Borough · Pennsylvania
Steelton, Pennsylvania
Steelton, borough, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Steelton had 6,328 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 1.1% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 6,263 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 6,296 (±20). GEOID 4273888.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
6,328
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 6,263 · ACS 2020-2024: 6,296 ±20
Median household income
$58,194
±$18,934 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$134,800
±$13,744 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$1,289
±$80 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Steelton and what county is it in?
Steelton is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It covers 1.9 square miles of land, 3,305 residents per square mile in 2020.
Steelton 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 Steelton, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 6,328 people lived in Steelton on July 1, 2025, up 1.1% since 2020, faster than Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 6,263 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 6,296 (±20).
| Measure | Steelton | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 6,296 ±20 | 289,593 | +343 |
| Households | 2,445 ±253 | 121,358 | +369 |
| Average household size | 2.57 ±0.26 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 2,629 ±292 | 127,828 | no clear change |
Steelton's population since 2000
From 5,858 in 2000 to 6,328 in 2025: up 8.0%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Steelton 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 Steelton?
The median resident of Steelton is 32.4 years old; 27.3% are under 18 and 11.9% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic Black residents at 41.2%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 32.0%. 4.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Steelton | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 32.4 ±5.9 | 39.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 27.3% ±4.1 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 11.9% ±2.6 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Male | 44.6% ±5.5 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 20.2% ±8.7 pts | 11.8% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 32.0% ±7.2 pts | 60.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 41.2% ±8.8 pts | 16.3% | no clear change |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.6% ±0.8 pts | 6.5% | – |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 6.0% ±2.8 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.5 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 4.6% ±3.0 pts | 9.8% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 15.8% ±6.9 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 3.5% ±1.7 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 16.9% ±3.6 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.5% ±3.0 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.8% ±5.3 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 19.0% ±5.2 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 4.8% ±3.3 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 94.7% ±3.0 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 0.2% ±0.4 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 Steelton earn?
Half of Steelton's 2,445 households earn less than $58,194 a year (±$18,934), against $76,242 in Dauphin County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $47,795 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 19.6% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Steelton | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $58,194 ±$18,934 | $76,242 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $89,590 ±$25,364 | $101,339 | – |
| Per capita income | $34,017 ±$8,434 | $42,294 | +$12,923 |
| People below the poverty line | 19.6% ±7.9 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.9% ±12.3 pts | 16.7% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 27.0% ±7.8 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 92.5% ±3.6 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 84.4% ±6.5 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 Steelton?
Owners occupy 48.3% of Steelton's occupied homes and renters 51.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $134,800 by its owner (±$13,744). The median renter pays $1,289 a month including utilities, and 32.4% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Steelton | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $134,800 ±$13,744 | $236,400 | +$25,761 |
| Median gross rent | $1,289 ±$80 | $1,217 | +$215 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 32.4% ±12.2 pts | 37.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,284 ±$200 | $1,660 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 48.3% ±8.7 pts | 63.1% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 51.7% ±8.7 pts | 36.9% | – |
| Housing units | 2,629 ±292 | 127,828 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8% ±1.4 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.0% ±5.8 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 28.1% ±6.1 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.6% ±1.0 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±1.2 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 1.4% ±1.6 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 38.9% ±7.7 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 18.0% ±6.1 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 Steelton building?
Builders took permits for 2 new housing units in Steelton in 2025 (2 in single-family houses), 0.3 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 Steelton work and get to work?
69.4% of Steelton's workers drive alone and 11.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 19.6 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 5.3%.
| Measure | Steelton | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 60.0% ±7.3 pts | 64.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 5.3% ±3.1 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.4% ±7.9 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 8.3% ±4.7 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0% ±1.3 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Walked | 9.8% ±7.6 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 11.9% ±5.8 pts | 16.8% | – |
| Mean travel time to work | 19.6 min ±2.5 | 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 Steelton?
2 census tracts lie mostly in Steelton (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $54,800 (Tract 233) to $60,938 (Tract 234).
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 Steelton) · Census block assignment files
How does Steelton compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Steelton is the 4,305th-most populous of the 19,476 U.S. incorporated places that have one and the 138th-most populous of 1,012 in Pennsylvania.
Steelton ranks 1,788th 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 | 138th | 1,012 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 580th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 337th | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 1,788th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 1,561st | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,844th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 555th | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 185th | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 1,581st | 2,129 |
| Median age | 2,058th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 2,036th | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 911th | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 1,913th | 2,156 |
Steelton's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Steelton 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 Steelton?
14 of the 57 figures for Steelton 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 Steelton 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 Steelton.