Residential comparison · 13 facts
Harrisburg, PA vs Lancaster, PA
Compare the housing, tax, cost, income, safety, school, and climate facts that are available for both places. The table shows the numbers without declaring one city universally better.
A household earning $85,000 in Harrisburg needs about $86,500 in Lancaster to keep the same lifestyle.
Coming from Lancaster, $85,000 of lifestyle costs about $83,500 in Harrisburg.
A few differences
- Lancaster is higher on median household income ($63,690 vs $48,099).
- Harrisburg is lower on cost of living index (81 vs 90).
- Harrisburg is lower on 2-bedroom rent ($1,098/mo vs $1,340/mo).
Harrisburg vs Lancaster · facet by facet
| Facet | Harrisburg, PA | Lancaster, PA |
|---|---|---|
| Median home price | $124,200 | $219,500 |
| 2-bedroom rent | $1,098/mo | $1,340/mo |
| Property tax rate | 1.5% | 1.5% |
| State & local income tax | 4.57% | 4.57% |
| Sales tax | 6.34% | 6.34% |
| Cost of living index | 81 | 90 |
| Groceries index | 100 | 100 |
| Utilities | $180/mo | $180/mo |
| Median household income | $48,099 | $63,690 |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Crime index | 40/100 | 40/100 |
| School rating | 6.3/10 | 6.3/10 |
| Sunny days / year | 180 days | 180 days |
Data: Census ACS 2024 · BLS · Tax Foundation 2024 brackets · HUD/Zillow · NOAA 1991–2020 · FEMA NRI · Values are shown as reported; no universal winner is implied.
Full profiles: Harrisburg, PA · Lancaster, PA
Questions & answers
- Is Harrisburg cheaper than Lancaster?
- Harrisburg has the lower day-to-day cost index (81 vs 90 against a national 100). The other differences are shown facet by facet in the table.
- What household income in Lancaster equals $85,000 in Harrisburg?
- A household earning $85,000 in Harrisburg needs about $86,500 in Lancaster to keep the same lifestyle; coming the other way, $85,000 of Lancaster lifestyle costs about $83,500 in Harrisburg.