The Harrisburg metro is home to 597,894 people (up 5.3% over five years), with a median household income of $79,281. Typical rent of $1,481/month works out to 22.4% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Harrisburg's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 24.6% |
| Retail trade | 11.2% |
| Professional & management | 11.0% |
| Manufacturing | 8.0% |
| Public administration | 7.9% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 22.4% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Harrisburg market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,481/month suggests a household income around $59,000/year. The metro's median household income is $79,281.
By workforce share: Education & health care (24.6%), Retail trade (11.2%), Professional & management (11.0%) (Census ACS 5-year).