Borough · Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Shippensburg, borough, mostly in Cumberland County (78.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Shippensburg had 5,615 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 2.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 5,478 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 5,620 (±447). GEOID 4270352.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
5,615
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 5,478 · ACS 2020-2024: 5,620 ±447
Median household income
$51,503
±$12,305 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$177,700
±$46,703 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$891
±$126 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Shippensburg and what county is it in?
Shippensburg is a borough mostly in Cumberland County (78.8% of its 2020 residents), with a part in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. It covers 2.0 square miles of land, 2,701 residents per square mile in 2020.
Shippensburg is in the Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 3 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
| County | 2020 residents | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland County | 4,315 | 78.8% |
| Franklin County | 1,163 | 21.2% |
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Shippensburg, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 5,615 people lived in Shippensburg on July 1, 2025, up 2.5% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 5,478 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 5,620 (±447).
| Measure | Shippensburg | Cumberland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,620 ±447 | 268,323 | no clear change |
| Households | 2,791 ±367 | 106,427 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 1.99 ±0.21 | 2.40 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,936 ±352 | 111,278 | no clear change |
Shippensburg's population since 2000
From 5,586 in 2000 to 5,615 in 2025: up 0.5%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Shippensburg 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 Shippensburg?
The median resident of Shippensburg is 34.9 years old; 20.6% are under 18 and 21.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 92.1%, then non-Hispanic residents of two or more races at 3.9%.
| Measure | Shippensburg | Cumberland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.9 ±1.1 | 40.2 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 20.6% ±3.4 pts | 20.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 21.4% ±5.6 pts | 19.0% | – |
| Male | 51.5% ±4.8 pts | 49.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 0.3% ±0.5 pts | 5.1% | – |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 92.1% ±5.9 pts | 80.7% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 3.8% ±3.6 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 5.7% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.9% ±2.8 pts | 4.0% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.6 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 3.3% ±2.6 pts | 7.5% | – |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 2.6% ±2.6 pts | 10.4% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 13.1% ±6.4 pts | 8.3% | – |
| With a disability | 17.0% ±5.0 pts | 13.1% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.4% ±2.8 pts | 5.4% | – |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 90.7% ±3.9 pts | 93.7% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35.0% ±8.4 pts | 40.0% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 18.1% ±7.2 pts | 16.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.2% ±6.5 pts | 87.1% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 4.5% ±4.9 pts | 2.3% | – |
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 Shippensburg earn?
Half of Shippensburg's 2,791 households earn less than $51,503 a year (±$12,305), against $87,494 in Cumberland County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $54,157 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 10.8% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Shippensburg | Cumberland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $51,503 ±$12,305 | $87,494 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $68,046 ±$10,730 | $112,868 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,589 ±$5,620 | $46,149 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 10.8% ±4.8 pts | 7.5% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 0.0% ±2.8 pts | 9.2% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 17.4% ±8.1 pts | 7.8% | – |
| Households with a computer | 83.5% ±10.1 pts | 94.9% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 82.4% ±10.1 pts | 92.2% | – |
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 Shippensburg?
Owners occupy 44.2% of Shippensburg's occupied homes and renters 55.8%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $177,700 by its owner (±$46,703). The median renter pays $891 a month including utilities, and 33.5% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Shippensburg | Cumberland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $177,700 ±$46,703 | $277,600 | no clear change |
| Median gross rent | $891 ±$126 | $1,249 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 33.5% ±13.7 pts | 33.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,298 ±$243 | $1,802 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 44.2% ±10.3 pts | 71.3% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 55.8% ±10.3 pts | 28.7% | – |
| Housing units | 2,936 ±352 | 111,278 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 3.9% ±4.9 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.6% ±3.0 pts | 1.7% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 44.2% ±8.7 pts | 60.1% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±1.1 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8% ±1.3 pts | 2.0% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.2% ±1.5 pts | 9.8% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 27.4% ±9.1 pts | 15.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 11.4% ±5.2 pts | 5.0% | – |
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 Shippensburg building?
Builders took permits for 4 new housing units in Shippensburg in 2025 (4 in single-family houses), 0.7 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 Shippensburg work and get to work?
58.8% of Shippensburg's workers drive alone and 10.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.8 minutes.
| Measure | Shippensburg | Cumberland County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.9% ±6.6 pts | 63.7% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% ±2.7 pts | 3.7% | – |
| Drove alone to work | 58.8% ±12.1 pts | 71.0% | – |
| Carpooled | 13.1% ±6.8 pts | 6.0% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 0.2% | – |
| Walked | 14.4% ±9.7 pts | 3.5% | – |
| Worked from home | 10.3% ±5.5 pts | 17.7% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.8 min ±3.2 | 21.8 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 Shippensburg?
1 census tract lies mostly in Shippensburg, and 1 more reaches into it (2020 census blocks).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 132Cumberland County | 4,392 | $45,610 |
| Tract 103.01Franklin County | 5,604 | $77,479 |
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 Shippensburg) · Census block assignment files
How does Shippensburg compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Shippensburg is the 4,584th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 163rd-most populous of 1,012 in Pennsylvania.
Shippensburg ranks 1,970th 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 | 163rd | 1,012 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 337th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 460th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 1,970th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 1,510th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,479th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 1,355th | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 638th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 593rd | 2,129 |
| Median age | 1,966th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 2,082nd | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 1,121st | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 1,894th | 2,156 |
Shippensburg's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Shippensburg 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 Shippensburg?
19 of the 57 figures for Shippensburg 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 Shippensburg 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 Shippensburg.