C

Shippensburg, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 58/100

Population: 27,996 · 1 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for Shippensburg, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code covering 27,996 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of C (58/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $71,181, median home value of $227,900, median rent of $1,046 per month, and 23.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,493 per month (studio $1,058, 1BR $1,212, 3BR $1,920, 4BR $1,977).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Pressure points are education. Unemployment currently reads 4.7% and poverty 10.7% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income C
$71,181
Median household income
Education F
23.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing C+
3.2x
Home value $227,900 vs income
Commute C+
23 min
Average commute time
Rent B-
$1,493/mo
2BR fair market rent (25% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$71,181
▲ 15% vs national
Per Capita Income
$35,673
Unemployment Rate
4.7%
Poverty Rate
10.7%

Housing

Median Home Value
$227,900
▼ 17% vs national
Median Rent
$1,046/mo
Owner Occupied
67.5%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,493/mo
▲ 24% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$1,058
1BR
$1,212
2BR
$1,493
3BR
$1,920
4BR
$1,977

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
23.3%
▼ 7 ppt vs national
High School+
67.3%
Median Age
34.0
Avg. Commute
23 min
▼ 3 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

Shippensburg, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C (58/100), aggregated from 1 ZIP codes with a total population of 27,996. Challenges include education. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

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What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is Shippensburg, PA affordable?
Shippensburg, PA receives an overall affordability grade of C (58/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $71,181. Median home value is $227,900.
What is the cost of living in Shippensburg?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,046/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,493/mo. Median home value $227,900.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →