Signals
Hershey
Carlisle
Opportunity
75 · Top 13%
vs78 · Top 10%
Climate
69 · Bottom 45%
vs70 · Top 50%
Physical resilience
69 · Top 36%
vs87 · Top 14%
Housing affordability
76 · Bottom 43%
vs85 · Top 42%
Schools
89 · Top 4%
vs58 · Top 41%
Access
97 · Top 29%
vs88 · Bottom 38%
Economic stability
53 · Bottom 36%
vs55 · Bottom 40%
Measured values
| Metric | Hershey | Carlisle | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,242 | 21,852 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $78,587 | $61,720 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,882 | $39,339 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 996/sq mi | 3,949/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $379,200 | $224,100 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $1,268 | $1,094 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 53.7% | 48.7% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | 3.3% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | 2.7% | 2.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 50.2% | 37.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 17.6% | 15.1% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Average July high | 87°F | 88°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 25°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 44.2" | 41.0" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 9 mi | 23 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 17.7 min | 19.8 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 38.6 | 35.8 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 10 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 12.26 | 14.34 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 49.9% | 30.3% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 68.4% | 55.1% | 2019-20 school year |
| Free or reduced-price lunch eligibility | 28.3% | 51.9% | 2024-25 school 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
Hershey
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Carlisle
No hazard reaches elevated exposure.
Full profiles: Hershey, PA · Carlisle, PA · How this is calculated: methodology