Real Estate Investing in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (17109)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Dauphin County • Population: 27,422 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17109 (Harrisburg, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Harrisburg, PA (17109)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $267,945
Avg Monthly Rent $1,325
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,496
% Renters 45.9%

Market Analysis: 17109 Harrisburg

ZIP 17109 inside Dauphin County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $268K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $1,325/mo on a $268K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 17109 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 17109 and stronger Harrisburg ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 17109 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 17109 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Harrisburg:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,325/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
21 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.6%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 17109

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$66,694/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $214,750 $1,560 5.2% +7.7% $107,375
3BR $256,191 $2,010 5.6% +8.0% $85,397
4BR $289,769 $2,070 5.1% +7.4% $72,442
5BR $333,468 +8.4% $66,694

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$280K$249K$218K$187K$156K$125KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,392$1,356$1,320$1,283$1,247$1,210Oct 2021Mar 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17109 Compare?

Metric 17109 Harrisburg Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $267,945 $209,104 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.7% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,325 $1,377 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17109? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 46% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 17109 (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

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Midtown Property Management. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $267,945
Monthly Rent $1,325
Price-to-Rent 16.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17109

Population: 27,422

💰 Median Household Income
$68,496
This area
$68,496
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.9%
This area
45.9%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.1 years
This area
36.1 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 51.4%
Black/African American 23.9%
Other/Mixed 12.9%
Asian 11.8%
Hispanic/Latino 5.8%
👶 Under 18
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.8%
This area
9.8%
USA
11.5%

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 17109

A Avg School Grade
10 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$18,720 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Central Dauphin East MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
663 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,384 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Phillips El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,384 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Susquehanna Twp HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
774 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,385 Per Student
A Very Good

Central Dauphin MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
855 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,384 Per Student
A Very Good

North Side El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
705 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,384 Per Student
A Very Good

Sara Lindemuth El Sch

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
789 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,385 Per Student
A Very Good

Susquehanna Twp MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
744 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,385 Per Student
A Very Good

Infinity CS

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
256 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,406 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Central Dauphin East SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,596 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,384 Per Student
B Good

Dauphin County Technical School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,175 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
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

8 Nearby 5,924 Off-Campus Students
D
Empire Beauty School-Harrisburg
150 students · 0.4 mi
C
Barber and Beauty Academy of Pennsylvania
44 students · 1.0 mi
D
Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education-Central Office
0 students · 2.5 mi
C
Harrisburg Area Community College
12,880 students · 3.3 mi
C
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology
3,558 students · 3.5 mi
C+
Central Penn College
827 students · 5.9 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
4,651 students · 7.4 mi
C+
Messiah University
3,344 students · 12.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,924 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the renter demographic in Harrisburg, PA?

The renter base in Harrisburg, PA is reasonable for the $1,325/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

Does Harrisburg, PA favor landlords or tenants?

Harrisburg, PA falls under PA landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How much does a house cost in Harrisburg, PA?

Median home price in Harrisburg, PA is near $268K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Harrisburg, PA?

Rental vacancy in Harrisburg, PA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Harrisburg, PA?

Harrisburg, PA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,325/mo rent level.

You know 17109 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17109 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.

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How 17109 ranks in Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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