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Shippensburg borough, PA

ZIP Code 17257 — Shippensburg borough, PA Demographics & Data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

Map, Quick Facts & Location

Quick Facts

Local time
Population
29,116
Median Income
$71,504
-5% vs US avg
Home Value
$219,200
-37% vs US avg
Median Rent
$872
-25% vs US avg
Median Age
34.0 yrs
-13% vs US avg
Area Code
Congress
Top Ancestry
GermanIrishAmerican
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Location
Coordinates
40.0474, -77.4933
Elevation
680 ft
Land Area
117.4 sq mi
Water Area
0.3 sq mi (0% water)

At a glance

Population
29,116
Density
N/A
Median income
$71,504
-5% vs US avg
Home value
$219,200
-37% vs US avg
Median rent
$872
-25% vs US avg
Timezone

Overview of ZIP Code 17257

UniversityUniversity / college area
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What to know about ZIP 17257

ZIP code 17257 covers Shippensburg, PA in Cumberland County with a population of about 29,116.

At a glance, the area shows median age of 34.0 versus a U.S. median of about 38.9.

It sits in telephone area codes 223, 717; U.S. House district PA-13; the HARRISBURG - LNCSTR - LEB - YORK media market.

Local search focus: University

Shippensburg, PA sits in a university / college context (near shippensburg university of pennsylvania (1.7 mi)). Expect stronger interest in student housing, rentals, walkability, transit, and a younger adult age mix versus typical suburban ZIPs.

Income and economy in Shippensburg, PA

Median household income in ZIP 17257 is about $71,504 — about 5% below the U.S. median ($75,149).

On socioeconomic markers, US5 shows a poverty rate of 10.2%; unemployment rate near 4.2%; 22.9% of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (about 10.8 points below the national share (33.7%)).

Labor and commute patterns include leading industry context around Retail trade, Healthcare, and Education; about 8.5% of workers reporting work-from-home (about 6.7 points below the U.S. share (15.2%)); a mean commute of about 180.0 minutes (U.S. average near 26.8).

Housing and affordability in ZIP 17257

Median home value is about $219,200 — about 37% below the U.S. median home value ($348,079).

Housing tenure and rents show median gross rent around $872 (about 25% below the U.S. median rent ($1,163)), and owner-occupancy near 67.9% (about 2.5 points above the national owner-occupancy rate (65.4%)).

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 17257 in Shippensburg, PA, a household would need roughly $60,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,408. That sits below the local median household income ($71,504), suggesting the typical household income is closer to a workable buy-in level under these assumptions. Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Climate risk and migration signals

FEMA’s National Risk Index rates natural-hazard risk for Shippensburg borough, PA as Relatively Moderate (composite score 86.2), which is elevated versus much of the country. The strongest component scores on US5 are flood (91.1) and hurricane (87.4). These scores are county-linked NRI values published for planning context — all ZIP codes in the same county share the same composite score on US5. Useful when comparing insurance and disaster exposure across areas, not a substitute for a parcel-level flood or fire determination.

Climate normals for Shippensburg borough, PA show little to no average snow and around 42.5 inches of annual precipitation.

IRS migration statistics show a net inflow of about 1,326 for ZIP 17257 (Shippensburg borough, PA) on US5’s published series — a signal of people/tax filers moving in relative to those leaving. Inflows often track job growth, housing demand, or lifestyle migration; treat the figure as a directional indicator rather than a precise headcount.

Nearby (from this ZIP)

Airport HGR (26.5 miles (42.6 km)) · Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (1.7 miles (2.7 km)) · Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument (20.0 miles (32.2 km)) · VA: Carlisle Barracks (18.8 miles (30.2 km))

Full lists and map pins are in the Infrastructure section below.