States › Pennsylvania › Hershey

Is Hershey, PA expensive to live in?

OKRent takes 21 cents of every $1 people earn here.
🏠 Rent per month (2026)$1,49315% lower than U.S. average
💵 Families earn per year (2026)$84,756about $7,063/month · 3% lower than U.S. average
🔑 House price$379,20014% higher than U.S. average

Rent is lower than in 58% of U.S. cities. A typical house costs about 4.5 years of household income. Commutes are short, about 16.2 minutes.

How much money do I need?

To rent here comfortably, you should earn about $59,720 a year. That is $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is rent cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?

No. Rent here is more expensive than in most of Pennsylvania. It is number 157 of 269 cities from cheapest to most expensive.

Hershey
$1,493
Indiana
$735
Dunmore
$1,497
Willow Grove
$1,995
Wilkinsburg
$1,159
Ardmore
$2,014
Ephrata
$1,235

How much do households earn in Hershey?

Under $25k
10.3%
$25k–50k
16.6%
$50k–100k
35.1%
$100k–150k
17.8%
$150k+
13.2%

Share of households by yearly income. 31.0% of households earn $100,000 or more.

Rent by apartment size in Hershey

SizeHersheyU.S. average
Studio$1,512$1,338
1 bedroom$1,240$1,324
2 bedrooms$1,386$1,509
3 bedrooms$1,899$1,698
4 bedrooms$2,867$2,098

Median monthly rent plus utilities for all renters, by number of bedrooms.

How expensive is Hershey overall?

Everyday prices in Pennsylvania overall are 2% below the U.S. average (index 97.6, U.S. = 100).

Housing
85
Goods (food, clothes…)
99
Utilities
109
Other services
100
U.S. average
100

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities 2024. City-level data is not published for Hershey, so the Pennsylvania figure is shown.

Taxes and bills in Hershey

🏛️ Property tax$4,810a year · 1.27% of home value · U.S. $3,119
⚡ Electric bill$146a month (typical) · U.S. $156

Life in Hershey

Commute to work16.2 minU.S.: 26.4 min
College degree50.2%U.S.: 35.7%
Own their home53.7%U.S.: 65.2%
Below poverty line17.6%U.S.: 12.5%
Unemployment4.6%U.S.: 5.2%

Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Hershey?

Renting is cheaper right now: about $1,138 a month less.

Renting
$1,493
Owning
$2,631

Owning assumes a typical $379,200 home, 10% down, a 30-year loan at 6.5% and about 1.5% a year for taxes and insurance. You would also need $37,920 for the down payment.

Frequently asked questions

What is the average rent in Hershey, PA?

Renting in Hershey costs a median of about $1,493 a month in 2026, including utilities. The Pennsylvania median is $1,367.

How much do I need to make to live in Hershey?

To keep rent under 30% of income, you need about $59,720 a year, or $29 an hour at a full-time job.

Is Hershey cheap or expensive?

Hershey is rated OK: rent takes 21.1% of the typical household income of $84,756. It ranks 157th cheapest of 269 Pennsylvania cities we track.

How much are property taxes in Hershey?

The median homeowner in Hershey pays $4,810 a year in property taxes, about 1.27% of the median home value.

Is Hershey more expensive than the national average?

Overall prices in Pennsylvania are 2% below the U.S. average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

How much does a house cost in Hershey?

The median home value in Hershey is $379,200, about 4.5 times the typical yearly household income.

14,242 people live in Hershey. Numbers are typical (middle) values.