At a Glance
Median Income
$78,750
$51,671 per capita
Home Value
$339,300
Zillow: $409,905
Median Rent
$1,241/mo
27.4% of income on rent
Bachelor's Degree+
49.1%
89.5% high school+
Unemployment
4.4%
5.1% poverty rate
Obesity Rate
43.8%
26.6% smoking rate
How Hershey Compares to the U.S. Average
Each bar shows Hershey's value as a percentage of the national average (100% = U.S. avg)
Thin vertical line = U.S. national average (100%)
Is Hershey a Good Place to Live?
A+
4.5 / 5.0 - Excellent
Based on economy, affordability, safety, and education metrics compared to national averages.
Economy & Jobs
Hershey residents earn a median household income of $78,750 , which is 5% above the national average of $75,149.
Per capita income is $51,671. The unemployment rate stands at 4.4% (22% above the U.S. rate of 3.6%). 5.1% of residents live below the poverty line. The area is home to 2,936 business establishments, including 232 restaurants.
Housing & Cost of Living
The median home value in Hershey is $339,300 , 20% above the national median of $281,900.
Zillow estimates the typical home at $409,905. Median rent is $1,241/month, with 27.4% of renters spending more than 30% of income on housing. The cost of living index is 97.6 (100 = national average). The median home was built in 1970.
Education
49.1% of adults in Hershey hold a bachelor's degree or higher
(46% above the national average).
89.5% have completed high school. Local schools score 5.6/10 in standardized testing.
Climate & Weather
Hershey has an average annual temperature of 54°F (12°C).
Winters average 31°F in January while summers reach 77°F in July. Annual precipitation totals 44.2 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 43.
Data Overview
People
Population14,334
Median Age45.2 yrs
Density1,002/mi²
Male / Female48% / 52%
Foreign Born13.9%
Veterans4.9%
Economy
A
Median Income$78,750
Per Capita$51,671
Unemployment4.4%
Poverty5.1%
County GDP$8,097M
Avg Weekly Wage$1,066
Housing
A
Home Value$339,300
Rent$1,241
Ownership54.9%
Zillow$409,905
Housing Units5,910
Rent Burden27.4%
Health
Obesity43.8%
Diabetes16.0%
Smoking26.6%
Heart Disease8.6%
Premature Death7,405/100K
Climate
Avg Temp54°F
Rain44.2 in/yr
AQI43 (Good)
Elevation400 ft
Education
A+
Bachelor's+49.1%
High School+89.5%
Graduate+21.3%
School Score5.6/10
Community
2024 VoteR 66% / D 34%
Commute17 min
Broadband89.6%
Internet Speed185 Mbps
EV Stations12
Libraries6
Did You Know?
Hershey was founded in 1903.
The median home in Hershey was built in 1970.
21.7% work from home.
The nearest airport is Harrisburg International (9 miles).
The Gini coefficient (income inequality) is 0.424 (U.S. avg: 0.490).
Natural hazard risk is rated "Relatively Low" by FEMA.
12.7% of the population has a disability.
13.9% of residents are foreign-born.
Average internet download speed is 185 Mbps.
There are 232 restaurants in the area.
The county recorded 10 fatal vehicle crashes.