Chambersburg and Harrisburg-Carlisle receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
Chambersburg
Harrisburg-Carlisle
Opportunity
81 · Top 9%
vs81 · Top 7%
Growth
66 · Top 25%
vs64 · Top 27%
Climate
71 · Top 36%
vs70 · Top 37%
Physical resilience
75 · Top 21%
vs75 · Top 22%
Housing affordability
97 · Top 40%
vs99 · Top 34%
Access
70 · Bottom 39%
vs92 · Top 21%
Economic stability
83 · Top 10%
vs84 · Top 9%
Measured values
| Metric | Chambersburg | Harrisburg-Carlisle | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 157,379 | 604,155 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $77,003 | $80,919 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $39,977 | $43,785 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 204/sq mi | 373/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $249,800 | $253,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,093 | $1,212 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 73.5% | 68.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | 3.6% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 4.2% | 2.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 24.7% | 35.8% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.5% | 10.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 863 | 1,549 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 5.5 | 2.6 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | -10.0% | 23.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 87°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 25°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 35.6" | 41.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 54 mi | 18 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 25.7 min | 23.9 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 42.1 | 40.1 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
Chambersburg
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Harrisburg-Carlisle
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Your best match
Weight what matters to you. Your preferences stay in this browser and never change either Area Score.
Chambersburg
78
Your Score
78
Area Score
Harrisburg-Carlisle
81
Your Score
79
Area Score
Select your priorities to see which of the two fits them better.
Full profiles: Chambersburg, PA Metro Area · Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area · How this is calculated: methodology