RANK #233 / 996 · POP 261,269 · PA
PROJECTED GROWTH: +1.9%
Boiling Springs, a designated Appalachian Trail Community, offers a notable charm with its natural beauty, including Children's Lake and the Yellow Breeches Creek, known for fly-fishing. Located in south-central Pennsylvania, Cumberland County is minutes from Harrisburg and within a two-to-three-hour drive of major Northeast cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. The county provides various commute options, including bus services, carpooling, and vanpooling, alongside park-and-ride lots. The community blends rural landscapes with walkable towns, offering extensive outdoor recreation with three state parks and numerous hiking and biking trails.
Life in Cumberland County appeals to families and those seeking a balanced lifestyle. The county is home to nine school districts, including highly-rated Cumberland Valley School District, and several colleges and universities. The economy benefits from diverse sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, education, and government, including the U.S. Army War College. Recent economic developments include investments in manufacturing, with companies expanding facilities and increasing production capacity. The cost of living in the region is below the national average, contributing to its appeal.
Above national median
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (13x)
Housing looks undervalued at 3.5x — home prices are low relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
Pennsylvania Digital 1 (PAX-1) Hyperscale Data Center Campus
Carlisle Development Partners / PowerHouse Data Centers
|
$15,000M | Under Construction |
|
Hecate Solar Farm
Hecate Solar
|
$175M | Planned |
|
Schreiber Foods Shippensburg Facility Expansion
Schreiber Foods
|
$133M | Under Construction |
|
Mechanicsburg Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$70M | Operating |
|
Community Solar Portfolio (Multiple Projects)
Various (SunTribe, Borrego Solar Systems, etc.)
|
$50M | Planned |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
Cumberland County has a Boom Town Index score of 77/100, ranking #233 among 996 U.S. counties. With job growth at +0.8% and a median household income of $82,849, it's an above-average county on economic indicators.
The median home value in Cumberland County is $246,200 with median rent at $1,146/month. The income-to-home-value ratio is 0.3365, which is more affordable than the national average.
Population growth: +1.5% year-over-year. Job growth: +0.8%. Home values changed +3.8% in the past 12 months.
Yes — 4.56% of Cumberland County's population moved from another state, which is above the national average and indicates strong in-migration.