ZIP Code 17236

standard

Source:

Mercersburg · Franklin County · Pennsylvania

Population
8,895

28/sq mi

Median income
$79,271

▲ 4% vs US

higher than 61% of US ZIPs

Median home value
$239,600

▼ 14% vs US

higher than 55% of US ZIPs

Bachelor's or higher
20.9%

Median age 45

Land area
321.1 sq mi

New York

ZIP code 17236 in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania has a population of 8,895. The median household income is $79,271, which is 4% above the national average. Median home value is $239,600, 14% below the US average. 20.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

ZIP code 17236 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 321.1 square miles in Mercersburg, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. The area is home to 8,895 residents, producing a population density of 28 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 17236 against Pennsylvania and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 17236 sits at $79,271 (2% above the Pennsylvania average), while per-capita income is $40,110. The poverty rate stands at 10.9% and the unemployment rate at 4.1%. On housing, the median home value is $239,600 (5% above the state average) with median rent at $1,143 per month, and 76.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 17236 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 20.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45, and the average commute is 33 minutes. We also surface 4 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Franklin County, so you can benchmark 17236 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →

Top industries in ZIP 17236

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 17236.

establishments

What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 17236, Mercersburg, PA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.

Quick Facts

8,895

Population

321.1

Area (sq mi)

28

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 17236?

45.0

Median Age

50.1%

Male

49.9%

Female

1.4%

Foreign-Born

White 92.5%
African American 1.4%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 5.3%
Hispanic or Latino 1.9%

Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

How much do residents earn?

$79,271

Median Household Income

+2% vs state

$40,110

Per Capita Income

10.9%

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Unemployment Rate

32.7 min

Mean Commute Time

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What is the education profile here?

High School Graduate or Higher 67.6%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 20.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,798

Total Housing Units

3,492

Occupied Units

306

Vacant Units

2.52

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 76.8%
Renter 23.2%

$239,600

Median Home Value

+5% vs state

$1,143

Median Rent

1971

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals

+6.5%

YoY Change (2024)

277

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+177%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 17236 have increased 6.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +177% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.6% 178
2021 +12.2% 199
2022 +9.8% 219
2023 +18.8% 260
2024 +6.5% 277

Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 152 business establishments in ZIP 17236, employing approximately 2,146 people with a combined annual payroll of $83,817,000.

152

Businesses

2,146

Employees

$83.8M

Annual Payroll

13

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 24 15.8%
Retail trade 21 13.8%
Other services (except public administration) 21 13.8%
Manufacturing 18 11.8%
Accommodation and food services 14 9.2%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 11 7.2%
Transportation and warehousing 9 5.9%
Health care and social assistance 9 5.9%
Finance and insurance 6 4.0%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 5 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 5 3.3%
Wholesale trade 3 2.0%
Information 3 2.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.

Nearby ZIP Codes

Want a side-by-side? Compare 17236 vs 17212 →

ZIP Code City Population Distance
17212 Big Cove Tannery, PA 702 6.4 mi
21722 Clear Spring, MD 5,545 9.2 mi
21711 Big Pool, MD 1,029 9.8 mi
17252 Saint Thomas, PA 3,608 10.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Franklin County

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 17236 in?
ZIP code 17236 (Mercersburg) is located in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Franklin County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/franklin-pa.
What is the population of ZIP code 17236?
ZIP code 17236 in Mercersburg, PA has a population of 8,895 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 17236?
The median household income in ZIP 17236 is $79,271, which is 4% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 17236?
The median home value in ZIP 17236 is $239,600, which is 14% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 17236?
The largest racial group in ZIP 17236 is White at 92.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 17236?
ZIP code 17236 has 152 business establishments employing approximately 2,146 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 17236?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 17236 are: Construction (24), Retail trade (21), Other services (except public administration) (21). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 17236?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 17236 increased by 6.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 177%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 17236?
In ZIP code 17236, 67.6% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 20.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 17236?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 17236 is 32.7 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 17236?
In ZIP code 17236, approximately 76.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 23.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 17236?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 17236 is 10.9% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Official Data Resources for Mercersburg, PA

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.

PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.