Uprootmap
Lancaster vs Harrisburg
Lancaster and Harrisburg
Photo: PA Uploader / Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 4.0
Assumed income $83,730, same in both cities. Example, until you change it.
Other cities
So you know: homicide deaths in Harrisburg are under the US rate in this release, 4.6 versus 6.5 per 100,000. CDC via County Health Rankings, CDC NVSS 2017–2023 (CHR 2025 release).
Why people look at Lancaster to Harrisburg
In 2022-2023, 893 households filed a move from Lancaster to Harrisburg (about 1,435 people, average adjusted gross income $56,929). 835 households went the other way. Source: IRS migration.
A one-bedroom asking rent is about $1,217 in Lancaster and $1,115 in Harrisburg. Lancaster has a state tax on wages. Harrisburg has a state tax on wages. Local pay in Harrisburg is 99% of the national level for the same work, against 95% in Lancaster.
Harrisburg averages 197 sunny days, with July highs around 88°F and January nights around 30°F. Lancaster is 194 sunny days, 87°F in July, 30°F in January. Commutes average 23 minutes in Harrisburg and 24 in Lancaster.
These figures are projections built from available public data. Conditions change, and the numbers may not reflect current prices, taxes, or immigration rules. Check official sources before you make decisions.
Who already made this move
In 2022-2023, 893 households moved Lancaster → Harrisburg (about 1,435 people, average AGI $56,929). 835 households went the other way.
Source: IRS SOI county-to-county migration. Not a moving company; not a recommendation.
The monthly number is take-home pay minus rent and the other bills. The gap between Lancaster and Harrisburg changes with the job, remote or local pay, and bedrooms. How we figure this.
What the move itself costs
About 56 road miles, 1 bedroom. Typical ranges, not quotes.
- Full-service mover
- $1,600–$2,950
- Container or pod
- $1,050–$2,000
- Rent a truck
- $350–$700
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Dig into Harrisburg
Questions
Is Harrisburg cheaper than Lancaster after tax and rent?
Yes. Harrisburg leaves about $136 more a month, so the cost of living is lower there for this household. A one-bedroom is about $1,217 in Lancaster and $1,115 in Harrisburg.
Does Harrisburg have state income tax?
Harrisburg is in Pennsylvania, which taxes wage income, plus a local wage tax of 1.00%.
Did people actually move from Lancaster to Harrisburg?
Yes, when the IRS published that flow. The count and their average income are on this page. Leftover prices the same household in both cities.