What are the schools like in Hershey, PA?

Hershey is served primarily by Derry Township SD. The district operates 3 elementary schools, 1 middle schools, and 1 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 12.3:1.

What is the median household income in Hershey?

The median household income in Hershey, PA is $77,480 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 3.3%.

What is the weather like in Hershey, PA?

Hershey has an average high temperature of 38.6°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.2 inches and annual snowfall averages 29.9 inches.

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

Q: Is Hershey, PA affordable or expensive?

Hershey's cost of living index is 96, where 100 represents the national average. This means Hershey is 4% less expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $326,900 and the median rent is $1,184 per month.

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

Hershey 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 Hershey, PA a Good Place to Live?

Hershey is a small city of 14,682 in Pennsylvania, with a median household income of $77,480 and a 3.3% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 96 (US average = 100), which is 4% below the national average.

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

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

All Hershey 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

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

Metric	Hershey, PA	National Avg
Median Home Value	$326,900	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,184	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	56.2%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$77,480	$74,755

Crime & Safety

Very Safe

Hershey'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

Hershey is served primarily by Derry Township SD. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Hershey, PA	National Avg
School District	Derry Township SD	—
Elementary Schools	3	—
Middle Schools	1	—
High Schools	1	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	12.3:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	49.7%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Hershey sees average highs of 38.6°F in January and 86.8°F in July, with 44.2 inches of annual precipitation and 29.9 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Hershey, PA
Average High — January	38.6°F
Average High — July	86.8°F
Annual Precipitation	44.2"
Annual Snowfall	29.9"

Demographics

Metric	Hershey, PA	National Avg
Population	14,682	—
Median Age	46.0	38.9
Unemployment Rate	3.3%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	16.9 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	76.0%	59.3%
Black or African American	2.5%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	13.0%	18.9%
Asian	6.5%	6.3%
Under 18	18.8%	22.2%
65 and over	18.4%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Palmdale, PA 2 mi Union Deposit, PA 2 mi Campbelltown, PA 3 mi Palmyra, PA 3 mi Hummelstown, PA 4 mi

ZIP Codes in Hershey

Hershey, PA is covered by 2 ZIP codes:

17033 17036

Hershey vs Other Cities

Hershey, PA vs Palmdale, PA Hershey, PA vs Union Deposit, PA Hershey, PA vs Campbelltown, PA Hershey, PA vs Palmyra, PA Hershey, PA vs Hummelstown, PA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hershey, PA affordable or expensive?

Hershey's cost of living index is 96, where 100 is the national average. That makes Hershey roughly 4% less expensive than a typical US city — a meaningful affordability advantage. The median home price is $326,900 and median rent is $1,184/month.

What is the crime rate in Hershey, PA?

Hershey'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 Hershey?

Public schools in Hershey are operated by Derry Township SD. The district has 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 1 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 12.3:1. 49.7% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Hershey, PA a good place to live?

Hershey, PA has a population of 14,682, a median household income of $77,480, and an unemployment rate of 3.3%. 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 Hershey?

Hershey averages 38.6°F in January and 86.8°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.2 inches with about 29.9 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Hershey?

Hershey, PA is covered by 2 ZIP codes: 17033, 17036.

What is the population of Hershey?

The population of Hershey, Pennsylvania is 14,682 with a median age of 46.0. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Hershey?

Key numbers for living in Hershey: cost of living index 96 (100 = US average), median home $326,900, median household income $77,480, 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 Hershey side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.