Hershey, Pennsylvania

What It Is Like to Retire in Hershey

The popular tourist town of Hershey (Chocolate Town USA), is also a great place to retire. Hershey is located east of Harrisburg, in the center of the state. For a town with a diverse population of 14,000 people (2020) there is a lot to do here.  It has a big amusement park, Hershey Gardens, and proximity to Harrisburg (the state capital). The Penn State Medical School is located in Hershey.  The town has a lot going for it due to the generous legacies of Milton Hershey, founder of the famous chocolate company headquartered here. Photo of The Hershey Story, the museum on Chocolate Ave.,  courtesy of Wikipedia and The Hershey Story (public domain), photo of one of Hershey's distinctive kiss-shaped street lamps, courtesy of Wikipedia and Rlevse (public domain), photo of The Milton S. Hershey Mansion, also known as High Point, a historic house built in 1908, and the home of Hershey Chocolate founder Milton S. Hershey.  It presently houses the offices of the Hershey Trust Company, a multibillion-dollar trust fund which owns a controlling share of Hershey Foods Corporation and runs the Milton Hershey School. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia and Smallbones (public domain). Here is Topretirements Mini-Guide to Retirement in Pennsylvania

Where to Retire in Hershey and Home Prices

What Is Special about Hershey

Chocolate Town USA, "The Sweetest Place on Earth",  is a very popular tourist destination. Hershey Gardens, Hershey Park, Hershey Hotel, Hershey Stadium.

What Is Not Special about Hershey

Hershey is one of the most expensive communities in central Pennsylvania.  The state has high taxes and is economically depressed.

Who Will Like Retirement in Hershey

People who like living in a small town that is also a tourist center will like it here. There is a lot to do. The tourist business offers the potential for part-time work. And living in "The Sweetest Place on Earth" doesn't sound bad.

Local Economy Is Driven by

Tourism and the chocolate factory are the big drivers of the Hershey economy. But retirement is becoming a growth industry as well.

Climate and Physical Environment

Hershey is in the center of the state near the state capital, Harrisburg.  There are rolling hills and rivers in the area.

Restaurants & Cultural Scene

Hershey is set up for entertainment, from tours of the chocolate factory to the amusement parks. It is also home to  the Hershey Museum of American Life, Hershey Golf Course, and the  Hershey Area Playhouse. Nearby Harrisburg has many restaurants to choose from. Philadelphia is about 84 miles away.

Crime

Hershey's crime rate is below the national level.

Medical facilities

Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is the only locally based academic medical center in central Pennsylvania, and is one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers.

Transportation

Nearby Harrisburg has an airport, and it is about 80 miles to Philadelphia. Hershey is about average in walkability when compared to other communities.

Valuable Links

Hershey, The Sweetest Place on Earth Hershey Tourist Information Wikipedia entry for Hershey