The Town FilesSwatara, Pennsylvania
Township in Dauphin County · population 27,824 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $214,400
- Household income
- $80,444
- Jan low / Jul high
- 25° / 88°
- Snow a year
- 30 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 14
- Median age
- 37.7
Swatara is a township of 27,824 people in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The median home is worth $214,400, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). It ranks better for cycling than 94% of Pennsylvania towns, more vibrant than 86% of Pennsylvania towns, better for first-time buyers than 85% of Pennsylvania towns.
How Swatara 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 Swatara is worth $214,400, close to the typical Pennsylvania town ($214,250). Homes cost about 2.7 times the median household income of $80,444, which is more affordable than 59% of Pennsylvania towns. Median rent is $1,252 a month. 69.9% of households own their home.
| Housing | Swatara | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $214,400 | $214,250 |
| Median rent | $1,252 | $996 |
| Median household income | $80,444 | $75,278 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.7× | 2.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.9% | 81.5% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1971 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.4% | — |
Who lives in Swatara
| People | Swatara | Typical Pennsylvania town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37.7 | 44.2 |
| Age 65 and over | 15.4% | 21.1% |
| Under 18 | 19.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.5% | 23.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.3% | 8.5% |
| Veterans | 6.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 17.2% | — |
| Work from home | 19.7% | 10.6% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 25.9 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.0% | 89.0% |
Weather in Swatara
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.9°F. About 41.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 29.9 inches of snow (typical Pennsylvania town: 31.8 in). Expect about 26 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 102 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swatara since 1950, compared with 10 for the typical Pennsylvania town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on April 28, 2011 about 9.1 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 15, 2018.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 41 times; the largest was 2.75 inches on June 1, 1976.
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 Swatara itself the ACS puts it at 3.7%.
Towns near Swatara
- Lawnton, PA1.4 mi · 4,967 people · home $222,600
- Steelton, PA1.8 mi · 6,263 people · home $134,800
- Rutherford, PA2.5 mi · 5,765 people · home $214,200
- Highspire, PA2.8 mi · 2,741 people · home $144,700
- Lower Swatara, PA3.1 mi · 9,531 people · home $234,600
- Penbrook, PA3.2 mi · 3,274 people · home $168,100
- Progress, PA3.5 mi · 11,168 people · home $202,500
- Colonial Park, PA3.6 mi · 16,243 people · home $231,100
Swatara questions
Is Swatara, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Swatara scores better for retirees than 7% of Pennsylvania towns and quieter than 18%. 15.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 37.7).
How much does a house cost in Swatara?
The median owner-occupied home in Swatara is valued at $214,400 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $80,444, so homes cost about 2.7 times income. Median rent is $1,252 a month.
What is the weather like in Swatara?
July highs average 87.6°F and January lows 24.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 41.0 inches of precipitation a year and 29.9 inches of snow.
Does Swatara get tornadoes?
14 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Swatara since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on April 28, 2011. 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)