What are the schools like in Harrisburg, PA?

Harrisburg is served primarily by Harrisburg City SD. The district operates 6 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 15.8:1.

What is the median household income in Harrisburg?

The median household income in Harrisburg, PA is $46,654 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 9.0%.

What is the weather like in Harrisburg, PA?

Harrisburg has an average high temperature of 36.6°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 45.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 23.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Harrisburg, PA affordable or expensive?

Harrisburg's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Harrisburg is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $112,100 and the median rent is $944 per month.

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

Harrisburg has a violent crime rate of 762.2 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 1992.6 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Harrisburg, PA a Good Place to Live?

Harrisburg is a mid-sized city of 50,055 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $46,654 and a 9.0% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

Strengths: Harrisburg stands out for an affordable cost of living, below-average home prices, short average commutes.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Harrisburg is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Harrisburg 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

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

Metric	Harrisburg, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$112,100	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$944	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	35.5%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$46,654	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Higher than Average

Harrisburg's violent crime rate is 762.2 per 100,000 residents — 101% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

762.2 /100k

Property Crime

1992.6 /100k

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

Schools & Education

Harrisburg is served primarily by Harrisburg City SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Harrisburg, PA	National Avg
School District	Harrisburg City SD	—
Elementary Schools	6	—
Middle Schools	3	—
High Schools	2	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	15.8:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	23.9%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	84.1%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Harrisburg sees average highs of 36.6°F in January and 85.2°F in July, with 45.2 inches of annual precipitation and 23.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Harrisburg, PA
Average High — January	36.6°F
Average High — July	85.2°F
Annual Precipitation	45.2"
Annual Snowfall	23.9"

Demographics

Metric	Harrisburg, PA	National Avg
Population	50,055	—
Median Age	31.9	38.9
Unemployment Rate	9.0%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	19.5 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	34.3%	59.3%
Black or African American	46.4%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	11.5%	18.9%
Asian	2.8%	6.3%
Under 18	28.5%	22.2%
65 and over	11.2%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Wormleysburg, PA 2 mi West Fairview, PA 2 mi Penbrook, PA 2 mi Lemoyne, PA 2 mi Progress, PA 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Harrisburg

Harrisburg, PA is covered by 6 ZIP codes:

17110 17104 17103 17102 17101 17120

Harrisburg vs Other Cities

Harrisburg, PA vs Wormleysburg, PA Harrisburg, PA vs West Fairview, PA Harrisburg, PA vs Penbrook, PA Harrisburg, PA vs Lemoyne, PA Harrisburg, PA vs Progress, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Harrisburg, PA affordable or expensive?

Harrisburg's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Harrisburg roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $112,100 and median rent is $944/month.

What is the crime rate in Harrisburg, PA?

Harrisburg's violent crime rate is 762.2 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 1992.6 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Harrisburg?

Public schools in Harrisburg are operated by Harrisburg City SD. The district has 6 elementary, 3 middle, and 2 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15.8:1. 23.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Harrisburg, PA a good place to live?

Harrisburg, PA has a population of 50,055, a median household income of $46,654, and an unemployment rate of 9.0%. 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 Harrisburg?

Harrisburg averages 36.6°F in January and 85.2°F in July. Annual rainfall is 45.2 inches with about 23.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Harrisburg?

Harrisburg, PA is covered by 6 ZIP codes: 17110, 17104, 17103, 17102, 17101, 17120.

What is the population of Harrisburg?

The population of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is 50,055 with a median age of 31.9. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Harrisburg?

Key numbers for living in Harrisburg: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $112,100, median household income $46,654, crime index 158 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated C+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Harrisburg side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.