Census-designated place · Pennsylvania
Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey, census-designated place, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Hershey had 14,242 people in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±817). GEOID 4234144.
Residents, 2020-2024
14,242
±817 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 13,858
Median household income
$78,587
±$7,362 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$379,200
±$32,349 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$1,268
±$60 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Hershey and what county is it in?
Hershey is a census-designated place: an unincorporated community the Census Bureau draws for counting, with no city government of its own, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It covers 14.3 square miles of land, 969 residents per square mile in 2020.
Hershey is in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Hershey lies entirely within Derry Township (Dauphin County), a township with its own local government (2020 census blocks).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Hershey, and is it growing?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Hershey's population at 14,242 (±817). The 2020 Census counted 13,858 residents.
The Census Bureau publishes yearly population estimates for incorporated places only; Hershey is a census-designated place, so its figures come from the ACS and the 2020 Census.
| Measure | Hershey | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 14,242 ±817 | 289,593 | no clear change |
| Households | 5,791 ±395 | 121,358 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.17 ±0.11 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 5,982 ±376 | 127,828 | no clear change |
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 Hershey?
The median resident of Hershey is 38.6 years old; 16.9% are under 18 and 21.2% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 67.0%, then Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 12.9%. 13.1% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Hershey | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 38.6 ±5.2 | 39.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 16.9% ±2.2 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.2% ±4.2 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Male | 47.6% ±5.2 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.9% ±5.2 pts | 11.8% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 67.0% ±5.8 pts | 60.6% | −12.9 pts |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 5.7% ±3.7 pts | 16.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 8.5% ±2.1 pts | 6.5% | +3.0 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.4% ±1.5 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 2.4% ±3.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 13.1% ±3.6 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 16.2% ±4.4 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 4.5% ±1.1 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 13.4% ±3.5 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 3.9% ±4.0 pts | 6.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 92.4% ±5.4 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 50.2% ±4.9 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 21.3% ±2.9 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 77.2% ±7.3 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.2% ±1.7 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 Hershey earn?
Half of Hershey's 5,791 households earn less than $78,587 a year (±$7,362), against $76,242 in Dauphin County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $85,765 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 17.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Hershey | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $78,587 ±$7,362 | $76,242 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $119,148 ±$10,451 | $101,339 | – |
| Per capita income | $49,882 ±$3,992 | $42,294 | −$7,156 |
| People below the poverty line | 17.6% ±3.8 pts | 12.9% | +10.1 pts |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 9.2% ±6.3 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 5.5% ±1.7 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.1% ±3.1 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 92.1% ±3.0 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 Hershey?
Owners occupy 53.7% of Hershey's occupied homes and renters 46.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $379,200 by its owner (±$32,349). The median renter pays $1,268 a month including utilities, and 38.9% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Hershey | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $379,200 ±$32,349 | $236,400 | +$44,328 |
| Median gross rent | $1,268 ±$60 | $1,217 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 38.9% ±6.7 pts | 37.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,315 ±$397 | $1,660 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 53.7% ±4.5 pts | 63.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 46.3% ±4.5 pts | 36.9% | – |
| Housing units | 5,982 ±376 | 127,828 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0% ±1.0 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.9% ±3.0 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 48.3% ±4.3 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2% ±0.4 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.5% ±0.5 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 2.0% ±0.9 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 10.1% ±2.2 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.4% ±1.8 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 do people in Hershey work and get to work?
63.7% of Hershey's workers drive alone and 16.4% work from home. The average trip to work takes 16.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.6%.
| Measure | Hershey | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 63.9% ±4.9 pts | 64.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.6% ±1.6 pts | 4.5% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 63.7% ±8.6 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 7.4% ±7.7 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Walked | 8.2% ±6.6 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 16.4% ±6.7 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 16.2 min ±1.9 | 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 Hershey?
4 census tracts lie mostly in Hershey, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $61,569 (Tract 241.01) to $104,434 (Tract 241.05).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 241.02Dauphin County | 4,779 | $88,750 |
| Tract 243Dauphin County | 3,405 | $84,821 |
| Tract 241.05Dauphin County | 5,218 | $104,434 |
| Tract 241.01Dauphin County | 2,167 | $61,569 |
| Tract 242Dauphin County | 2,992 | $71,417 |
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 Hershey) · Census block assignment files
How does Hershey compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
Hershey ranks 1,019th of 2,136 places in Pennsylvania with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population (ACS 2020-2024) | 180th | 2,159 |
| Residents per square mile | 966th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 1,019th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 445th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 262nd | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 589th | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 236th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 249th | 2,129 |
| Median age | 1,741st | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,958th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 494th | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 2,089th | 2,156 |
Hershey's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Hershey 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 Hershey?
12 of the 57 figures for Hershey 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 Hershey 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' school search.