1. Health and Welfare Building Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 787-9555
625 Forster St, Room 902
Health and Welfare Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120
(717)
Jonathan Johnson
Senior Policy Analyst

2. Center’s Database
Pennsylvania’s most comprehensive database on rural trends and conditions
Grants program “feeds” the database
Data available on Center’s website or via

3. Rural and Urban Municipalities in South Central Pennsylvania
A rural municipality has a population density of less than 274 persons per square mile or the municipality’s total population is less than 2,500 unless more than 50 percent of the population lives in an urbanized area, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
All other municipalities are considered urban.
Urban
Rural
129 Urban Municipalities
187 Rural Municipalities
1.287 million Population
600,000 Population
3,952 Sq. Land Miles
1,170 Sq. Land Miles
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

4. Rural and Urban Municipalities in Pennsylvania
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

5. Rural and Urban Population in South Central Pennsylvania, 1960-2010
Municipalities that Doubled Population, 1960 to 2010
Population
Rural and Urban Population in South Central Pennsylvania,
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

6. Age Cohorts in Rural and Urban South Central Pennsylvania, 2010
(Avg. Age = 38.7)
Rural
(Avg. Age = 39.0)
Male
Female
Male
Female
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

7. Rural and Urban Households in South Central Pennsylvania, 2010
Rural Households
(n=223,391)
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

8. Rural–Urban Comparison, 2006-10
Average Household
Income
Rural = $69,600
Urban = $66,855
Avg.Housing Values
Rural = $221,399
Urban = $197,14
Poverty Rate
Rural = 7%
Urban = 10%
Homeownership
Rural = 82%
Urban = 67%
Data source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

9. Rural–Urban Comparison Cont., 2006-10
Avg. Commute Time
Rural = 27 min.
Urban = 22 min.
Women in
Labor Force
Rural = 45%
Urban = 48%
Bachelor’s Degree
or Higher
Rural = 18%
Urban = 26%
Data source: American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

10. Rural and Urban School Expenditures in South Central Region
Inflation Adjusted Expenditure Per Student,
Total Expenditure Per Student,

11. Business Establishments by Zip Code, 2009
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau

12. Rural and Urban Municipalities in South Central Region
% Municipal Police Department, 2012
18%
60%
% Regional Police/Contract Services, 2012
13%
33%
% State Police Coverage Only, 2012
69% 8%
Rural
Urban
% With Comprehensive Plan, 2012
81%
93%
% With Planning Commission, 2012
84%
92%
% With Zoning Ordinance, 2012
85%
98%
% With Zoning Hearing Board, 2012
73%
97%
Rural
Urban
Median Total Revenues, 2010
$738,000
$4.29 Million
Taxes per Capita, 2010
$155
$288
Total # Municipal Owned Road Miles, 2010
5,583
5,041
% Expenditures for Streets & Highways, 2010
31%
10%
Data source: Gov. Center for Local Govt. Services

13. Summary
Within South Central Pennsylvania there are rural and urban differences.
Rural South Central Pennsylvania is different than the rest of rural Pennsylvania.
Over the last 50 years, rural South Central Pennsylvania has seen significant population growth– this growth may challenge the rural character of some areas.