Real Estate Investing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (17104)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 17104 (Harrisburg, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.
Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.
- High vacancy: 13.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
- Elevated poverty: 31.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
- Higher unemployment: 9.1% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
What’s happening in Harrisburg, PA (17104)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 17104 Harrisburg
Investors eyeing 17104 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $135K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.
The 17104 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.
ZIP 17104's metrics run below Dauphin County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.
The demographic picture in 17104 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Harrisburg averages, and tenant stability requires active management.
Strategically, 17104 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Harrisburg:
Property Strategy for 17104
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $124,618 | $1,260 | 7.3% | +11.1% | $62,309 |
| 3BR | $128,731 | $1,620 | 9.1% | +12.6% | $42,910 |
| 4BR | $139,021 | $1,670 | 8.6% | +12.4% | $34,755 |
| 5BR | $115,937 | — | — | +12.4% | $23,187 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 17104 Compare?
| Metric | 17104 | Harrisburg | Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $135,379 | $209,104 | N/A | $278,018 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 9.6% | 6.7% | N/A | 6.3% |
| Avg Rent | $1,193 | $1,377 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 6.9% | 4.9% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
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Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 17104 (Harrisburg, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Dauphin County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Harrisburg Property Management Group. summary from their website
Midtown Property Management. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $135,379 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,193 |
| Price-to-Rent | 9.5:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 10.6% |
| Cap Rate | 6.9% |
| 5-Year IRR | 16.5% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +10.4% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +10.7% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +9.6% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +13.2% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -4.3% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.6% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.9%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.
⚠️ Risk Signals
Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.
Demographics in 17104
Population: 19,401
Crime & Safety
Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon
We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.
Expected: Q1 2025
🎓 Schools in 17104
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Downey Sch
Harrisburg HS - SciTech Cmp
Steelton-Highspire El Sch
Steelton-Highspire HS
Hillside El Sch
About Repit School Scores
Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.
We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:
- Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
- School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
- Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
- School Environment — Size, type, and structure
Scores are updated annually using federal education data.
🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities
Investor Insight: With 5,924 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do rents currently stand in Harrisburg, PA?
Rental rates in Harrisburg, PA average $1,193/mo. Tenant demand and $135K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.
What investment strategy works best in Harrisburg, PA?
For Harrisburg, PA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.
Does Harrisburg, PA make sense for an investment property?
Harrisburg, PA scores 4.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $135K and rents near $1,193/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.
Does a duplex house hack pencil in Harrisburg, PA?
House hacking in Harrisburg, PA is a challenging. With home values around $135K and rents at $1,193/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.
How do landlord-tenant laws work in Harrisburg, PA?
For rental operators, Harrisburg, PA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.
You know 17104 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17104 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.
How 17104 ranks in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA
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