Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Demographics 2026
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has a population of 287,484, the 14th most populous county in Pennsylvania. The median household income is $74,159 and the median home value is $222,300. The poverty rate is 12.3%.
Dauphin County Quick Facts
Median Household Income
Median Home Value
Economy & Housing
Household Income Distribution
Employment
Housing Overview
People & Demographics
Age Distribution
Race & Ethnicity
Diversity Index
A diverse community with significant representation from multiple racial and ethnic groups.
State average: 43 | National average: 60
Education
Educational Attainment (Adults 25+)
Cities & Places in Dauphin County
| City | Population | Median Income | Poverty | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg city | 50,092 | $47,783 | 29.1% | $121,000 |
| Middletown borough | 9,567 | $54,778 | 14.6% | $159,800 |
| Steelton borough | 6,267 | $55,963 | 22.3% | $124,200 |
| Hummelstown borough | 4,526 | $53,148 | 11.6% | $240,200 |
| Penbrook borough | 3,260 | $68,295 | 7.3% | $140,000 |
| Highspire borough | 2,729 | $50,689 | 14.0% | $113,500 |
| Millersburg borough | 2,538 | $65,190 | 11.8% | $123,500 |
| Lykens borough | 1,830 | $69,125 | 22.6% | $101,300 |
| Paxtang borough | 1,617 | $83,571 | 9.2% | $179,900 |
| Elizabethville borough | 1,583 | $75,724 | 6.2% | $168,900 |
| Williamstown borough | 1,289 | $61,875 | 22.2% | $95,200 |
| Dauphin borough | 1,065 | N/A | 11.3% | $185,500 |
| Royalton borough | 878 | $59,757 | 13.6% | $144,100 |
| Gratz borough | 682 | N/A | 32.1% | $130,400 |
| Halifax borough | 641 | $58,906 | 29.5% | $179,200 |
| Berrysburg borough | 297 | $63,750 | 3.4% | $146,100 |
| Pillow borough | 248 | $60,000 | 5.2% | $117,600 |
| West Middletown borough | 64 | $74,375 | 12.5% | $108,800 |
Explore Pennsylvania Rankings
Population Overview
Dauphin County is located in Pennsylvania with a total population of 287,484. It is the 14th most populous county out of 67 in Pennsylvania. The county encompasses 18 Census-designated places.
Age Demographics
The median age in Dauphin County is 39.4 years. This is 4% lower than the state median of 40.9 years.
Economy, Income & Housing
The median household income in Dauphin County is $74,159. This is 3% lower than the state median of $76,081. Compared to the national median of $78,538, household income here is 6% lower. The poverty rate stands at 12.3%. This is 4% higher than the state poverty rate of 11.8%. The unemployment rate is 4.3%. This is 17% lower than the state rate of 5.3%. The median home value is $222,300. Housing costs are 8% lower than the state median of $240,500. The home-value-to-income ratio is 3.0x. 63.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied. This homeownership rate is 9% lower than the state average of 69.3%.
Race & Ethnicity
The largest racial or ethnic group in Dauphin County is White (non-Hispanic), making up 61.7% of the population. Black or African American residents account for 16.7%. The Black or African American population is significantly higher than the state average (16.7% vs 10.3%). The Asian population is significantly higher than the state average (6.1% vs 3.7%).
Education
34.3% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher. This is about average than the state rate of 34.5%. Nationally, 35.0% of adults hold at least a bachelor's degree. The high school graduation rate (or equivalent) is 91.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the population of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
Dauphin County has a population of 287,484, making it the 14th most populous county in Pennsylvania.
What is the median income in Dauphin County?
The median household income in Dauphin County is $74,159 with a poverty rate of 12.3%.
How many cities are in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
Dauphin County contains 18 Census-designated places.