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METRO AREA

Harrisburg Metro

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA · 3 counties · 617,427 residents (2025 est.) · 1,621.801 sq mi
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The short version

Harrisburg has roughly average household income, with a median household income of $81,484. Population has grown 19% since 2000. Median home value has more than doubled since 2000, reaching $254,698. It ranks in the top 5% of US metro areas for household income.

At a glance
Average income
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
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
604,155
+19%since 2000
from 509,074 in 2000
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

PEP 2025 EST:617,427 residents (Census Bureau Vintage 2025, released March 2026)

Population, 1990 – 2024
461K500K539K578K617K1990201020202024Harrisburg
2024604K
1990201020202024
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%
BARS: THIS PLACE · TICKS: 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%
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
+29%since 2000
from 2.4 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Gentrification Score
45
RELATED:See current rent listings in Harrisburg on RentDataNow
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%
Diversity Score30.8%(156,637)
Segregation Score0%
2024
White, non-Hispanic72%(435,253)
Black9.7%(58,497)
Hispanic / Latino8.1%(49,005)
Asian5.7%(34,283)
Other4.5%(27,117)
Diversity Score57.5%(347,229)
Segregation Score42.4%(256,403)
Diversity Score
57
+87%since 2000
from 31 in 2000
1990 – 2024
Segregation Score
42
−8%since 2020
from 46 in 2020
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%
Self-employed
13.2%
Unchangedsince 2009
from 13.2% in 2009
US average: 13.1%
Management & professional
43.5%
−22.4 ptssince 2009
from 65.9% 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%
−40.5 ptssince 2009
from 48.0% 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%
−84.7 ptssince 2013
from 90.9% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Broadband at home
90.9%
+12.2 ptssince 2017
from 78.7% in 2017
US average: 91.0%
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%
In this metro

Principal cities

HarrisburgCENTRAL50,522CarlisleCENTRAL22,693
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.

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

How we source and harmonize this data →

Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA: population, income & housing data · CensusEasy