Penbrook Little Valley Park, 2011
Penbrook’s story
165 years in pictures
Census counts: 864 in 1900, 3,274 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 2011 and 8 maps from 1892 on.
- 1861Penbrook is settled
PenbrookPA
Trash day: WednesdayPopulation
3,243
2025 Census estimate · −0.6% since 2020
Median home value
$168K
Census ACS
Household income
$62K
median
Median age
34.1
years
Jobs based here
310
A commuter town
TownGrade
B−
#716 of 1032 in PA
Is Penbrook a good place to live?
Penbrook is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades B− overall, 716th among Pennsylvania's 1032 graded towns, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is health: residents are healthier than 54% of U.S. towns on CDC estimates. Its lowest everyday mark is in safety: its crime rate is higher than 65% of U.S. towns, with 10 violent crimes reported to the FBI in 2025. A typical home there costs about $168K, 2.1 years of the Harrisburg metro’s $81K median household income. Penbrook is more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns. Only 10 of Pennsylvania’s 1,717 towns score lower on civic life.
What makes Penbrook stand out
Where Penbrook beats most towns.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Penbrook for work
Where Penbrook’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
310jobs based in Penbrook
1%of working residents work in town
7 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Penbrook grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Penbrook is from typical.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 17.1 of 20; 1.5% of households have no carAOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listAOpen →SafetyC+Open →SchoolsC+Open →HealthUPMC Pinnacle Hospitals 1.8 miles awayB−Open →Cost of livingB−Open →Jobs & income$62K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors4% conserved landC+Open →HistoryB−Open →Civic life0.3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsD−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 61 attractions →Hersheypark and 35 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Penbrook. Close and well known come first.
10 mi Theme parkHersheypark3.0M visitors a year
18 mi National MonumentCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
10 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Stadium
10 mi MuseumHershey's Chocolate World
10 mi Stadium & arenaHersheypark Arena
3 mi Stadium & arenaFNB FieldSources: 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 · FNB Field: Whammies Were Here, Public domain
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Penbrook: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Penbrook, and how to reach them.
PowerPPL Electric Utilities18.6¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterCapital Region WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpWednesdayTrash dayTown site
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 codes17103, 1710917103 93% · 17109 7%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 Penbrook.
Penbrook is healthier than towns with similar incomes, has homes that are cheap against local pay and is safe by national standards but not by Pennsylvania’s.
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Inland flooding leads a very low hazard risk in Penbrook
Expected storm and flood damage is lower than in 89% of U.S. communities. Since 1979, 3 flood insurance claims have been paid out in Penbrook.
11risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanesEarthquakes
3
paid flood claims since 1979
1
federal disasters paid out here
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
SchoolsC+
Public schools in Penbrook fall behind 61% of Pennsylvania districts
Its one school is below.
39%of PA districts it outscoresC+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Margaret Mary School PrivateLargest elementary schoolGrades PK–8 | Grades PK–8 | 205 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
Most working residents commute out of Penbrook
Penbrook has 310 jobs for its 1,497 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out. Jobs based here fell from 589 in 2013 to 310.
Most working residents leave Penbrook for work: only 1% work in town. Penbrook’s average trip to work is 20 minutes, below both Pennsylvania’s towns (26 minutes) and U.S. towns (25 minutes). Since 2013, Penbrook has lost 279 jobs, to 310 in 2023.
1%work in town
| Penbrook | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 20 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 0.9% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Median household income | $62,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
| Below the poverty line | 7.4% | 7.6% | 9.6% |
Where working residents work
In Penbrook1%
Harrisburg21%
Susquehanna Township8%
Lower Paxton Township6%
Derry Township5%
7 mi
median commute distance
310
jobs based in Penbrook
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A
Walkability grade: more walkable than 94% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
A smaller share of residents in Penbrook are 65 or older than in the typical Pennsylvania or U.S. town
9.7% of residents are 65 or older in Penbrook, below both the Pennsylvania town median (21%) and the median of U.S. towns (18%). The median age in Penbrook is 34.1 years. 38% of adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or more, vs 35% across Pennsylvania.
34.1median age · PA 40.9
| Penbrook | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aged 65 or older | 9.7% | 21% | 18% |
| Median age | 34.1 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 38% | 29% | 29% |
PenbrookPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
18%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma7%
High school24%
Some college19%
Associate’s12%
Bachelor’s20%
Graduate18%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±6.2 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women.
| Penbrook | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 13.7% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 11.1% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 10.9% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 17.5% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 14.9% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 13.2% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 9% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 5.8% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 3.9% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 7.3% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 23.9% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 19% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 11.5% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 20% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 18.3% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates · in a town of 3,200, single groups can be off by several points
Climate
Four seasons and pleasant summers in Penbrook
Penbrook has chilly winters and warm summers. July afternoons reach 86°, January nights drop to 22° and about 24 inches of snow falls in a winter.
24″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter24–41°
Spring41–62°
Summer63–84°
Fall45–65°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 15
typical last frost
+1.8°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyC+
For safety, Penbrook earns a C+
At 25.2 crimes per 1,000 residents a year, it reports more crime than 83% of Pennsylvania’s graded towns.
Penbrook’s violent crime rate is 3.1 per 1,000 residents. Penbrook reports more crime per resident than most U.S. towns we grade: about 65% report less.
35%of U.S. towns report more crimeC+Safety Grade
| Penbrook | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 3.1 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 8.6 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Penbrook3.1
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Penbrook8.6
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
35th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
17th
percentile among PA towns
10
violent crimes reported in 2025
28
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
3.8%conserved
3.8%
conserved · 11 of 284 acres
0.0 mi
of trails · 0 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Penbrook Park | — | 6 |
| 2. Little Valley Park | — | 1 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
HealthB−
For health, Penbrook earns a B−
Against the 9,481 U.S. towns with household incomes like Penbrook’s, it is healthier than 77%, so its B− isn’t only a matter of income.
44% of adults sleep under 7 hours in Penbrook. Penbrook beats the Pennsylvania average on 3 of 26 CDC measures and trails it on 1. 17% of adults binge drink in Penbrook.
54%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Penbrook | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 38% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 17% | 18% | 16% |
| Frequent physical distress (CDC PLACES) | 13% | 14% | 14% |
| Obesity (CDC PLACES) | 37% | 35% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
3 better22 too close to call1 worse
| What stands out | Penbrook | PA |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 6.2% | 8.8% |
| Fewer adults with heart disease | 5.9% | 7.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 8.8% | 5.8% |
UPMC Pinnacle Hospitals
1.8 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
45th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
HousingCost of living grade B−
A home in Penbrook sells for about $220K at the median
At 2.1 years of the Harrisburg metro’s $81K median household income, the typical home costs less against local pay than in 89% of Pennsylvania towns; that ratio is one input to its B− for cost of living.
57% of Penbrook households own their home.
$220Kmedian sale price
| Penbrook | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 57% | 78% | 73% |
| Median rent | $987 a month | $1,116 a month | $1,185 a month |
3
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Penbrook
19pages on Penbrook
The big questions
SchoolsC+Behind 61% of PA districts · 1 schoolSafetyC+3.1 violent crimes per 1,000 residents (2025)HealthB−Better than PA on 3 of 26 CDC measuresCost of livingB−Work & commuteB−$62K median household income · 310 jobs hereNatural hazardsAFEMA risk higher than 11% of U.S. communities · inland flooding
Out and about
The story
Day to day
After high school
Colleges nearby
5 within 15 miles of the center of Penbrook
Harrisburg University of Science and TechnologyUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Harrisburg2 mi$24,400 tuitionHarrisburg Area Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Harrisburg2.4 mi$6,975 in-state tuitionPennsylvania State University-Penn State HarrisburgUniversity or college · Public · Middletown7.6 mi$15,972 in-state tuition
About 5 of every 100 Penbrook residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Pennsylvania.
About Penbrook
Borough in Pennsylvania, US
Penbrook is a borough in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States, founded in 1861 and incorporated July 10, 1894. Penbrook was once named East Harrisburg and still maintains a Harrisburg postal ZIP code. The population was 3,268 at the 2020 census. Penbrook is part of the Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan statistical area.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1861
- Area
- 0.5 sq mi
- Elevation
- 490 ft
Penbrook’s neighbors
One town shares a border with Penbrook.
ProgressPenbrook
How the neighbors grade
Progress isn’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Penbrook with a neighbor →
Questions about Penbrook
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Penbrook, PA a good place to live?
Penbrook grades B− overall, better than 48% of U.S. towns and #716 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B− for health, C+ for safety and C+ for schools.
Is Penbrook, PA expensive?
The typical home is worth about $168,000, 41% below the Pennsylvania typical home. Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades B−.