Harrisburg or Lancaster: which is better?
US metro area: head-to-head comparison
Harrisburg wins on more indicators: 6 of 11 against 2.
- Money: tie 2:2
- Climate and risks: Harrisburg 4:0
All indicators weigh the same. This is a score based on data, not advice on where to live: different people have different circumstances.
Harrisburg
Indicator
Lancaster
Money
Tie (2 : 2)Per capita income
higher is better
✗$66,173
20244% lower
✓$68,628
20244% higher
Typical rent
lower is better
✓$1,481
2026-09-306% lower
✗$1,575
2026-09-306% higher
Typical home value
lower is better
✓$306,578
2026-09-3021% lower
✗$386,393
2026-09-3026% higher
Price level
lower is better
98.7 100 = US average
2024almost equal
✓98.3 100 = US average
2024almost equal
Climate and risks
Better: Harrisburg (4 : 0)Air: median AQI
lower is better
✓48 AQI
20244% lower
✗50 AQI
20244% higher
Days with unhealthy air
lower is better
✓2 days per year
202433% lower
✗3 days per year
202450% higher
Hot days (max ≥ +30 °C)
lower is better
✓48 days per year
2016-202528% lower
✗66 days per year
2016-202539% higher
Frost days (min ≤ −10 °C)
tie
11 days per year
2016-2025
11 days per year
2016-2025
Severe frost (min ≤ −20 °C)
lower is better
✓0.2 days per year
2016-202550% lower
✗0.4 days per year
2016-2025100% higher
Ice days (max ≤ 0 °C)
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
20 days per year
2016-2025
13 days per year
2016-2025
Heating degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
2,863 °C·days per year
2016-2025
2,642 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Cooling degree days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
600 °C·days per year
2016-2025
712 °C·days per year
2016-2025
Rainy days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
107 days per year
2016-2025
102 days per year
2016-2025
Snowfall days
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
6 days per year
2016-2025
6 days per year
2016-2025
Annual precipitation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
1,172 mm per year
2016-2025
1,140 mm per year
2016-2025
Daylight on December 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
9.3 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Daylight on June 21
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
15.1 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
15.0 hours
December 21 and June 21 (does not depend on the year)
Air humidity
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
61 %
2021-2025
65 %
2021-2025
Muggy days (dew point ≥ +20 °C)
tie
29 days per year
2021-2025
29 days per year
2021-2025
Distance to the sea
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
105 km
2006-2025
57 km
2006-2025
Earthquakes M4.5+ within 100 km
tie
0.00 per year
2006-2025
0.00 per year
2006-2025
Urban environment
no winnerPopulation
neutral indicator: higher does not mean better
615,361 people
2024
563,293 people
2024
A winner is named only for indicators with a known “better / worse” direction. Population and other neutral indicators are shown without a winner. Outdated and missing values are not counted. Details for each place: Harrisburg, Lancaster.