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Retirement community in Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Hershey, Pennsylvania Retirement Guide

established retirement community
65

Retirement Score

Hershey, Pennsylvania at a Glance

Median Home Price
$326,900
State Income Tax
State income tax; Social Security and most retirement income fully exempt.
Avg January Low
27°F
Cost of Living Index
96.3 (US avg = 100)
Best For
established retirement community
RetireCityIQ Score
65 / 100

Overview

Explore the key retirement factors for Hershey, Pennsylvania, including cost of living, taxes, healthcare quality, and climate data.

Cost of Living

Affordability Metrics

Cost of Living Index
96.3 (U.S. avg = 100)Low confidence
BEA Regional Price Parities · Updated May 2026
Median Household Income
$77,480High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Hershey's cost of living is 3.700000000000003% below the national average. For a detailed breakdown of expenses, see our cost of living methodology.

Housing

Real Estate & Housing

Median Home Price
$326,900High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Median Monthly Rent
$1,184High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Owner-Occupied Housing
56.2%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

10-Year Housing Stress Test (Estimate)

Estimate monthly homeowner carrying cost in Hershey using median home price and adjustable assumptions. Stress case applies +10% property tax, +20% insurance, +10% maintenance.

Estimated monthly carrying cost

$708

Stress-case monthly carrying cost

$795

Median home price used: $326,900

Median rent reference: $1,184 / month

Estimate includes property tax, insurance, maintenance reserve, and HOA. It excludes mortgage, utilities, and one-time transaction costs.

Budget validation

Calculate if your savings last in this city

Use RetireFree to test whether your portfolio can support retirement in Hershey, Pennsylvania after local housing costs, taxes, healthcare, inflation, and withdrawal timing.

Open the RetireFree Calculator →

Healthcare

Access & Quality

Healthcare Access Score
80.1 / 100High confidence
CMS Hospital General Information · Updated October 2026
Care Access (Proxy)
80.1 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026
Aging-in-Place Score
59.4 / 100Estimated
RetireCityIQ proxy model · Updated June 2026

Quality of care and specialist availability are critical for a successful retirement. Hershey scores 80.1 out of 100 for healthcare access.

Care planning link

Find local assisted living in Hershey

If your city research includes aging parents, future care needs, or a move closer to family, compare local care options alongside housing and healthcare access.

Assisted living in Hershey →

Taxes

State Tax Climate

Retirement Tax Score
60 / 100High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated October 2026
Tax Details
State income tax; Social Security and most retirement income fully exempt.High confidence
Tax Foundation · Updated October 2026

Pennsylvania has a tax environment that is moderate for retirees.

Climate

Weather & Environment

Avg July High
87.1°FLow confidence
Avg January Low
27°FLow confidence
Annual Precipitation
42.7"Low confidence
Sunny Days / Year
286 daysLow confidence

With 286 sunny days a year and an average January low of 27°F, Hershey offers a traditional winter climate.

Safety & Walkability

Community Safety

Safety Score
97.2 / 100Low confidence
FBI Crime Data Explorer · Updated June 2026

Walkability

Walk Score (proxy)
45.1 / 100Low confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026
Transit Score (proxy)
1.2 / 100Low confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year (B08301) · Updated June 2026

Demographics

Population Profile

Population
14,682High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Median Age
46.0High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Age 65+
18.4%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Veterans
5.6%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Bachelor's Degree+
49.7%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Diversity Breakdown

White
76.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Black
2.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Hispanic/Latino
12.0%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026
Asian
6.5%High confidence
U.S. Census ACS 5-Year · Updated October 2026

Frequently asked questions about retiring in Hershey

Is Hershey, Pennsylvania a good place to retire?▾

Hershey, Pennsylvania is one of the US retirement-friendly cities tracked by RetireCityIQ. Notable retirement-relevant traits include established retirement community. See the at-a-glance card on this page for the cost of living, state tax treatment, climate, and healthcare access metrics.

What is the cost of living in Hershey, Pennsylvania for retirees?▾

The cost-of-living index is 96, roughly 4% below the national average of 100. Median home price is around $326,900.

Does Pennsylvania tax Social Security or retirement income?▾

For Pennsylvania residents: State income tax; Social Security and most retirement income fully exempt.

What is the climate like in Hershey, Pennsylvania?▾

Hershey, Pennsylvania has January average low around 27°F, July average high around 87°F. Climate normals are based on 30-year averages from NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information.

What is healthcare access like in Hershey, Pennsylvania?▾

Hershey scores 80/100 on the RetireCityIQ healthcare access index — a top-tier score. The index combines CMS hospital quality ratings, Medicare Advantage plan availability, and hospitals per 100,000 residents (KFF + CMS data).

Interested in Hershey? Talk to a Local Expert.

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