RANK #668 / 1001 NAT · #36 / 44 PA · POP 268,323
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +26%
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.
Cumberland County is one of 110 U.S. counties in this market profile — weaker than typical on the BoomTown Index. Within this cohort, its recent home-price change of +3.6% runs above the profile's typical +2.4%.
See all 110 Educated Suburban Growth counties →Overvalued relative to economy
Below-average climate & terrain
Below national median (15x)
Housing looks overvalued at 8.2x — home prices are high relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Bars show trailing 12-month growth. The dashed Forecast bars are the model's next-12-month projection; the whisker marks the ±1% range (cooling–accelerating).
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| 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 1001 counties.
At 33/100, Cumberland County faces headwinds that place it in the lower third of the 1001 counties we track. Median income of $87,494 combined with job growth of +0.1% suggests the local economy is struggling to keep pace with national trends.
Housing in Cumberland County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $277,600 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.32, with rents averaging $1,249/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Cumberland County's population is growing — up +1.5% YoY — while the job market is roughly flat (employment change of +0.1%). Home values shifted +3.6% over the past year. In-migration is outpacing local hiring, which often points to remote workers or retirees driving the headcount.
There's a moderate stream of newcomers. About 4.17% of residents moved from another state, which is above average and suggests Cumberland County has appeal as a relocation destination — though it's not among the highest-inflow counties nationally.