City · Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, city, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg had 50,522 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 50,099 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 50,287 (±51). GEOID 4232800.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
50,522
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 50,099 · ACS 2020-2024: 50,287 ±51
Median household income
$48,099
±$3,987 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$124,200
±$11,090 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$1,062
±$35 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Harrisburg and what county is it in?
Harrisburg is a city in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It covers 8.1 square miles of land, 6,171 residents per square mile in 2020.
Harrisburg is in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Harrisburg, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 50,522 people lived in Harrisburg on July 1, 2025, up 0.9% since 2020, in line with Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 50,099 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 50,287 (±51).
| Measure | Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 50,287 ±51 | 289,593 | +1,078 |
| Households | 22,137 ±825 | 121,358 | +1,594 |
| Average household size | 2.23 ±0.08 | 2.33 | −0.11 |
| Housing units | 24,130 ±759 | 127,828 | −1,317 |
Harrisburg's population since 2000
From 48,950 in 2000 to 50,522 in 2025: up 3.2%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Harrisburg as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Harrisburg?
The median resident of Harrisburg is 33.4 years old; 27.5% are under 18 and 12.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 40.9%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 26.4%. 9.5% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.4 ±1.5 | 39.4 | +2.4 |
| Under 18 years | 27.5% ±1.9 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 12.9% ±1.3 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Male | 47.4% ±1.8 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 26.4% ±2.6 pts | 11.8% | +4.6 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 25.2% ±2.4 pts | 60.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 40.9% ±2.5 pts | 16.3% | −5.8 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 2.2% ±0.7 pts | 6.5% | −2.4 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.1% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 4.7% ±1.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.2 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 9.5% ±1.8 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 21.3% ±2.5 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.8% ±1.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 18.2% ±1.9 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 9.4% ±1.8 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 85.2% ±2.4 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 25.9% ±2.5 pts | 34.4% | +3.8 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.0% ±1.6 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 84.3% ±2.1 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 2.5% ±0.9 pts | 2.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Harrisburg earn?
Half of Harrisburg's 22,137 households earn less than $48,099 a year (±$3,987), against $76,242 in Dauphin County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $48,840 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 30.5% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $48,099 ±$3,987 | $76,242 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $61,969 ±$3,246 | $101,339 | – |
| Per capita income | $27,330 ±$1,830 | $42,294 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 30.5% ±3.4 pts | 12.9% | +4.3 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 44.0% ±6.9 pts | 16.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 30.8% ±3.6 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 91.5% ±1.9 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 85.6% ±2.5 pts | 90.3% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Harrisburg?
Owners occupy 36.6% of Harrisburg's occupied homes and renters 63.4%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $124,200 by its owner (±$11,090). The median renter pays $1,062 a month including utilities, and 42.7% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $124,200 ±$11,090 | $236,400 | +$24,760 |
| Median gross rent | $1,062 ±$35 | $1,217 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 42.7% ±4.5 pts | 37.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,272 ±$68 | $1,660 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 36.6% ±2.9 pts | 63.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 63.4% ±2.9 pts | 36.9% | – |
| Housing units | 24,130 ±759 | 127,828 | −1,317 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.2% ±1.9 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 14.0% ±2.2 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 1.0% ±0.8 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.2% ±0.3 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.9% ±1.5 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 43.2% ±3.2 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 24.3% ±3.1 pts | 9.4% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Harrisburg building?
Builders took permits for 10 new housing units in Harrisburg in 2025 (5 in single-family houses), 0.2 per 1,000 residents against 2.0 across Pennsylvania.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Harrisburg work and get to work?
57.5% of Harrisburg's workers drive alone and 15.8% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.1 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 11.4%.
| Measure | Harrisburg | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 64.6% ±2.5 pts | 64.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 11.4% ±2.2 pts | 4.5% | +2.8 pts |
| Drove alone to work | 57.5% ±3.2 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 10.6% ±2.6 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 5.2% ±1.8 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Walked | 7.5% ±1.8 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 15.8% ±2.7 pts | 16.8% | +11.4 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.1 min ±1.7 | 21.5 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Harrisburg?
14 census tracts lie mostly in Harrisburg (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $24,792 (Tract 216) to $71,721 (Tract 205).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 217Dauphin County | 5,918 | $67,849 |
| Tract 214Dauphin County | 5,166 | $21,620 |
| Tract 255Dauphin County | 5,048 | $53,483 |
| Tract 213Dauphin County | 4,341 | $41,995 |
| Tract 215Dauphin County | 4,331 | $41,304 |
| Tract 201Dauphin County | 3,505 | $50,949 |
| Tract 208Dauphin County | 3,415 | $65,584 |
| Tract 216Dauphin County | 3,280 | $24,792 |
| Tract 211Dauphin County | 3,263 | $35,807 |
| Tract 209Dauphin County | 3,227 | $61,236 |
| Tract 205Dauphin County | 3,014 | $71,721 |
| Tract 212Dauphin County | 2,520 | $36,875 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Harrisburg) · Census block assignment files
How does Harrisburg compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Harrisburg is the 812th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 9th-most populous of 1,012 in Pennsylvania.
Harrisburg ranks 2,037th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 9th | 1,012 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 624th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 81st | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 2,037th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 2,006th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,897th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 955th | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 26th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,036th | 2,129 |
| Median age | 2,030th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 2,127th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 543rd | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 1,867th | 2,156 |
Harrisburg's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Harrisburg with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Harrisburg?
6 of the 57 figures for Harrisburg on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Harrisburg are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' public schools in Harrisburg.