John Ayres House · National Register of Historic Places
Middle Paxton Township’s story
Middle Paxton Township in pictures
The archive holds 7 maps from 1892 on.
1 place on the National Register of Historic Places.
Explore the history →
Middle Paxton TownshipPA
A town of 5,114.
10 bordering townsMap →
Photo: gerrydincher · CC BY-SA 2.0
Population
5,114
2025 Census estimate · +1.5% since 2020
Median home value
$263K
Census ACS
Household income
$80K
median
Median age
53.7
years
Jobs based here
496
A commuter town
TownGrade
B+
#502 of 1032 in PA
Is Middle Paxton Township a good place to live?
Middle Paxton Township gives you more for your money than most places: homes are within reach, about $263K for a typical one, or 3.2 years of the Harrisburg metro’s $81K median household income. It grades B+ overall, ranked 502nd of 1032 in Pennsylvania. The low prices come with trade-offs. FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 76% of U.S. communities, with inland flooding at the top. On the plus side, residents are healthier than 89% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. 47% of the land in Middle Paxton Township is conserved, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (8.2%) and U.S. towns (4.3%). Only 90 of Pennsylvania’s 1,749 towns score lower on walkability. State Game Lands Number 211, at 15,158 acres with 33 miles of trail, is the biggest park or preserve.
What makes Middle Paxton Township stand out
Where Middle Paxton Township beats most towns.
Get outside
58 miles of trails in Middle Paxton Township
47.4% of the town is conserved land, across 11 parks and preserves.
Trails © OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
How Middle Paxton Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Middle Paxton Township is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 5.1 of 20; 1.7% of households have no car; 0% of workers walk, bike or ride transitDOpen →HealthPenn State Health Hampden Medical Center 8.6 miles awayAOpen →Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listC−Open →Jobs & income496 jobs based hereA−Open →Cost of livingB+Open →SchoolsC+Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
OutdoorsAOpen →History1 place on the National RegisterBOpen →Civic life4.2 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsB+Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 64 attractions →Hersheypark and 29 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Middle Paxton Township. Close and well known come first.
14 mi Theme parkHersheypark3.0M visitors a year
20 mi National MonumentCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
14 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Stadium
14 mi MuseumHershey's Chocolate World39 mi Theme parkKnoebels Amusement Resort
15 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark ArenaSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Hersheypark: Michael Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Hersheypark Stadium: 45BearsFan, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hershey's Chocolate World: Phillyfan0419, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Hersheypark Arena: Hersheyarena4ever at English Wikipedia, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Middle Paxton Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Middle Paxton Township, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterVeolia WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers98% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Middle Paxton Township’s trash rules yet
Register to voteOnlineIn Pennsylvania you can register online until 15 days before Election Day, in person until 15 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 15 days before).vote.govWho runs elections hereDauphin County Board of ElectionsDauphin County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2022
ZIP codes17018, 17112, 1711017018 70% · 17112 27% · 17110 3%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Nov 18, 2024.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Middle Paxton Township.
Middle Paxton Township keeps more of its land conserved than most of Pennsylvania and has less tooth loss than most of Pennsylvania, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Pennsylvania (mostly inland flooding).
OutdoorsA
Nearly a third of Middle Paxton Township is conserved land
Its 17,831 conserved acres are a larger share of the town than in 98% of Pennsylvania towns.
58 miles of trail in 11 parks and preserves. At 1.0 miles per square mile, Middle Paxton Township’s trail density is above both the Pennsylvania town median (0.4) and the median of U.S. towns (0.4).
#231for trails in PA
47.4%
conserved · 17,831 of 37,624 acres
58 mi
of trails · 1 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. State Game Lands Number 211 | 33 mi | 15,158 |
| 2. Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area | 8.5 mi | 669 |
| 3. Detweiler Park | 5.8 mi | 396 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsC+
Middle Paxton Township’s schools rank behind 61% of Pennsylvania districts
Its public schools are run by Central Dauphin SD. Its one school is below.
39%of PA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Paxton El SchLargest public elementary schoolGrades K–5 | Grades K–5 | 289 | B+ |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
HealthA
Middle Paxton Township earns an A for health
Its widest gap with Pennsylvania is tooth loss: 7.1% of those 65+ have lost all their teeth, against 14.5% statewide.
14% of adults report frequent mental distress in Middle Paxton Township. Middle Paxton Township beats the Pennsylvania average on 11 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 19% of adults get no exercise outside work in Middle Paxton Township.
89%healthier than U.S. townsAHealth Grade
| Middle Paxton Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frequent mental distress (CDC PLACES) | 14% | 16% | 17% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 11% | 14% | 14% |
| Get no exercise (CDC PLACES) | 19% | 24% | 25% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 30% | 35% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
11 better14 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Middle Paxton Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer older adults who have lost all their teeth | 7.1% | 14.5% |
| Fewer smokers | 11.9% | 15.8% |
| More adults who have had cancer | 10.5% | 8.8% |
Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center
8.6 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
89th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Work & commuteJobs & income grade A−
Most working residents commute out of Middle Paxton Township
Middle Paxton Township has 496 jobs for its 2,255 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Most working residents leave Middle Paxton Township for work: only 4% work in town. 23% of Middle Paxton Township workers work from home. The top destinations are Harrisburg (16%), Lower Paxton Township (8%) and Susquehanna Township (8%).
4%work in town
| Middle Paxton Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Work from home | 23% | 12% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.3% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
| Working residents who work in town | 3.7% | 6.3% | 8% |
Where working residents work
In Middle Paxton Township4%
Harrisburg16%
Lower Paxton Township8%
Susquehanna Township8%
Derry Township5%
11 mi
median commute distance
496
jobs based in Middle Paxton Township
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
D
Walkability grade: more walkable than 8% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade C−
Inland flooding leads a high hazard risk in Middle Paxton Township
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, with expected losses of about $571 per resident a year; that rating is what its C− for hazard risk is built on. 266 flood insurance claims have been filed here, and 59 properties have flooded more than once.
Since 1979, 266 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Middle Paxton Township.
76risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland flooding
266
paid flood claims since 1979
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Who lives here
Older than Pennsylvania overall
People 65 and older are 31% of residents (20% statewide); adults 18 to 34 are 11% of residents (22% statewide). The median age in Middle Paxton Township is 53.7 years. 42% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
53.7median age · PA 40.9
| Middle Paxton Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.7 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 42% | 29% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 18% | 20% | 22% |
Middle Paxton TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
25%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma4%
High school30%
Some college14%
Associate’s11%
Bachelor’s31%
Graduate12%
Women and men · all residents
47% women, 53% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±3.7 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Middle Paxton Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.1% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 4.7% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 3.4% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 7.8% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.5% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 10.1% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 17.6% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 24.7% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 6% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 3.9% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 29.8% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 13.5% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 10.5% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 30.5% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 11.8% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
Climate
In Middle Paxton Township, expect four seasons and pleasant summers
Middle Paxton Township has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 84°, January nights drop to 22° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–39°
Spring40–61°
Summer62–82°
Fall44–64°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Middle Paxton Township
18pages on Middle Paxton Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Middle Paxton Township
Central Penn CollegeUniversity or college · Private for-profit · Summerdale6.6 mi$19,854 tuitionHarrisburg Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Harrisburg6.8 mi$6,975 in-state tuitionHarrisburg University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Harrisburg9.2 mi$24,400 tuition
About 3 of every 100 Middle Paxton Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
A commuter town
96% of working residents leave Middle Paxton Township for work
Where Middle Paxton Township’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
496jobs based in Middle Paxton Township
4%of working residents work in town
11 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
Middle Paxton Township’s neighbors
10 towns share a border with Middle Paxton Township.
Penn TownshipSusquehanna TownshipWayne TownshipMarysvilleWest Hanover TownshipReed TownshipHalifax TownshipLower Paxton TownshipEast Hanover TownshipRush TownshipMiddle Paxton Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Paxton Township | #502 | B+ | B+ | — | C+ | A |
| Penn Township | #679 | B− | B | — | B | C+ |
| Susquehanna Township | #760 | C+ | C | B− | C− | B− |
| Wayne Township | — | — | B+ | — | C+ | B− |
| Marysville | #224 | A | A− | A− | B | B+ |
| West Hanover Township | #489 | B+ | C | — | C+ | A |
| Reed Township | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Halifax Township | #548 | B | B+ | — | C+ | B− |
Wayne Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Middle Paxton Township, Penn Township, Wayne Township, West Hanover Township and Halifax Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Reed Township isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Middle Paxton Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Middle Paxton Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Middle Paxton Township, PA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Middle Paxton Township grades B+ overall, better than 66% of U.S. towns and #502 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades A for health and C+ for schools. Walkability is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Middle Paxton Township, PA expensive?
Not for the area. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B+.