City profile · Pennsylvania · Census ACS 2023

Hershey, PA

Population, income, housing, safety, climate and schools for Hershey - drawn straight from Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA, NCES, HUD and FEMA, refreshed on the 2024–2025 release cycle.

14,334
Residents
$78,750
Median income
$339,300
Median home
$1,493
Median rent (state)

Hershey - the verdict

Out of every US city with 1,000+ residents, Hershey places in the 60th percentile for household income. Source: Census ACS.

60th
percentile, household income
70th
percentile, home value
59th
percentile, median rent
📝 How we sourced this

Population, income, and housing-cost figures come from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates (B-series tables). Crime data uses FBI UCR; climate uses NOAA Climate Normals; school counts come from NCES Common Core of Data; permits use the Census Building Permits Survey (BPS). See our methodology page for the full ETL pipeline and OMB / FIPS join keys.

Data Snapshot: Hershey, PA

Census ACS 2023 estimates count 14,334 residents in Hershey, a small town within Pennsylvania. Median household income here is $78,750 per year, above the median for U.S. cities on this measure, with a poverty rate of 5.1%. Home values in Hershey run a median of $339,300, and the median resident age is 45.2 years. 49.1% of adults here have a bachelor's degree or higher; 62.9% of working-age residents are in the labor force.

The city is served by 6 public schools according to NCES Common Core of Data.

Pennsylvania tracks close to the national cost-of-living baseline: BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 puts Pennsylvania at 97.6 on a 100-equals-national-average scale (Near Average). HUD Fair Market Rent for a typical two-bedroom in this state is $1,493 per month. Statewide, average monthly utility bills in Pennsylvania run around $260, per EIA 2023 residential energy data. Workers in Hershey report an average commute of 13.2 minutes, with 68.1% driving alone and 21.7% working from home. Natural-hazard exposure scores 91.1 out of 100 on FEMA's National Risk Index (Very High).

Population

14,334 residents

Census ACS 2023 - Pennsylvania

Median Household Income

$78,750 /yr

Poverty 5.1%

Cost of Living Index (state)

97.6 (US=100)

Near Average - BEA RPP 2024, Pennsylvania average

How does Hershey compare to other US cities?

Here's how Hershey stacks up against the full field of US cities (population 1,000+), computed live from Census and FBI data.

Household income 60% higher than other cities
Home value 70% pricier than other cities
Median rent 59% pricier than other cities

"Safer than" reflects total crime rate from FBI UCR; the others use Census ACS estimates.

How we calculate these percentiles & ranks

For each metric we count every US city with population 1,000+ and a non-null value, then compute what share of them fall below Hershey's value: round(cities-below ÷ total × 100). Safety is inverted (percentile = share of cities with a higher crime rate) so a higher number always means safer. The in-state rank narrows that same crime-rate comparison to only the cities PlainCities tracks in Pennsylvania, breaking ties alphabetically. See the methodology page for the full source-to-figure lineage.

60thIncome percentile

60th percentile nationally for median household income. Source: Census ACS 2023 / FBI UCR 2023.

How Hershey's home value compares nationally

Median home value vs. every US city (population 1,000+)

$339,300 30th percentile more affordable than 30% of 15,600 US cities

$0–$25,000: 5 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $25,000–$50,000: 54 US cities (0%). Below this entry. $50,000–$75,000: 352 US cities (2%). Below this entry. $75,000–$100,000: 1,086 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $100,000–$125,000: 1,516 US cities (10%). Below this entry. $125,000–$150,000: 1,170 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $150,000–$175,000: 1,278 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $175,000–$200,000: 1,229 US cities (8%). Below this entry. $200,000–$225,000: 1,035 US cities (7%). Below this entry. $225,000–$250,000: 976 US cities (6%). Below this entry. $250,000–$275,000: 754 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $275,000–$300,000: 712 US cities (5%). Below this entry. $300,000–$325,000: 521 US cities (3%). Below this entry. $325,000–$350,000: 526 US cities (3%). This entry sits in this band. $350,000–$375,000: 465 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $375,000–$400,000: 393 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $400,000–$425,000: 317 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $425,000–$450,000: 300 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $450,000–$475,000: 307 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $475,000–$500,000: 250 US cities (2%). Above this entry. $500,000–$525,000: 160 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $525,000–$550,000: 156 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $550,000–$575,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $575,000–$600,000: 172 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $600,000–$625,000: 163 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $625,000–$650,000: 167 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $650,000–$675,000: 135 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $675,000–$700,000: 101 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $700,000–$725,000: 95 US cities (1%). Above this entry. $725,000–$750,000: 71 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $750,000–$775,000: 65 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $775,000–$800,000: 70 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $800,000–$825,000: 57 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $825,000–$850,000: 67 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $850,000–$875,000: 60 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $875,000–$900,000: 58 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $900,000–$925,000: 47 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $925,000–$950,000: 37 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $950,000–$975,000: 31 US cities (0%). Above this entry. $975,000–$1,000,000: 470 US cities (3%). Above this entry. $1,000,000–$1,025,000: 0 US cities (0%). Above this entry. Hershey $0 $1,025,000 every US city, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $25K-wide band; taller bars hold more US cities. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2023

Income distribution context

Household income distribution - Hershey, PA Hershey, PA's reported median household income shown against the U.S. national quintile-share pattern (not Hershey, PA-specific quintile data). The Lorenz curve traces the national cumulative income share against cumulative population share, perfect equality is the diagonal; observed inequality bows below. $ Household Income Distribution Hershey, PA median $78,750/yr, vs. U.S. national quintile pattern QUINTILE SHARE OF AGGREGATE INCOME Lowest 20% 3.4% Second 20% 9.2% Middle 20% 15.1% Fourth 20% 23.2% Top 20% 49.1% LORENZ CURVE cumulative income vs. population 100% 0% 100% pop. 0%
Hershey, PA's median household income (Census ACS 5-year estimate) plotted against the U.S. national income-quintile distribution pattern for context; the quintile shares and Lorenz curve are national figures, not computed specifically for Hershey, PA. Diagonal = perfect equality.

Key socioeconomic indicators

Bachelor's degree or higher (adults 25+) 49.1%

Census ACS S1501, educational attainment

Poverty rate (households below FPL) 5.1%

Census ACS S1701, poverty status

Labor force participation (adults 16+) 62.9%

Census ACS S2301, share of working-age residents in the labor force

Population
14,334
Median Income
$78,750
Median Home Value
$339,300
Median Age
45.2
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Labor force participation
62.9%
Bachelor's Degree+
49.1%

Schools

Total Schools
6
Public schools in this city

Commute Patterns

How workers travel to work, Census ACS 2023

Average Commute Time
13.2 minutes
Drive Alone
68.1%
Carpool
3.5%
Public Transit
0.5%
Walk
4.6%
Work from Home
21.7%
Other
1.6%

Based on 7,701 workers 16 and over.

Monthly Utility Costs

State-average estimates for Pennsylvania - EIA 2023 residential energy data

Electricity
$120
avg/month
Natural Gas
$88
avg/month
Water & Sewer
$52
avg/month
Total Utilities
$260
estimated/month

Estimates reflect Pennsylvania state averages. Actual costs vary by home size, usage, and local rates. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023.

Living Costs & Risk

Cost of living is a Pennsylvania state average from BEA; rent and hazard risk are county-level figures from HUD and FEMA for the county Hershey sits in

Cost of Living Index
97.6
Near Average
US average = 100 · BEA RPP 2024
Typical 2-BR Rent
$1,493/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent
County-level FMR estimate
Natural Hazard Risk
91.1 / 100
Very High
FEMA NRI composite score (county)

Similar Cities in Pennsylvania

Indiana
14,170 people
Ardmore
14,165 people
Wilkinsburg
14,165 people
Dunmore
14,123 people
Willow Grove
13,919 people
Greensburg
14,777 people

Cities of a Similar Size Nationwide

Population-matched peers from other states, closest to Hershey's 14,334 residents (Census ACS 5-Year 2023).

Covington, GA
14,334 people
Latham, NY
14,327 people
Chesterton, IN
14,326 people
Jacksonville, AL
14,345 people
Huron, SD
14,347 people
Ozark, AL
14,348 people

Cities with a Similar Household Income Nationwide

Median-household-income-matched peers from other states, closest to Hershey's $78,750 (Census ACS 5-Year 2023, table B19013).

Phoenix Lake, CA
$78,750 median income
Kurtistown, HI
$78,750 median income
De Witt, IL
$78,750 median income
Muncie, IL
$78,750 median income
Virden, IL
$78,750 median income
Laketon, IN
$78,750 median income

Race & Ethnicity Composition

Race and ethnicity - Hershey, PA Race categories sum to one hundred percent per Census methodology. Hispanic or Latino is shown separately as an ethnicity overlay; it cuts across all race categories per OMB Directive 15. Race & Ethnicity Composition Hershey, PA - Census ACS, OMB race + ethnicity categories RACE, sums to 100% 73.0% 8.3% 8.8% 6.3% ETHNICITY, Hispanic or Latino (any race) 11.6% White 73.0% Black or African American 3.6% Asian 8.3% American Indian 0.0% Native Hawaiian 0.0% Some other race 8.8% Two or more races 6.3% Per OMB Directive 15: Hispanic/Latino ethnicity is reported separately from the race categories.
Race categories sum to 100%. Hispanic or Latino ethnicity is reported separately and cuts across race per Census/OMB methodology.

City-level race and ethnicity, Census ACS 5-year 2023 (tables B02001, B03001), OMB Directive 15 categories.

How Hershey compares to nearby Pennsylvania cities

Population + median household income, sourced from Census Bureau ACS 5-year B01001 (population) and B19013 (median household income).

City Population Median Household Income
Hershey (this city) 14,334 $78,750
Indiana 14,170 $44,784
Ardmore 14,165 $115,273
Wilkinsburg 14,165 $48,565
Census ACS 5-year FIPS PA NCES CCD OMB Bulletin 23-01

What do people ask about Hershey, PA?

What is the population of Hershey, PA? +

Hershey, PA counts 14,334 residents according to U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.

What is the median household income in Hershey, PA? +

In Hershey, the typical household earns $78,750 per year, based on Census ACS 2023 data.

What is the cost of living in Hershey? +

BEA does not publish a city-level cost-of-living figure for Hershey; the closest available measure is the Pennsylvania state average, a cost of living index of 97.6 (U.S. average = 100), rated "Near Average" based on BEA Regional Price Parities 2024 data. Costs within Pennsylvania vary by metro area.

What is the median home value in Hershey, PA? +

The median home value in Hershey is $339,300, according to Census ACS 2023 estimates.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year 2023, NCES CCD, Census ACS B08301/B08136, U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) 2023, BEA Regional Price Parities 2024, HUD Fair Market Rents 2026, FEMA National Risk Index.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Primary sources: Census ACS, FBI UCR, NOAA Climate Normals, NCES.

Citation & verification links Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainCities

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Every figure on PlainCities is rendered directly from Census ACS source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on Census ACS source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.