Located about twenty miles from the capital city of Pennsylvania – Harrisburg – Carlisle is a gorgeous borough in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Part of the Harrisburg−Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area, Carlisle lies within the highly productive agricultural region of Cumberland Valley. The town is home to the prestigious U.S. Army War College, and the United States Army Heritage and Education Center. 

What is the community of Carlisle like?  

Home to around 19,000 residents and spanning over ten constituent neighborhoods, Carlisle is the 50th largest community in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The town is famous to many people for its car shows, put on regularly by Carlisle Events throughout the spring, summer, and fall at the Carlisle Fairgrounds.  

Apart from the frequently scheduled shows, the town also hosts specialty car shows including the GM Nationals, the Ford Nationals, the Chrysler Nationals, the Truck Nationals, Corvettes at Carlisle, and the Import/Kit Car Nationals.  

Founded in 1751, Carlisle is dotted with many intriguing museums and historical sites that attract visitors from near and far. The town is home to the U.S. Army War College, which is located at the Carlisle Barracks and prepares high-level military personnel and civilians for strategic leadership responsibilities. The Carlisle Barracks is one of the oldest U.S. Army installations and the most senior military educational institution in the United States Army.  

In addition, part of the U.S. Army War College, the 56-acres U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle is the main historical research facility for the U.S. Army. The center houses an impressive collection of 16 million military items including the world’s largest collection of Civil War photography, as well as exhibits such as the Soldier Experience Gallery that display artifacts following the U.S. Army from the Spanish-American War to now, and the Army Heritage Trail with tanks and helicopters. 

Carlisle is also home to the first college after the United States was formed – the Dickinson College. Sprawling over 144 acres, the Dickinson College was officially chartered on September 9, 1783, and today imparts the community with not only incredible education but also opportunities to come together through its various sporting events.  

What is Real Estate like in Carlisle?     

Real estate in Carlisle has shown an average growth of 2.55% per year since the year 2000. Besides, since 2000, the prices of homes in Carlisle have overall appreciated by 69.6%. National real estate firm Berkshire Hathaway categorizes Carlisle’s housing market as ‘somewhat competitive’. The sale prices of homes in Carlisle have experienced growth of more than 2.2% since May last 2019.   

The median home price in Carlisle is about $225,000. Currently, there are 284 active homes for sale in Carlisle, and normally it takes just 49 days for a listed home to sell.

How is the economic landscape of Carlisle?    

Over the last year, Carlisle’s job market has grown by 0.3%, while its unemployment rate stands at a decent 5.1%. The US average is 6%. The city’s job market is expected to grow by 28.6% over the next ten years.  

On average, a Carlisle resident earns around $26,700 per annum, almost in line with the US average of $28,500. The city’s median household income per resident is $46,600. Most of the residents of Carlisle work in education, public administration, manufacturing, retail, accommodation, transportation, professional and technical services, and healthcare.   

How are the schools in Carlisle?     

Carlisle is covered by 4 school districts, with Carlisle Area School District being the city’s major school district encompassing 10 schools and 4,956 enrolled students. Carlisle also lies in proximity to many colleges including, among others, Harrisburg Area Community College, Messiah College, and Dickinson College.   

When it comes to higher education, Carlisle lies in proximity to many universities such as the University of Phoenix Harrisburg Campus and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.      

In addition, Carlisle lies around two hours’ drive away from Pennsylvania’s most prestigious higher educational institution – the University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1740, UPenn is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the U.S. Declaration of Independence with its founder and the first president being the great Benjamin Franklin. Today, UPenn has four undergraduate schools as well as twelve graduate and professional schools, including the famous Wharton School of Business. 

Carlisle in a nutshell        

To sum up, Carlisle is a historic town that offers the charms of small-town living, as well as the convenience of big-city amenities - thanks to its proximity to the metropolises of Harrisburg and Philadelphia. With a powerful historical heritage, a close-knit community, and easy access to great educational facilities, Carlisle is one of the best places to raise a family in the state of Pennsylvania.