Hershey, PA vs Pennside, PA

Pennside is moderately more affordable than Hershey, with a 11.9% lower cost of living index. Hershey scores 99 compared to 89 for Pennside, where the US average is 100. This difference means residents of Hershey can expect to pay noticeably more for everyday expenses, housing, and services.

On the housing front, median rent in Hershey is $1,241/month compared to $1,289/month in Pennside — a 4% difference. Interestingly, home values tell a different story: while Hershey has cheaper rent, Pennside actually has lower median home values ($195,000 vs $339,300).

Median household income in Hershey is $78,750 compared to $77,411 in Pennside (+1.7%). Hershey does offer higher incomes, but the salary premium barely offsets the higher cost of living, leaving residents with a tighter budget. Looking at affordability, residents of Hershey spend roughly 18.9% of their income on rent, less than the 20% in Pennside.