The Town FilesHalifax, Pennsylvania
Borough in Dauphin County · population 796 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $202,200
- Household income
- $53,472
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 84°
- Snow a year
- 27 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 10
- Median age
- 42.3
Halifax is a borough of 796 people in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $202,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better transit than 85% of Pennsylvania towns, easier by car than 71% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Halifax ranks
Percentile among Pennsylvania towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Pennsylvania towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Halifax is worth $202,200, below the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 3.8 times the median household income of $53,472, which is more affordable than 12% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $904 a month. 57.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Halifax | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $202,200 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $904 | $996 |
| Median household income | $53,472 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.8× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 57.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1938 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.0% | — |
Who lives in Halifax
| People | Halifax | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.3 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.3% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 21.4% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.9% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 25.9% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 7.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.1% | — |
| Work from home | 14.8% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 25.8 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 79.8% | 89.0% |
Weather in Halifax
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 20.0°F. About 50.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 26.8 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 128 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halifax since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on August 18, 2021 about 1.5 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 0 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 2, 2023.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 25 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2012.
Severe weather in Dauphin County since 1996
Dauphin County has been included in 22 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | Hurricane | DR-4618: Remnants Of Hurricane Ida |
| March 30, 2020 | Biological | DR-4506: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3441: Covid-19 |
| March 23, 2016 | Snowstorm | DR-4267: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| January 10, 2013 | Hurricane | DR-4099: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Dauphin County
Dauphin County had 190,296 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,012 a year. Unemployment was 3.2% in 2023; in Halifax itself the ACS puts it at 6.9%.
Public schools in Halifax
3 public schools with 894 students, about 11.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halifax Area El Sch | PK-4 | 352 | 10.4 |
| Halifax Area MS | 5-8 | 295 | 14.0 |
| Halifax Area HS | 9-12 | 247 | 10.3 |
Towns near Halifax
- Halifax, PA0.6 mi · 3,349 people · home $204,800
- Watts, PA3.2 mi · 1,231 people · home $247,400
- Lenkerville, PA5.0 mi · 504 people · home —
- Wayne, PA5.1 mi · 1,266 people · home $298,100
- Middle Paxton, PA5.2 mi · 5,048 people · home $262,700
- Millersburg, PA5.7 mi · 2,545 people · home $134,500
- Buffalo, PA6.0 mi · 1,224 people · home $223,100
- Dauphin, PA6.5 mi · 795 people · home $198,800
Halifax questions
Is Halifax, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Halifax scores better for retirees than 32% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 48%. 24.3% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.3).
How much does a house cost in Halifax?
The median owner-occupied home in Halifax is valued at $202,200 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $53,472, so homes cost about 3.8 times income. Median rent is $904 a month.
What is the weather like in Halifax?
July highs average 83.7°F and January lows 20.0°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 50.9 inches of precipitation a year and 26.8 inches of snow.
Does Halifax get tornadoes?
10 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Halifax since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on August 18, 2021. The typical Pennsylvania town has had 10.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)