Pennsylvania State Route 116, 2009
Penn Township’s story
Penn Township in pictures
Census counts: 3,729 in 1930, 17,474 in 2020. The archive holds 3 old photos and papers going back to 2009 and 5 maps from 1920 on.
Explore the history →Population
18,523
2025 Census estimate · +6.2% since 2020
Median home value
$241K
Census ACS
Household income
$85K
median
Median age
40.1
years
Jobs based here
8,380
Balanced
TownGrade
B
#541 of 1032 in PA
Is Penn Township a good place to live?
Penn Township is a solid, middle-of-the-road choice. It grades B overall, ranked 541st of 1032 in Pennsylvania, with no subject far below average. Its best mark is schools: its schools outperform 72% of the state's. Expect to pay for it: homes are expensive, about $240K for a typical one and 2.8 times the York metro’s $85K median household income. Penn Township’s trail network density is 1.4 miles per square mile, above both Pennsylvania’s towns (0.4) and U.S. towns (0.4). The biggest place to walk is Codorus State Park, 390 acres with 14.5 miles of trail.
What makes Penn Township stand out
Where Penn Township beats most towns.
A growing town
Penn Township has grown 19% since 2010
15,612 counted in 2010 and 17,487 in 2020; an estimated 18,523 in 2025.
Growth hasn’t slowed: 6.2% since 2020, after 12% in the decade before.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 counts · Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025
How Penn Township grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Pennsylvania), ordered by how far Penn Township is from typical.
Hazard riskinland flooding tops the listAOpen →SchoolsB+Open →Cost of livingTypical home $241K, 2.8 years of the York metro’s $85K median household incomeCOpen →SafetyB+Open →WalkabilityEPA walkability 9.4 of 20; 5.3% of households have no car; 1.1% of workers walk, bike or ride transitBOpen →Jobs & incomeBOpen →HealthUPMC Hanover 1.2 miles awayB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Outdoors8% conserved landAOpen →HistoryCOpen →Civic life3 community nonprofits per 1,000 residentsC−Open →
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
How TownRatings grades towns →
Getting set up
The full setup list →Moving to Penn Township: who provides what
Who provides power, water and the rest in Penn Township, and how to reach them.
PowerAdams Electric Cooperative15.4¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterHanover Muni Water WorksNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet6 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & dumpBy addressTown’s hauler · day by addressTown 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 hereYork County Board of ElectionsYork County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Aug 2024
ZIP code1733117331 100%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 Penn Township.
Penn Township sends many workers across the state line to Westminster and sees little violent crime.
OutdoorsA
8.1% of the land in Penn Township is protected from building
18 miles of trail in 3 parks and preserves.
#148for trails in PA
8.1%
conserved · 676 of 8,349 acres
18 mi
of trails · 1.3 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Codorus State Park | 14.5 mi | 390 |
| 2. Kid's Kingdom Park | — | 26 |
| 3. Youngs Woods Park | — | 14 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
SchoolsB+
Penn Township’s grade for schools is a B+
Two of its 5 schools are below, each with the reason it’s listed. The largest public high school is South Western SHS, with 1,380 students. Its public schools are run by South Western SD.
72%of PA districts it outscoresB+School Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emory H Markle MSLargest public middle schoolGrades 6–8 | Grades 6–8 | 1,046 | C+ |
| South Western SHSLargest public high schoolGrades 9–12 | Grades 9–12 | 1,380 | A |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within PA on state tests and graduation
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade A
Penn Township has a very low natural-hazard risk, chiefly from inland flooding
It has had 7 paid flood insurance claims since 1983. Penn Township’s FEMA risk score comes in at 17 of 100. Expected losses in Penn Township break down as 64% from inland flooding and 16% from hurricanes.
17risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHurricanes
7
paid flood claims since 1983
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Penn Township
A winter brings about 28 inches of snow, with January nights at 21° and July afternoons at 86°.
28″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–42°
Spring40–63°
Summer61–84°
Fall44–65°
Oct 20
typical first frost
Apr 24
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
SafetyB+
Crime per resident in Penn Township is lower than in 65% of U.S. towns
Violent crime is rare: 15 reported in 2025, 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
Pennsylvania has less reported crime than most states, so among its own towns Penn Township sits closer to the middle. The town’s level of property crime is 6.9 per 1,000 residents, above the Pennsylvania town median (5.7) but below the median of U.S. towns (9.9). Its level of violent crime comes in at 0.8 per 1,000 residents.
65%of U.S. towns report more crimeB+Safety Grade
| Penn Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Property crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 6.9 per 1,000 residents | 5.7 | 9.9 |
| Violent crimes per 1,000 (2025) | 0.8 per 1,000 residents | 0.7 | 1.6 |
Violent crime per 1,000 residents
Penn Township0.8
Pennsylvania2.3
U.S.3.3
Property crime per 1,000 residents
Penn Township6.9
Pennsylvania13.6
U.S.15.5
65th
percentile among U.S. towns we grade
42nd
percentile among PA towns
15
violent crimes reported in 2025
128
property crimes reported in 2025
FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to police
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B
About one in eight working residents works right in Penn Township
22% of working residents cross a state line to work, Westminster among the top destinations. Penn Township has about as many jobs (8,380) as working residents, but only 1,161 people both live and work here.
Most people who work leave Penn Township to do it: just 13% work in town. This Pennsylvania town had 8,380 jobs in 2023, up 1,510 from 2013. In Penn Township, the typical journey to work is 30 minutes. For half of commuters, work is under 16 miles away.
13%work in town
| Penn Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 30 minutes | 26 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Working residents who work in town | 13% | 6.3% | 8% |
| Work from home | 10% | 12% | 11% |
| Median household income | $85,000 | $81,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Penn Township13%
Hanover13%
Westminster3%
York3%
Baltimore2%
16 mi
median commute distance
8,380
jobs based in Penn Township
Balanced
jobs vs. working residents
B
Walkability grade: more walkable than 60% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
Who lives here
Ages in Penn Township track Pennsylvania closely
Among adults 25 and older, 26% have a four-year degree or more, against 35% across Pennsylvania. No broad age group is more than 4 points off the Pennsylvania average. The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate puts Penn Township at 18,523 residents, up 6.2% since 2020.
40.1median age · PA 40.9
| Penn Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.1 years | 43.2 years | 40.5 years |
| Aged 65 or older | 21% | 21% | 18% |
| Bachelor’s degree or more, 25+ | 26% | 29% | 29% |
| Under 18 | 22% | 20% | 22% |
Penn TownshipPennsylvaniaUnited States
Ages · share of residents
15%
Education · adults 25 and older
No diploma8%
High school39%
Some college18%
Associate’s9%
Bachelor’s17%
Graduate9%
Women and men · all residents
49% women, 51% men
That’s an even split within the survey’s margin of ±2.3 points. Across Pennsylvania, 50.7% of residents are women. Among residents 25 to 34, 72% are men (PA 51%).
| Penn Township | PA | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 10 | 12.3% | 10.8% | 11.6% |
| 10 to 17 | 9.7% | 9.7% | 10.3% |
| 18 to 24 | 7% | 9% | 9.1% |
| 25 to 34 | 14.6% | 13% | 13.7% |
| 35 to 44 | 12.7% | 12.6% | 13.2% |
| 45 to 54 | 11.3% | 11.9% | 12.2% |
| 55 to 64 | 11.8% | 13.6% | 12.7% |
| 65 to 74 | 11.6% | 11.4% | 10.2% |
| 75 and older | 9.1% | 8.1% | 7% |
| No diploma | 8.3% | 7.9% | 10.4% |
| High school | 38.8% | 32.9% | 26% |
| Some college | 17.9% | 15.1% | 19.1% |
| Associate’s | 9.2% | 8.9% | 8.8% |
| Bachelor’s | 17% | 20.9% | 21.6% |
| Graduate | 8.7% | 14.3% | 14.1% |
Census population estimates, 2025 · U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates
HealthB−
Residents of Penn Township are less healthy than 51% of U.S. towns
Among adults in Penn Township, 18% smoke cigarettes. In Penn Township, nearly two in five adults sleep under 7 hours, and 18% binge drink.
49%healthier than U.S. townsB−Health Grade
| Penn Township | Pennsylvania towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke cigarettes (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 16% | 14% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 39% | 38% | 36% |
| Binge drink (CDC PLACES) | 18% | 18% | 16% |
| High blood pressure (CDC PLACES) | 36% | 34% | 35% |
26 measures vs. Pennsylvania
0 better24 too close to call2 worse
| What stands out | Penn Township | PA |
|---|---|---|
| More uninsured adults | 7.6% | 5.8% |
| More adults with COPD | 8.7% | 7.7% |
UPMC Hanover
1.2 mi away · emergency room
None
primary care, dental or mental-health shortage
39th
percentile among PA towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Nearby attractions
All 138 attractions →Raven Rock Mountain Complex and 65 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Penn Township. Close and well known come first.
Big draw25 mi LandmarkRaven Rock Mountain Complex
30 mi National MonumentCarlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument
40 mi Stadium & arenaOriole Park at Camden Yards
38 mi Theme parkHersheypark3.0M visitors a year
14 mi Ancient siteGettysburg Battlefield
14 mi LandmarkGettysburg National CemeterySources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
Raven Rock Mountain Complex: US Government, Public domain · Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain · Oriole Park at Camden Yards: Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Hersheypark: Michael Gray, CC BY-SA 2.0 · Gettysburg Battlefield: Veggies, Public domain · Gettysburg National Cemetery: Photo: Henryhartley at en.wikipedia Statue: Randolph Rogers (1825-1892), Public domain
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Penn Township
19pages on Penn Township
The big questions
Out and about
The story
After high school
Colleges nearby
3 within 15 miles of the center of Penn Township
Gettysburg CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Gettysburg14.7 mi$66,640 tuitionMcDaniel CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Westminster, MD15 mi$52,081 tuitionUnited Lutheran SeminaryUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Gettysburg15 mi
About 3 of every 100 Penn Township residents are enrolled in college, against 6 across Pennsylvania.
About Penn Township
Township in Pennsylvania, US
Penn Township is a township in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 17,474 at the 2020 census.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 13 sq mi
Penn Township’s neighbors
7 towns share a border with Penn Township.
West Manheim TownshipHanoverPennvilleHeidelberg TownshipBerwick TownshipParkvilleConewago TownshipPenn Township
How the neighbors grade
| Town | PA rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn Township | #541 | B | C | B+ | B+ | B− |
| West Manheim Township | #483 | B+ | C | A− | B+ | B− |
| Hanover | #930 | C− | C+ | C | B− | C− |
| Pennville | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Heidelberg Township | #554 | B | C | — | A− | B |
| Berwick Township | — | — | B | — | B+ | B− |
| Parkville | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Conewago Township | #428 | B+ | B− | B+ | B+ | B− |
Berwick Township has fewer than 2,500 residents, so it gets subject grades but no overall grade. Heidelberg Township and Berwick Township report no FBI crime data of their own. Pennville and Parkville aren’t graded (fewer than 1,000 residents, or not enough data). Compare Penn Township with a neighbor →
Questions about Penn Township
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Penn Township, PA a good place to live?
By most measures, yes. Penn Township grades B overall, better than 63% of U.S. towns and #541 of 1032 in Pennsylvania. It grades B− for health, B+ for safety and B+ for schools.
Is Penn Township, PA safe?
Yes, by national standards. Pennsylvania has less crime than most states, so among its own towns Penn Township sits nearer the middle.
Is Penn Township, PA expensive?
Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C.