What are the schools like in Hanover, PA?

Hanover is served primarily by South Western SD. The district operates 4 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hanover?

The median household income in Hanover, PA is $60,050 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 6.9%.

What is the weather like in Hanover, PA?

Hanover has an average high temperature of 39.3°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 47.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 28.2 inches.

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

Q: Is Hanover, PA affordable or expensive?

Hanover's cost of living index is 97, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hanover is 3% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $178,400 and the median rent is $1,028 per month.

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

Hanover has a violent crime rate of 108.3 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 2509.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Hanover, PA a Good Place to Live?

Hanover is a small city of 16,411 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $60,050 and a 6.9% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 97 (US average = 100), which is 3% below the national average.

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

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Hanover is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Hanover 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: 96.6

Hanover's overall cost of living index is 96.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Hanover costs roughly 3% less than the average American city.

Metric	Hanover, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$178,400	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,028	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	57.4%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$60,050	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Safer than Average

Hanover's violent crime rate is 108.3 per 100,000 residents — 72% lower than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

108.3 /100k

Property Crime

2509.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Hanover is served primarily by South Western SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hanover, PA	National Avg
School District	South Western SD	—
Elementary Schools	4	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	17.1%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	86.0%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hanover sees average highs of 39.3°F in January and 85.3°F in July, with 47.0 inches of annual precipitation and 28.2 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hanover, PA
Average High — January	39.3°F
Average High — July	85.3°F
Annual Precipitation	47.0"
Annual Snowfall	28.2"

Demographics

Metric	Hanover, PA	National Avg
Population	16,411	—
Median Age	40.4	38.9
Unemployment Rate	6.9%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	23.4 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	84.4%	59.3%
Black or African American	3.3%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	7.7%	18.9%
Asian	0.9%	6.3%
Under 18	22.2%	22.2%
65 and over	19.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Midway, PA 1 mi Pennville, PA 2 mi Parkville, PA 2 mi McSherrystown, PA 2 mi Abbottstown, PA 5 mi

ZIP Codes in Hanover

Hanover, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code:

17331

Hanover vs Other Cities

Hanover, PA vs Midway, PA Hanover, PA vs Pennville, PA Hanover, PA vs Parkville, PA Hanover, PA vs McSherrystown, PA Hanover, PA vs Abbottstown, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hanover, PA affordable or expensive?

Hanover's cost of living index is 97, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hanover roughly 3% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $178,400 and median rent is $1,028/month.

What is the crime rate in Hanover, PA?

Hanover's violent crime rate is 108.3 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 2509.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Hanover?

Public schools in Hanover are operated by South Western SD. The district has 4 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.3:1. 17.1% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hanover, PA a good place to live?

Hanover, PA has a population of 16,411, a median household income of $60,050, and an unemployment rate of 6.9%. 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 Hanover?

Hanover averages 39.3°F in January and 85.3°F in July. Annual rainfall is 47.0 inches with about 28.2 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hanover?

Hanover, PA is covered by 1 ZIP code: 17331.

What is the population of Hanover?

The population of Hanover, Pennsylvania is 16,411 with a median age of 40.4. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hanover?

Key numbers for living in Hanover: cost of living index 97 (100 = US average), median home $178,400, median household income $60,050, crime index 65 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B-. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Hanover side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.