Carlisle 78 Exceptional
Carlisle Livability #297 ranked city in Pennsylvania#2,632 ranked city in the USARanks better than 91% of areas
Is This the Right Place for You? Local Insights Report
  • Uncover the key details before you move
  • Use local data to guide a smarter investment
  • Compare neighborhoods side by side
Local Insights Report

Pros and Cons of Living in Carlisle

PROS
  • Cost Of Living Cost Of Living

    The overall cost of living in this area is much lower than average. This includes everyday goods and services, as well as housing, utilities and health care.

  • Crime Crime

    With a lower than average crime rate per 100,000 people, this area could be considered a very safe place to live. Crime rates are based on both violent and property crimes.

  • Housing Housing

    This area has received high scores in the housing category. This could be due to a positive home affordability ratio, high appreciation rates or elevated home values.

  • Health & Safety Health & Safety

    A high score in the health and safety category is a result of good air quality and the accessibility to health facilities such as hospitals, clinics, doctors, pharmacies and fire stations.

  • Ratings Ratings

    Local residents have positive things to say about the proximity of restaurants, grocery stores, parks, public transit, friendliness of neighbors, sense of community and overall safety of the area.

CONS
  • Commute Commute

    Public transportation is not readily available in this area and the average commute time to work could also be longer than the national average.

What's it like Living in Carlisle?

Carlisle is a mid-sized city located in the state of Pennsylvania. The city has a population of 19,623 people. Carlisle has a population density of 3,547 people per square mile. This would be considered well above the national population density level. If we look at the most recent Census, Carlisle is known to have a predominantly White population. The next two most common races are Black and Asian. Carlisle tends to attract a younger crowd, as the median age of 33 is far below the national average. Single men and women might be happy to hear that in Carlisle, only 45% of the population is married. Not a fan of sitting in traffic during your commute to work? Carlisle offers shorter work commutes, with an average one-way commute time taking only 18 minutes, far lower than the national average of 26 minutes.

If you’re considering relocating to any new city, it could be a very discouraging task. However, it could also be a positive experience if you are willing to get to know the area before actually living in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. When searching for a new neighborhood, several key items should be considered. Safety is of utmost importance, ensuring a secure environment with low crime. Proximity to your workplace or school helps reduce commuting time and offers convenience. Access to amenities such as parks, grocery stores, and healthcare facilities enhances your daily life. Public transportation options contribute to easy mobility. A sense of community fosters a supportive and engaging environment. Lastly, the overall atmosphere should align with your desired lifestyle, ensuring a fulfilling living experience. Considering these items will guide you towards finding the perfect neighborhood that fits all your needs. To help you find the best places to live in and around Carlisle, AreaVibes has created a livability score using key metrics like amenities, crime, employment and more.

The livability score in Carlisle is 76 out of 100 and the city is ranked in the 89th percentile of all cities across America. Pack your bags! This is a very high score in comparison to other US cities. Living in Carlisle could be a great choice! Based on the grades for each individual category, Carlisle has been rewarded with high marks for crime (B+), cost of living (A-), education (B) and housing (A+). Carlisle does not score well for the following: amenities (D). It might be a smart idea to take a closer look at each category to find out why.

Ensuring a sense of security is paramount for the majority of residents in any area. Low crime rates exert a positive influence on various aspects, including home prices, rates of home appreciation and the cultivation of positive community dynamics and social cohesion. In the case of Carlisle, it boasts a notably low violent crime rate of 169 crimes per 100,000 residents, which significantly outperforms the national average.

Unemployment rates can range pretty dramatically from one city to another. Knowing that Carlisle has an unemployment rate of 2.5% could mean increased job opportunities with a higher demand for workers. It could also lead to higher wages, as the demand for workers exceeds the availability of jobs. Most importantly, it could be a sign of a healthy and thriving local economy.

For home buyers, real estate will be the largest purchase they will ever make and it will also be their most valuable asset. For renters, the monthly rent paid on their Carlisle apartments will most likely be their largest expense. Based on tangible metrics like home and rental affordability and appreciation rates, housing in this area has received a score that is well above the average of every other US city. A thriving real estate market can also generate strong local economic activity and job creation.

Assuming that Carlisle meets all of your requirements like low crime rates, good schools and great local amenities, the next most important item to examine is the affordability of real estate in Carlisle. Everything else becomes a lot less important if it turns out that home prices in Carlisle are simply unattainable. Median real estate prices in Carlisle come in at $333,255, which is 12.4% higher than the Pennsylvania average. The home price to income ratio compares the median home prices to the median household income. In Carlisle, the home price to income ratio is 4.6, which is 24.3% higher than the Pennsylvania average.

Best Places to Live in and Around Carlisle

See all the best places to live around Carlisle

How Do You Rate The Livability In Carlisle?

1. Select a livability score between 1-100
0
Awful
25
Poor
50
Average
75
Good
100
Great
2. Select any tags that apply to this area
View results

Compare Carlisle, PA Livability

City Image
    City Default Image
      vs

      Carlisle transportation information

      Statistic Carlisle Pennsylvania National
      Average one way commute18min26min26min
      Workers who drive to work68.1%76.5%76.4%
      Workers who carpool5.2%8.5%9.3%
      Workers who take public transit0.5%5.6%5.1%
      Workers who bicycle2.4%0.5%0.6%
      Workers who walk12.4%3.8%2.8%
      Working from home10.0%4.2%4.6%
      Source: The Carlisle, PA data and statistics displayed above are derived from the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) and include 2026 modeled data developed using proprietary methodologies.