	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	13.9:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	52.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	98.5%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Dauphin sees average highs of 36.6°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 47.5 inches of annual precipitation and 23.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Dauphin, PA
Average High — January	36.6°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	47.5"
Annual Snowfall	23.9"

Demographics

Metric	Dauphin, PA	National Avg
Population	1,123	—
Median Age	34.3	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.5%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.1 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	97.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	1.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	1.5%	18.9%
Asian	0.0%	6.3%
Under 18	26.8%	22.2%
65 and over	16.7%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Marysville, PA 2 mi Enola, PA 5 mi Duncannon, PA 5 mi West Fairview, PA 6 mi New Buffalo, PA 6 mi

ZIP Codes in Dauphin

Dauphin, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

17018

Dauphin vs Other Cities

Dauphin, PA vs Marysville, PA Dauphin, PA vs Enola, PA Dauphin, PA vs Duncannon, PA Dauphin, PA vs West Fairview, PA Dauphin, PA vs New Buffalo, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dauphin, PA affordable or expensive?

Dauphin's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Dauphin roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $171,300 and median rent is $963/month.

What is the crime rate in Dauphin, PA?

Dauphin's violent crime rate is 172.1 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 430.1 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Dauphin?

Public schools in Dauphin are operated by Central Dauphin SD. The district has 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 13.9:1. 52.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Dauphin, PA a good place to live?

Dauphin, PA has a population of 1,123, a median household income of $57,000, and an unemployment rate of 3.5%. 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 Dauphin?

Dauphin averages 36.6°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.5 inches with about 23.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Dauphin?

Dauphin, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 17018.

What is the population of Dauphin?

The population of Dauphin, Pennsylvania is 1,123 with a median age of 34.3. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Dauphin?

Key numbers for living in Dauphin: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $171,300, median household income $57,000, crime index 35 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated A. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Dauphin side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.