HomePennsylvaniaDauphin County
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania: commercial real estate data.
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania has a population of 289,593 across 525 square miles, up 2.3 percent since the 2020 census base. County output reached $28.91 bn in 2024, 6,951 establishments operate here, and the SBA record carries 248 7(a) approvals worth $174.5 m.
129 sourced county values · tier FULL · 12 sections
Dauphin County
How many people live in Dauphin County
- Population289,593
- Households121,358
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$76,242
- Median age39.4
- Median gross rent$1,217 per month
- Median owner-occupied home value$236,400
- Home value to household income3.1 times
- Annual rent as a share of median income19.2 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a bachelor degree or higher34.4 percent
- Adults 25 and over with a graduate degree12.8 percent
- Adults 25 and over201,254
- Population under 1864,718
- Share under 1822.3 percent
- Population 65 and over52,221
- Share 65 and over18.0 percent
- Working age population, 18 to 64172,654
- Civilian labor force149,361
- Unemployment rate4.5 percent
- Labor force participation, adults 18 and over66.4 percent
- Rank by population among Pennsylvania counties14th of 67
- Rank by population among US county-equivalents249th
Dauphin County is the 14th largest of 67 Pennsylvania counties by population. A median home costs 3.1 times median household income, which is an affordable ownership market by national standards. Residents under 18 outnumber those 65 and over, at 22.3 percent against 18.0 percent, a household formation profile rather than a retirement one.
US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Dauphin County
Is Dauphin County growing
- Population change since the 2020 census base2.32 percent
- Census 2020 base population286,392
- Births, 20243,111
- Deaths, 20242,841
- Natural change, 2024270
- Net domestic migration, 2024-586
- Net international migration, 20242,452
- Total net migration, 20241,866
- Cumulative net domestic migration, 2021 to 2024-521
- Rank by growth among US county-equivalents1070th
The county has grown 2.32 percent since the 2020 census base. Migration contributed more to 2024 change than births over deaths, so demand here follows people arriving rather than families forming.
US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
Dauphin County
Where people moving to Dauphin County come from
- Tax returns filed by households arriving8,066
- People arriving, from those returns13,627
- Adjusted gross income arriving$453.9 m
- Net adjusted gross income movement$0
- Average income of an arriving household$56,269
- Largest single originDauphin County Non-migrants (117,301 households)
- Largest single destination (117,301 households)
| Origin | Households | People | Adjusted gross income |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dauphin County Non-migrants | 117,301 | 223,664 | $9.57 bn |
| Other flows - Different State | 2,026 | 3,647 | $121.6 m |
| Cumberland County | 1,152 | 1,741 | $61.2 m |
| Other flows - South | 970 | 1,740 | $58.7 m |
| Lancaster County | 671 | 1,046 | $41.6 m |
| Lebanon County | 568 | 929 | $28.7 m |
| York County | 449 | 696 | $25.9 m |
| Other flows - Northeast | 447 | 759 | $26.4 m |
The largest single source of arrivals is Dauphin County Non-migrants, which is the catchment a retail or multifamily study should look at first.
US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Dauphin County
What the Dauphin County economy runs on
- County GDP, 2024$28.91 bn
- County GDP, 2023$27.67 bn
- GDP change, 2023 to 20244.5 percent
- GDP change over five years25.8 percent
- Rank by GDP among Pennsylvania counties9th
- Rank by GDP among US county-equivalents201st
- GDP per resident$99,828
Output grew 4.5 percent in the latest year and 25.8 percent over five, which is the trend line a lender will read behind any single year figure.
US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional, table CAGDP2, CAGDP2, through 2024.
Dauphin County
Who employs people in Dauphin County
- Covered employment, annual average190,296
- Establishments reporting7,552
- Average annual pay$68,012
- Average weekly wage$1,308
- Sector 62, employment39,478
- Sector 62, average annual pay$72,781
- Sector 44-45, employment13,747
- Sector 44-45, average annual pay$36,338
- Sector 48-49, employment13,694
- Sector 48-49, average annual pay$58,359
- Sector 72, employment12,508
- Sector 72, average annual pay$26,473
- Sector 31-33, employment12,447
- Sector 56, employment9,317
| Sector | Employment | Establishments | Average annual pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sector 62 | 39,478 | 1,221 | $72,781 |
| Sector 44-45 | 13,747 | 866 | $36,338 |
| Sector 48-49 | 13,694 | 239 | $58,359 |
| Sector 72 | 12,508 | 667 | $26,473 |
| Sector 31-33 | 12,447 | 208 | $81,746 |
| Sector 56 | 9,317 | 422 | $44,831 |
| Sector 54 | 8,144 | 837 | $101,399 |
| Sector 42 | 6,892 | 329 | $85,005 |
The largest sector is the biggest private employer group at 39,478 jobs, 20.7 percent of covered employment. Average pay per job sits below median household income, so households here typically need more than one earner.
US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
Dauphin County
What businesses operate in Dauphin County
- Establishments, all industries6,951
- Employment at those establishments157,994
- Annual payroll$10.36 bn
- Establishments per 1,000 residents24.0
These are counts of establishments physically operating in the county, not listings, so they are the supply side a feasibility study measures demand against.
US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Dauphin County
What is being built in Dauphin County
- Housing units authorised by permit, 2024499
- Declared construction value permitted$102.9 m
- Single family units authorised287
- Multifamily units authorised212
- Multifamily share of units42.5 percent
- Average declared value per unit$206,305
- Units authorised per 1,000 households4.1
Multifamily is 42.5 percent of units authorised, so the pipeline is being built for renters rather than buyers.
US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
Dauphin County
How much SBA lending happens in Dauphin County
- 7(a) approvals recorded248
- 7(a) gross approval dollars$174.5 m
- Average 7(a) approval$703,754
- Median 7(a) approval$200,000
- 10th percentile approval$20,000
- 90th percentile approval$2,567,000
- Largest single approval$5,000,000
- Jobs reported supported, 7(a)3,563
- Jobs per approval14.4
- Distinct 7(a) lenders active53
- Distinct industries receiving approvals105
- Median 7(a) term120 months
- Share of loans on real estate terms, 240 months or longer16.5 percent
- Loans on real estate terms41
- Loans on working capital terms, 120 months or shorter189
- Franchise loans36
- Franchise share of approvals14.5 percent
- Leading industry by approval countGeneral Automotive Repair (13)
- Most active lenderManufacturers and Traders Trust Company (60)
- 504 approvals recorded41
- 504 gross approval dollars$35.4 m
- Average 504 approval$864,268
- Median 504 approval$515,000
- Distinct CDCs active9
- 504 jobs per approval10.3
- 504 jobs per million dollars approved11.9
- Most active CDCSouth Eastern Economic Development Company of Pennsylvania (19)
- 7(a) share of SBA approvals85.8 percent
- Combined SBA approval dollars$210.0 m
The average approval of $703,754 sits well above the median of $200,000, so a small number of large deals is pulling the mean up. The median is the better guide to what a typical borrower here actually gets. Only 16.5 percent of approvals run on real estate terms, so SBA credit here is mostly working capital and equipment rather than property acquisition.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30. US Small Business Administration, 504 FOIA release, FY2010 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Dauphin County
Do SBA loans in Dauphin County get paid back
- Loans with a final outcome recorded56
- Paid in full54
- Charged off2
- Charge off rate on resolved loans3.6 percent
- Status: Exempt from disclosure144
- Status: Paid in full54
- Status: Cancelled30
- Status: Committed, not yet disbursed18
- Status: Charged off2
Of the 56 loans that have reached a final outcome, 3.6 percent were charged off. This is computed only over resolved loans, because a loan still running has not yet succeeded or failed and counting it either way would be wrong.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Dauphin County
Which parts of Dauphin County get the lending
- Places in the county with recorded lending15
- Harrisburg, approvals152
- Hershey, approvals25
- HUMMELSTOWN, approvals24
- Middletown, approvals14
- HALIFAX, approvals6
- Dauphin, approvals5
| Place | Approvals | Gross approval dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Harrisburg | 152 | $112,752,500 |
| Hershey | 25 | $6,320,000 |
| HUMMELSTOWN | 24 | $25,131,500 |
| Middletown | 14 | $18,031,600 |
| HALIFAX | 6 | $3,273,200 |
| Dauphin | 5 | $1,232,500 |
| Steelton | 5 | $145,300 |
| Grantville | 5 | $3,029,300 |
Harrisburg accounts for 152 approvals against 25 in Hershey. County level figures average over that gap, which is why a site decision is made at the submarket rather than the county.
US Small Business Administration, 7(a) FOIA release, FY2020 to FY2026 year to date, as of 2026-06-30.
Dauphin County
How big is Dauphin County
- Land area525 sq mi
- Rank by land area among Pennsylvania counties44th of 67
- Width, east to west25.9 mi
- Height, north to south37.2 mi
- Geographies sharing a boundary7
- Residents per square mile of land552
- Establishments per square mile13.24
US Census Bureau county boundary geometry, TIGER, adjacency computed from shared boundary vertices, TIGER county boundaries. US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year. US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
Dauphin County
What hazards affect Dauphin County
- EPA radon zone predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/LZone 1
- Communities in the NFIP Community Status Book39
- Of those, participating in the NFIP39
- NFIP participation rate100.0 percent
- Best Community Rating System class in the county A lower CRS class is a larger flood insurance premium discount.Class 8
- Communities carrying a CRS class2
The EPA places the county in radon zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. The best Community Rating System class in the county is 8, which carries a flood insurance premium discount for properties in the participating community.
US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001. FEMA OpenFEMA, NFIP Community Status Book, Community Status Book, as retrieved.
Coverage
What this page does not hold.
Every item below could be filled with a plausible figure. None of them is. On a page a lender may read, a number that cannot be traced is worse than an absence, so the absences are named.
- Flood zone record counts are not held. The flood coverage export has not landed, so no count is shown rather than an estimated one.
- Traffic counts resolve in the platform, not in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here.
- Zoning is in build. Parcel level zoning is not published on this page.
Feasibility studies
When a Dauphin County site needs a document a lender will accept.
The same data layer behind this page is the one the studies are written from. A study for a Dauphin County site starts with the figures you are reading, carrying the same source and period into the credit file.
- Population289,593
- Households121,358
- Average household size2.39
- Median household income$76,242
- Median age39.4
Common questions
Dauphin County questions, answered from the record.
How many people live in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania?
289,593, in 121,358 households, ranking 14th of 67 Pennsylvania counties. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
Is Dauphin County growing?
The population has grown 2.32 percent since the 2020 census base. In 2024 there were 3,111 births against 2,841 deaths, with net migration of 1,866. Source: US Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, Vintage 2024, Vintage 2024, estimates 2020 to 2024.
What is the median household income in Dauphin County?
$76,242. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $236,400, which is 3.1 times income, and median gross rent is $1,217 per month. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2020-2024 5-year.
How many businesses are there in Dauphin County?
6,951 establishments, employing 157,994 people with an annual payroll of $10.36 bn. These are establishments physically operating in the county, not listings. Source: US Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023.
What is the average wage in Dauphin County?
Average annual pay is $68,012, or $1,308 a week, across 190,296 covered jobs. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2024 annual averages.
How much SBA lending happens in Dauphin County?
248 7(a) approvals totalling $174.5 m since FY2020, across 53 lenders, with a median approval of $200,000, plus 41 504 approvals worth $35.4 m. These are approvals recorded in the release, not loans disbursed.
Do SBA loans in Dauphin County get paid back?
Of the 56 loans that have reached a final outcome, 54 were paid in full and 2 charged off, a charge off rate of 3.6 percent. Loans still running are excluded, because they have not yet succeeded or failed.
What is being built in Dauphin County?
499 housing units were authorised by permit in 2024, with a declared construction value of $102.9 m. Multifamily was 42.5 percent of units. Source: US Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, 2024 annual.
What is the radon zone for Dauphin County?
Zone 1, a predicted average indoor radon screening level greater than 4 pCi/L. Source: US EPA, Map of Radon Zones, county spreadsheet, 2024-05 publication, EPA 402/A-16/001.
Where do people moving to Dauphin County come from?
The largest single origin is Dauphin County Non-migrants, with 117,301 households. Arriving households report an average income of $56,269 against null for those leaving. Source: US Internal Revenue Service, Statistics of Income county migration flows, 2021 to 2022 filing years.
Are traffic counts available for Dauphin County on this page?
No. Annual average daily traffic resolves in the platform rather than in this dataset, so no AADT figure is printed here. It is a gap we know about rather than a figure we estimated.
Is zoning published for Dauphin County?
Not yet. The zoning layer is in build. Nothing on this page presents parcel level zoning, and where a statutory framework applies it is marked as the statewide frame with confirm locally attached.