Moving to Harrisburg, PA: The Relocation Guide
Cost of living, neighborhoods, schools, utilities, commuting, and healthcare, plus a first-month checklist with the real phone numbers and links.
The short version
Harrisburg is a small city of about 50,000 people (2020 Census) at the center of a much larger metro. People come for jobs in state government, healthcare (UPMC Harrisburg and Penn State Health), insurance, and logistics, since the I-81/I-83/Turnpike crossroads makes the region a warehouse hub. They stay for housing costs well below Philadelphia, New York, or Washington, D.C.
The biggest decision is city or suburb. The city offers historic rowhomes, walkability, and the lowest prices. The West Shore and the Dauphin County townships offer newer housing and different school districts. Our neighborhood guide covers each area.
School districts
The school district follows your exact address, not your mailing city, so many "Harrisburg" addresses sit in suburban districts. Verify boundaries with the district before you buy or sign a lease.
Central Dauphin School District
Serves much of Lower Paxton, Swatara, and other townships north and east of the city.
Higher education
HACC (Central Pennsylvania's Community College) has its main campus in the city. Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown.
Getting around
Driving
Most residents drive. I-81, I-83, and the PA Turnpike (I-76) meet here. Rush hour on the bridges and I-83 is the main pinch point.
rabbittransit (formerly CAT)
Capital Area Transit merged with rabbittransit into the Susquehanna Regional Transportation Authority, which runs local and commuter buses across the region.
Amtrak
The Keystone Service from the Harrisburg Transportation Center (411 Market St.) goes to Philadelphia and New York. The Pennsylvanian runs west to Pittsburgh.
Harrisburg International Airport (MDT)
At 1 Terminal Dr., Middletown, about 10 miles southeast of downtown. Allegiant, American, Delta, and United fly nonstop to about 16 destinations.
Hospitals
UPMC Harrisburg
The downtown hospital with a 24-hour emergency department, at 111 S. Front St., Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
The region's academic medical center and Level I trauma center, at 500 University Dr., Hershey, PA 17033.
Setting up your new home
Your first-month checklist
- Water & sewer: city addresses are served by Capital Region Water (888-510-0606).
- Electric: most of the area is PPL Electric Utilities. Confirm your provider by address.
- Gas: UGI Utilities.
- Trash: in the city, Public Works collects weekly. Find your zone and day with Recycle Coach (details).
- Mail: file your USPS change of address at moversguide.usps.com.
- Driver's license & registration: PennDOT sets deadlines for new residents to switch out-of-state licenses and registrations. Check dmv.pa.gov right after you move.
- Register to vote at vote.pa.gov.
- Library card from the Dauphin County Library System. It also gets you a discount on Fort Hunter tours.
