CensusEasy
CensusEasy
METRO AREA

Harrisburg Metro

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA · 3 counties · 617,427 residents (2025 est.) · 1,622 sq mi
Time machine
COMPARE TO
Compare
The short version

With 604,155 people, Harrisburg is a metro area. That puts it in the top 3% of US metro areas for household income. The typical home is worth $254,698, having more than doubled since 2000. The population is up 19% since 2000. The foreign-born share is 8%. Households earn $81,484 at the median, near the US median.

At a glance
Average income
median household income $81,484, near the US median
US median: $82,259
Mid-age
median age 40.1
US median: 38.9
Average education
36% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 36%
Less affordable
home values up 32%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $376,019
Unique to this place

What stands out about Harrisburg

What changed most since 1990

  • Median home value (2024 dollars)$182,688 → $254,698 (+39%)US over the same years: +67%

Among the 36 metro and micro areas based in Pennsylvania

  • 7th in household income$81,484
  • 4th in share with a bachelor's degree35.8%
  • 9th in home value$254,698
  • 5th in diversity score55.1
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
604,155
+19%since 2000
from 509,074 in 2000
617,427 in 2025 (Census Bureau estimate)
1990 – 2025
Population density
373 / sq mi
+19%since 2000
from 314 / sq mi in 2000
US average: 281
Median age
40.1
+6%since 2000
from 37.9 in 2000
US average: 38.9
Land area
1,622 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
461K500K539K578K617K19902000201020202024Harrisburg
2024604K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 2024
Under 55.6%(33,574)
US avg: 5.6%
5 to 96.1%(36,581)
US avg: 6%
10 to 146.1%(36,768)
US avg: 6.4%
15 to 196.5%(39,245)
US avg: 6.6%
20 to 246%(36,538)
US avg: 6.5%
25 to 3413.1%(79,397)
US avg: 13.7%
35 to 4412.9%(78,190)
US avg: 13.2%
45 to 5412%(72,624)
US avg: 12.2%
55 to 6413%(78,555)
US avg: 12.7%
65 to 7410.9%(66,078)
US avg: 10.2%
75 to 845.3%(32,293)
US avg: 5.1%
85 and over2.4%(14,312)
US avg: 1.9%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$81,484
+2%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $43,724 in 2000
US average: $82,259
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$43,785
+95%since 2000
from $22,447 in 2000
US average: $44,673
Households earning $100K+
53.9%
+19.6 ptssince 2009
from 34.3% in 2009
US average: 53.3%
Poverty rate
10.1%
+1.9 ptssince 2000
from 8.2% in 2000
US average: 12.5%
Income inequality (Gini)
0.441
+7%since 2010
from 0.413 in 2010
US average: 0.476
Workforce by industry, 2024
Information11.4%
US avg: 10.8%
Retail trade7.8%
US avg: 9.9%
Finance & insurance7.7%
US avg: 5.9%
Other services7.2%
US avg: 6.7%
Professional, scientific, technical7%
US avg: 5.1%
Public administration6%
US avg: 4.8%
Wholesale trade5%
US avg: 6.9%
Transportation & warehousing2.6%
US avg: 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, food1.2%
US avg: 1.9%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing1.1%
US avg: 1.6%
Construction1.1%
US avg: 1.2%
Education & health services0.7%
US avg: 0.9%
Manufacturing0%
US avg: 0.4%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$254,698
+32%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $105,854 in 2000
US average: $376,019
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$1,205
+19%inflation adjusted, since 2000
from $558 in 2000
US average: $1,442
Owner-occupied
68.2%
−1.7 ptssince 2000
from 69.8% in 2000
31.8% rent
Vacancy rate
5.0%
−2.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.5% in 2009
US average: 10.0%
Persons per household
2.37 people
−1%since 2009
from 2.39 people in 2009
US average: 2.54
Owner cost-burdened
18.6%
−4.3 ptssince 2009
from 23.0% in 2009
US average: 22.9%
Renter cost-burdened
40.9%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 37.2% in 2009
US average: 47.4%
Afford Score
3.1
+12%since 2009
from 2.8 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Years of local income it takes to buy a local home, on a scale of about 0 to 15. Lower is more affordable.
Gentrification Score
45
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means faster recent growth in incomes, home values, and college degrees.
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic85.1%(433,044)
Black9.2%(46,850)
Hispanic / Latino2.7%(13,588)
Asian1.7%(8,527)
Other0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72%(435,253)
Black9.7%(58,497)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(49,005)
Asian5.7%(34,283)
Other4.5%(27,117)
Diversity Score
55
+55%since 2009
from 36 in 2009
1990 – 2024
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means a more even mix of racial and ethnic groups.
Segregation Score
42
−8%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
Our index, 0 to 100. Higher means White and non-White residents are more separated across neighborhoods.
Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican3.8%(22,895)
Mexican1.6%(9,574)
Dominican1%(6,037)
South American0.7%(4,127)
Central American0.4%(2,544)
Spaniard0.2%(1,034)
Ecuadorian0.2%(988)
Colombian0.2%(977)
Cuban0.2%(949)
Panamanian0.1%(824)
Honduran0.1%(674)
Peruvian0.1%(598)
+ 10 more hispanic origin groups with data
Salvadoran0.1%(529)
Chilean0.1%(529)
Venezuelan0.1%(484)
Guatemalan0.1%(373)
Argentine0.1%(358)
Uruguayan0%(126)
Nicaraguan0%(125)
Bolivian0%(33)
Asian origin
Asian Indian2%(11,848)
Nepalese0.9%(5,176)
Vietnamese0.5%(3,310)
Chinese0.5%(2,915)
Filipino0.3%(1,939)
Bhutanese0.3%(1,899)
Korean0.2%(1,239)
Pakistani0.2%(1,080)
Laotian0.1%(619)
Japanese0.1%(547)
Cambodian0.1%(364)
Bangladeshi0.1%(331)
+ 10 more asian origin groups with data
Sri Lankan0.1%(290)
Kazakh0.1%(209)
Thai0%(204)
Hmong0%(118)
Taiwanese0%(68)
Burmese0%(57)
Uzbek0%(25)
Pacific Islander origin
Guamanian0%(37)
Samoan0%(29)
Fijian0%(7)
Ancestry
German25.7%(155,197)
Irish11.9%(71,754)
English8.2%(49,600)
Italian6.4%(38,638)
American5.4%(32,716)
Polish2.9%(17,487)
Scottish1.8%(10,815)
French1.5%(9,346)
Welsh1%(6,305)
Dutch1%(6,258)
Scotch-Irish1%(6,018)
+ 50 more ancestry groups with data
Arab0.7%(4,325)
Swiss0.6%(3,753)
Hungarian0.6%(3,612)
Swedish0.6%(3,528)
West Indian0.5%(3,208)
Slovak0.5%(3,102)
Russian0.5%(3,076)
Ukrainian0.5%(2,862)
Norwegian0.4%(2,684)
Croatian0.4%(2,514)
Greek0.4%(2,410)
British0.4%(2,340)
Nigerian0.3%(1,903)
Lithuanian0.3%(1,875)
Austrian0.2%(1,236)
Lebanese0.2%(1,189)
French Canadian0.2%(1,140)
Czech0.2%(1,138)
Haitian0.2%(1,124)
Jamaican0.2%(950)
Egyptian0.1%(769)
Serbian0.1%(766)
Romanian0.1%(753)
Portuguese0.1%(708)
Moroccan0.1%(696)
Slovene0.1%(681)
Finnish0.1%(516)
Danish0.1%(445)
Belgian0.1%(434)
Canadian0.1%(417)
Armenian0.1%(390)
Turkish0.1%(348)
Ethiopian0.1%(336)
Macedonian0.1%(323)
Brazilian0%(250)
Syrian0%(240)
Kenyan0%(238)
Somali0.1%(234)
Ghanaian0%(233)
Guyanese0%(199)
Australian0%(196)
Iranian0%(159)
Bulgarian0%(119)
Iraqi0%(112)
Israeli0%(92)
Latvian0%(74)
Barbadian0%(57)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
35.8%
+11.5 ptssince 2000
from 24.3% in 2000
US average: 35.6%
High school or higher
92.2%
+8.0 ptssince 2000
from 84.2% in 2000
US average: 89.6%
Graduate degree
13.8%
+5.0 ptssince 2000
from 8.8% in 2000
US average: 14.0%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
22.5 min
+56%since 2000
from 14.4 min in 2000
US average: 26.5
Drive alone to work
70.1%
−10.0 ptssince 2009
from 80.1% in 2009
US average: 68.9%
Carpooled to work
7.2%
−2.7 ptssince 2009
from 9.9% in 2009
US average: 8.5%
Public transit
0.7%
−0.6 ptssince 2009
from 1.4% in 2009
US average: 3.2%
Worked from home
17.1%
+13.9 ptssince 2009
from 3.2% in 2009
US average: 15.0%
Walked to work
3.0%
−1.0 ptssince 2009
from 4.1% in 2009
US average: 2.4%
Biked to work
0.3%
+0.1 ptssince 2009
from 0.3% in 2009
US average: 0.4%
No vehicle available
7.2%
−0.5 ptssince 2009
from 7.6% in 2009
US average: 8.3%
Section 07

Work & employment

Unemployment rate
4.0%
−2.1 ptssince 2011
from 6.1% in 2011
US average: 5.2%
Labor force participation
64.0%
−2.7 ptssince 2011
from 66.7% in 2011
US average: 63.5%
Women 20-64 in the labor force
77.5%
−0.4 ptssince 2020
from 77.9% in 2020
US average: 74.6%
Self-employed
13.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.5%
+7.7 ptssince 2009
from 35.7% in 2009
US average: 42.5%
Section 08

People & community

Male
49.4%
+0.7 ptssince 2009
from 48.7% in 2009
Female
50.6%
−0.7 ptssince 2009
from 51.3% in 2009
Foreign born
8.2%
+3.7 ptssince 2009
from 4.4% in 2009
US average: 14.1%
Veterans
7.5%
−4.7 ptssince 2009
from 12.2% in 2009
US average: 6.2%
With a disability
13.6%
+1.6 ptssince 2012
from 12.0% in 2012
US average: 13.3%
Uninsured
6.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.9%
+12.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
Computer in household
94.1%
+4.1 ptssince 2020
from 90.1% in 2020
US average: 95.5%
Same house as last year
87.9%
+2.8 ptssince 2020
from 85.0% in 2020
US average: 87.7%
English only at home
87.8%
−2.5 ptssince 2016
from 90.3% in 2016
US average: 77.7%
Spanish at home
4.5%
+1.2 ptssince 2016
from 3.3% in 2016
US average: 13.6%
Marital status
Men 15+
Never married34.8%(84,816)
Married53.2%(129,693)
Widowed3%(7,195)
Divorced9.1%(22,079)
Women 15+
Never married29.2%(73,916)
Married50.8%(128,678)
Widowed8.9%(22,572)
Divorced11.2%(28,283)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Uninsured
6.3%
−2.8 ptssince 2013
from 9.1% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
62.1%
−2.4 ptssince 2020
from 64.5% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
13.5%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 13.5% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
20.0%
+1.0 ptssince 2020
from 19.0% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
17.6%
+0.9 ptssince 2020
from 16.8% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.0%
Unchangedsince 2020
from 2.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
74.0%
−2.6 ptssince 2020
from 76.6% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
35.4%
+1.6 ptssince 2020
from 33.8% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)27.5%(9,742)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)26.1%(9,241)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era30.7%(10,901)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War3.4%(1,212)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II1.3%(478)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 35,453 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Over time

Harrisburg, decade by decade

Harrisburg population, inflation-adjusted income and home value, education, and diversity by year
YearPopulationMedian household incomeMedian home valueBachelor's degree+Diversity score
1990474,242$77,531$182,68819.5%23.2
2000509,074$79,650$192,83024.3%33.3
2010549,475$80,211$232,49728.2%42.4
2020591,712$81,922$231,37333.5%56.6
2024604,155$81,484$254,69835.8%55.1

Census years come from the decennial census and the latest year from the American Community Survey, so part of any change between those two rows can reflect the different surveys. Dollar figures are adjusted for inflation to 2024 dollars; a figure ending in "+" was at the Census Bureau's reporting cap that year. The diversity score runs from 0 to 100; see how it's calculated.

In this metro

Largest cities

HarrisburgCENTRAL50,522CarlisleCENTRAL22,693Colonial Park18,032Hershey14,242Progress11,017Mechanicsburg10,037Middletown9,776Camp Hill8,199Lower Allen7,646New Cumberland7,590Linglestown6,957Rutherford6,890Enola6,534Steelton6,328Shippensburg5,615Schlusser5,402Lemoyne4,801Lawnton4,765Skyline View4,704Hummelstown4,492Paxtonia4,074Boiling Springs3,334Penbrook3,243Wormleysburg3,078Highspire2,725Marysville2,717Millersburg2,540Messiah College2,329Shippensburg University2,071Bressler2,060

The 30 most populous of 62 cities and towns in this metro. CENTRAL marks the metro's principal cities.

What's inside

3 component counties

Dauphin CountyCENTRAL293,351Cumberland CountyCENTRAL277,270Perry County46,806
Drill deeper

Metros similar to Harrisburg

Fayetteville
Pop 622,177
Durham
Pop 625,485
Modesto
Pop 557,719
Spokane
Pop 608,012
Places similar to Harrisburg
Head to head

Compare Harrisburg side by side

HARRISBURG VS
Fayetteville
Income$82,242+1%
Home value$307,983+21%
Population622,177+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARRISBURG VS
Durham
Income$84,598+4%
Home value$402,870+58%
Population625,485+1%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARRISBURG VS
Modesto
Income$81,468same
Home value$450,100+77%
Population557,719−10%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
HARRISBURG VS
Spokane
Income$77,837−4%
Home value$405,862+59%
Population608,012−2%
SEE FULL COMPARISON →
Frequently asked

How many people live in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA has about 604,155 residents according to the 2024 American Community Survey.

What is the median household income in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?

The typical household in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA earns about $81,484 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA expensive?

In Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA, the median home is worth about $254,698, and the typical rent is about $1,205 a month.

How educated are people in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?

About 35.8% of adults age 25 and over in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA?

About 10.1% of people in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA live below the federal poverty line.

Has Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA grown since 1990?

Yes, Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA has grown since 1990. The population has added about 129,913 residents, a change of about 27 percent over that period.

Keep going

Explore from here

DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · METRO ROLLUP OF COMPONENT COUNTIES · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →