Township · Pennsylvania
Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Swatara Township, Dauphin County, township, in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Swatara Township, Dauphin County had 27,936 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.5% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 27,824 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 27,953 (±29). GEOID 4204375672.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
27,936
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 27,824 · ACS 2020-2024: 27,953 ±29
Median household income
$80,444
±$8,357 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $77,971
Median home value
$214,400
±$7,226 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $254,500
Median gross rent
$1,252
±$110 (90% margin)
Pennsylvania: $1,209
Where is Swatara Township, Dauphin County and what county is it in?
Swatara Township, Dauphin County is a township in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. It covers 13.0 square miles of land, 2,132 residents per square mile in 2020.
5 places lie inside Swatara Township (Dauphin County): Rutherford (CDP, 5,765 in 2020), Lawnton (CDP, 4,967 in 2020), Bressler (CDP, 1,512 in 2020), Enhaut (CDP, 1,022 in 2020) and Oberlin (CDP, 670 in 2020).
Swatara Township, Dauphin County 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 27,936 people lived in Swatara Township, Dauphin County on July 1, 2025, up 0.5% since 2020, in line with Pennsylvania (+0.4%). The 2020 Census counted 27,824 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 27,953 (±29).
| Measure | Swatara Township, Dauphin County | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 27,953±29 | 289,593 | +3,161 |
| Households | 10,640±517 | 121,358 | +1,348 |
| Average household size | 2.47±0.12 | 2.33 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 11,055±522 | 127,828 | +1,113 |
Swatara Township, Dauphin County's population since 2000
From 22,611 in 2000 to 27,936 in 2025: up 23.6%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Swatara Township, Dauphin County 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County?
The median resident of Swatara Township, Dauphin County is 37.7 years old; 19.3% are under 18 and 15.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 52.9%, then non-Hispanic Black residents at 15.9%. 17.2% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Swatara Township, Dauphin County | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7±1.5 | 39.4 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 19.3%±1.8 pts | 22.3% | – |
| 65 years and over | 15.4%±1.6 pts | 18.0% | – |
| Male | 54.9%±2.5 pts | 48.8% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 12.8%±2.4 pts | 11.8% | +3.8 pts |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 52.9%±3.7 pts | 60.6% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 15.9%±2.4 pts | 16.3% | −7.0 pts |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 14.8%±3.7 pts | 6.5% | +7.9 pts |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.1 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 3.2%±1.4 pts | 4.1% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.4%±0.3 pts | 0.6% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 17.2%±3.6 pts | 9.8% | +6.8 pts |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 24.7%±4.0 pts | 14.8% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.0%±1.5 pts | 6.6% | – |
| With a disability | 12.8%±1.8 pts | 14.0% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.1%±2.0 pts | 6.4% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 87.5%±2.3 pts | 91.2% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 28.5%±3.0 pts | 34.4% | no clear change |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 9.2%±2.1 pts | 12.8% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 88.3%±3.2 pts | 87.6% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 1.6%±1.3 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County earn?
Half of Swatara Township, Dauphin County's 10,640 households earn less than $80,444 a year (±$8,357), against $76,242 in Dauphin County and $77,971 in Pennsylvania. In 2015-2019 it was $76,005 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 8.3% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Swatara Township, Dauphin County | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $80,444±$8,357 | $76,242 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $95,362±$5,389 | $101,339 | – |
| Per capita income | $36,843±$2,295 | $42,294 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 8.3%±2.3 pts | 12.9% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 6.8%±4.3 pts | 16.7% | no clear change |
| Households receiving SNAP | 15.1%±3.5 pts | 13.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 95.5%±1.6 pts | 94.0% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 93.0%±2.4 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County?
Owners occupy 69.9% of Swatara Township, Dauphin County's occupied homes and renters 30.1%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $214,400 by its owner (±$7,226). The median renter pays $1,252 a month including utilities, and 30.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Swatara Township, Dauphin County | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $214,400±$7,226 | $236,400 | +$23,642 |
| Median gross rent | $1,252±$110 | $1,217 | no clear change |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 30.6%±9.4 pts | 37.8% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $1,560±$97 | $1,660 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.9%±3.2 pts | 63.1% | +6.2 pts |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.1%±3.2 pts | 36.9% | – |
| Housing units | 11,055±522 | 127,828 | +1,113 |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.8%±1.3 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 2.8%±2.5 pts | 4.2% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 55.8%±3.6 pts | 49.5% | – |
| Mobile homes | 0.2%±0.5 pts | 2.6% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.3%±1.0 pts | 1.2% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 9.9%±2.8 pts | 6.3% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 8.6%±2.2 pts | 19.1% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 7.6%±2.6 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County building?
Builders took permits for 1 new housing units in Swatara Township, Dauphin County in 2025 (1 in single-family houses), 0.0 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County work and get to work?
69.9% of Swatara Township, Dauphin County's workers drive alone and 19.7% work from home. The average trip to work takes 20.0 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 3.7%.
| Measure | Swatara Township, Dauphin County | Dauphin County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 61.9%±2.7 pts | 64.6% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 3.7%±1.3 pts | 4.5% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 69.9%±4.1 pts | 68.5% | – |
| Carpooled | 9.4%±3.3 pts | 8.2% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Walked | 0.2%±0.2 pts | 2.8% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.7%±3.4 pts | 16.8% | +15.3 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 20.0 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County?
6 census tracts lie mostly in Swatara Township, Dauphin County (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $63,576 (Tract 229.01) to $102,096 (Tract 228).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 227.02Dauphin County | 6,890 | $83,636 |
| Tract 228Dauphin County | 6,431 | $102,096 |
| Tract 229.02Dauphin County | 5,207 | $74,966 |
| Tract 229.01Dauphin County | 3,797 | $63,576 |
| Tract 227.01Dauphin County | 3,611 | $78,922 |
| Tract 230Dauphin County | 2,017 | $86,019 |
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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County) · Census block assignment files
How does Swatara Township, Dauphin County compare with other places in Pennsylvania?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Swatara Township, Dauphin County is the 394th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 32nd-most populous of 1,542 in Pennsylvania.
Swatara Township, Dauphin County ranks 950th 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 | 32nd | 1,542 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 711th | 1,764 |
| Residents per square mile | 592nd | 2,159 |
| Median household income | 950th | 2,136 |
| Per capita income | 1,308th | 2,157 |
| Median home value | 1,165th | 2,146 |
| Median gross rent | 605th | 1,963 |
| Poverty rate | 921st | 1,606 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 901st | 2,129 |
| Median age | 1,817th | 2,157 |
| Owner-occupied share | 1,561st | 2,149 |
| Work from home | 343rd | 1,710 |
| Travel time to work | 1,874th | 2,156 |
Swatara Township, Dauphin County's figures with every place in Pennsylvania (CSV)
Every place in Pennsylvania, sortable · Compare Swatara Township, Dauphin County 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County?
10 of the 57 figures for Swatara Township, Dauphin County 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 Swatara Township, Dauphin County 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.