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Community Guide
Living in Hershey, PA.
The Sweetest Place on Earth: a company town turned polished suburb with top schools, Penn State Health, and a year-round tourism economy that funds one of Pennsylvania's most amenity-rich communities.
The Numbers
Quick facts.
A snapshot of what Hershey looks like on paper, helpful context before you tour.
Population
~14,400
Median Age
40.2
Median Income
$88,900
Median Home Price
$415,000
Price / Sq Ft
$205
Avg. Property Tax
~1.9%
Avg. Commute
20 min
Homeownership
62%
School District
Derry Township SD
ZIP Code
17033
Figures are approximate and drawn from public sources including the U.S. Census, Bright MLS, and district reporting. Verify with a local professional before making decisions.
The Personality
Why people love Hershey.
Hershey isn't in Lancaster County (it sits just across the line in Dauphin County), but it's frequently on the list for buyers considering the greater Lancaster-Harrisburg corridor.
Founded as Milton Hershey's company town, it has grown into a polished, well-funded suburb with excellent schools, major employers, and cultural amenities that draw visitors from around the country.
Atmosphere
Manicured, well-funded, and family-oriented. The Hershey Trust's presence shapes everything from streetlamps (shaped like chocolate kisses) to the schools.
Lifestyle
Walkable downtown, year-round events at Hersheypark, and access to concerts, medical care, and shopping usually associated with much larger cities.
Downtown
Cocoa Avenue and Chocolate Avenue form the walkable spine, with restaurants, boutiques, and the historic Hershey Theatre nearby.
Parks & outdoors
The Hershey Gardens, Cocoa Beanery walking loop, and dozens of township parks handle outdoor life.
Commute & highways
Route 322 runs to Harrisburg (~15 min); PA Turnpike puts Philadelphia at ~2 hours. Amtrak in nearby Middletown.
- Top Derry Twp schools
- Penn State Health
- Cultural amenities
- Family-friendly
- Well-funded township
The Market
Architecture & housing stock.
Hershey homes in the Derry Township school district move quickly year-round. Physician relocation from Penn State Health keeps demand steady even in slower months.
Median existing home
$415,000
Median new construction
$595,000
Typical lot size
0.20 to 0.50 acres
Average days on market
10 to 18 days
Company-town historic homes
Classic Milton Hershey-era single-family in the downtown core, brick, tile roofs, and mature landscaping.
Mid-century single-family
Well-kept ranches, split-levels, and colonials throughout Derry Township.
Luxury homes
Estates in Fox Chase, Deer Run, and along the ridges east of downtown, often $700K to $1.5M+.
New construction
Charter Homes, McNaughton Homes, and Landmark Homes active in and around Derry Township.
New construction
Charter Homes
Master-planned communities on Hershey's edges with amenities and consistent design.
McNaughton Homes
Long-standing regional builder with active Derry Township communities.
Landmark Homes
Move-up single-family and 55+ options.
Custom builders
Metzler and Keystone active for build-on-your-land in Derry Township.
Education
Schools.
One of the most sought-after public districts in Central Pennsylvania: strong academics, well-funded facilities, and a distinct sense of tradition.
Public district
Derry Township School District
Enrollment
~3,700 students district-wide
Student:Teacher
~13:1
Strengths
Highly regarded academics and one of the top public school athletic programs in the state, particularly swimming, tennis, and lacrosse.
Elementary
- Early Childhood Center
- Hershey Primary Elementary
- Hershey Elementary
Middle / Intermediate
- Hershey Middle School
High school
- Hershey High School
Private & charter options
- Milton Hershey School (K, 12, need-based)
- The Vista School
School district information is provided for reference only. Ratings, boundaries, enrollment, and academic performance change from year to year. Always verify the most current information directly with the district and with sources like GreatSchools and Niche before making a home purchase decision.
The Calendar
Things to do.
A local's shortlist for eating, drinking, shopping, and spending a weekend in and around Hershey.
Breakfast
- The Chocolate Avenue Grill
- Cocoa Beanery
Lunch & dinner
- Devon Seafood + Steak
- Fenicci's of Hershey
- The Hershey Grill
- Café Zooma
- Piazza Sorrento
Coffee shops
- Cocoa Beanery
- The Bagel Bin
- Elementary Coffee (Harrisburg, nearby)
Bakeries
- The Pantry
- Nissley's Cakery (nearby)
Breweries & wineries
- Troegs Independent Brewing (adjacent)
- Cider House (nearby)
Ice cream
- Hershey's Chocolate World
- The Cow (Hershey Farm)
Date night
- Devon Seafood + Steak
- The Circular at Hotel Hershey
- Trattoria
Hidden gems
- Cocoa Beanery walking loop
- Hershey Gardens rose collection in June
Shopping
- Grocery: Giant, Weis, Karns Foods, and Whole Foods a short drive away.
- Shopping centers: Tanger Outlets Hershey and shops along Route 322.
- Local boutiques: Independent shops along Chocolate and Cocoa avenues.
- Specialty: Hershey's Chocolate World for gifts and confections.
Parks & recreation
- Hershey Gardens: 23 acres of themed gardens above downtown.
- Cocoa Beanery walking loop: Local favorite for morning walks and runs.
- Hersheypark: The community's front yard: season passes are common among residents.
- ZooAmerica: 11-acre walk-through zoo adjacent to Hersheypark.
Festivals & attractions
- Hersheypark: Amusement park, water park, and holiday-lights season.
- GIANT Center concerts: Major touring acts year-round.
- Hershey Theatre: Broadway series in a landmark 1930s theater.
- Hershey Gardens: Seasonal exhibits and rose garden.
Getting Around
Commute & accessibility.
Approximate off-peak drive times from Hershey to the region's major destinations, plus notes on highways, transit, and rail.
Lancaster City
35 min
Lititz
30 min
Mount Joy
25 min
Hershey
,
Harrisburg
20 min
York
45 min
Philadelphia
100 min
Highways
US Route 322 and US 422; direct access to I-81 and I-83; PA Turnpike (I-76) ~20 min.
Public transit
Capital Area Transit (CAT) buses connect Hershey with Harrisburg.
Rail / Amtrak
Nearest Amtrak service is Middletown Station (~15 min) and Harrisburg Transportation Center (~25 min).
Walkability
Downtown Hershey walkable; suburbs and Derry Township require a car
Best suited for
Families, Professionals, Luxury Buyers, Retirees
Drive times are approximate and reflect typical off-peak conditions. Actual times vary with traffic, weather, and route.
Honest Fit
Who should live here.
A strong fit for
- Physicians and healthcare professionals working at Penn State Health
- Families prioritizing Derry Township schools
- Move-up buyers looking for polished suburban amenities
- Empty nesters attracted to 55+ new-construction options
- Luxury buyers seeking well-appointed estates
May not be ideal if…
- Buyers wanting rural quiet or acreage
- Anyone bothered by tourism traffic during Hersheypark's peak season
- First-time buyers on a very tight budget, entry prices run high
Plan the move
Builders, budgets, and places nearby.
- Builder serving this areaKeystone Custom HomesOne of the largest privately-held homebuilders in the region, known for expansive floor plans and strong included features.
- Builder serving this areaEG Stoltzfus HomesA third-generation Lancaster County builder known for careful craftsmanship and a strong farmhouse/traditional design sensibility.
- CalculatorAffordability calculatorTranslate Hershey pricing into a monthly payment.
- CommunitiesNew construction communitiesWhere builders are actively selling, by county and price band.
Frequently Asked
FAQs about Hershey.
Financing
Mortgage insight.
Every home is different, and every buyer's situation is too. Corie Adams and her team live here, lend here, and know the appraisers, inspectors, and title companies who work Lancaster County every day.
Ready when you are
Found a home you love in Hershey?
Get pre-approved first so your offer carries weight the moment you find the right house.
Nearby
Related communities.
Elizabethtown
A quiet college town on Lancaster County's western edge: walkable Main Street, Elizabethtown College energy, and one of the region's best-priced entries into a strong school district.
Mount Joy
A historic Susquehanna-adjacent borough with 1800s brick storefronts, Bube's Brewery, and a growing new-construction market: small-town character with steady momentum.
Manheim Township
Lancaster County's premier family suburb: leafy neighborhoods, one of the highest-ranked public school districts in the region, and every convenience within a five-minute drive.