17048 ZIP Code — Lykens, PA

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

ZIP code 17048 is located in Lykens, Pennsylvania, within Dauphin County. It covers approximately 33.74 square miles and serves a population of 3,611 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 717/223.

About ZIP code 17048

The housing stock consists of a mix of housing types. Most homes were built in the pre-1940, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $140,800. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 71%.

Median household income is $72,311. SNAP benefit usage at 19% of households reflects economic stress in the area. 40% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with manufacturing as the leading industry. The average commute of 32 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 13% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Health indicators show elevated rates of smoking (26%) compared to national benchmarks. 17% of residents lack health insurance, above the national average.

Overall, ZIP code 17048 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce, a significant Social Security-dependent population, and elevated reliance on food assistance.

3,611

population

33.74

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

17048 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 17048

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 17048. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
Lykens	Acceptable
Lykens	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

17030 Gratz (0.8 mi) 17978 Spring Glen (4.6 mi) 17023 Elizabethville (4.8 mi) 17098 Williamstown (5.4 mi) 17968 Sacramento (6 mi) 17830 Herndon (6.8 mi) 17823 Dornsife (8.1 mi) 17017 Dalmatia (9 mi) 17032 Halifax (9.1 mi) 17983 Valley View (9.2 mi) 17980 Tower City (9.9 mi) 17061 Millersburg (10.3 mi)

Demographics updated 05/2026

Population
Total population	3,611
Population density	107 / sq mi
State FIPS	42
County FIPS	043

Geography
Land area	33.74 sq mi
Water area	0.01 sq mi
Latitude	40.6034
Longitude	-76.7200
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	717/223

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 05/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	44.9%	38.4%	39.8%
$50k – $100k	35.9%	34.2%	30.8%
$100k – $200k	17.9%	21.5%	22.4%
Over $200k	1.3%	5.9%	7.1%

Demographics & statistics

3,611

Population

107

People per sq mi

41.5

Median age

$72,311

Median household income

$31,313

Per capita income

$140,800

Median home value

$800

Median monthly rent

70.5%

Home ownership

16.1%

Poverty rate

4.0%

Unemployment

1,242

Housing units

13.0%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

114

Under 5

109

5–9

143

10–14

136

15–19

130

113

20–24

107

181

25–34

173

270

35–44

257

216

45–54

206

55–59

165

60–64

157

191

65–74

183

75–84

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	890	24.6%
18 and over	2,721	75.4%
65 and over	631	17.5%
Median age	41.5 years

Race & ethnicity

White 86.8%

Two or more races 7.2%

Hispanic or Latino 2.4%

Asian 1.8%

Other race 1.2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%

Black or African American 0.2%

Group	Count	%
White	3,212	86.8%
Two or more races	267	7.2%
Hispanic or Latino	90	2.4%
Asian	68	1.8%
Other race	44	1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	13	0.4%
Black or African American	7	0.2%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	44.9%	38.4%	39.8%
$50k – $100k	35.9%	34.2%	30.8%
$100k – $200k	17.9%	21.5%	22.4%
Over $200k	1.3%	5.9%	7.1%

Under $10k 7.3%

$10k–$15k 3.8%

$15k–$25k 8.0%

$25k–$35k 6.6%

$35k–$50k 7.7%

$50k–$75k 18.6%

$75k–$100k 16.9%

$100k–$150k 22.9%

$150k–$200k 5.7%

$200k+ 2.6%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	7.3%
$10k–$15k	3.8%
$15k–$25k	8.0%
$25k–$35k	6.6%
$35k–$50k	7.7%
$50k–$75k	18.6%
$75k–$100k	16.9%
$100k–$150k	22.9%
$150k–$200k	5.7%
$200k+	2.6%
Median income	$72,311

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 8.8%

$50k–$100k 23.6%

$100k–$150k 21.0%

$150k–$200k 22.1%

$200k–$300k 11.5%

$300k–$500k 8.2%

$500k–$1M 3.9%

$1M+ 1.0%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$140,800
Median rent / month	$800
Owner occupied	70.5%
Renter occupied	29.5%
Vacant	12.8%
Single-family detached	68.6%
Large apartment buildings	3.2%
Mobile homes	6.8%
Median rooms	6.6
Avg household size (owned)	2.66

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	1.4%
2000–2009	5.0%
1990–1999	4.7%
1980–1989	3.4%
1970–1979	12.1%
1960–1969	4.5%
1950–1959	12.4%
1940–1949	7.8%
1939 or earlier	48.7%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	1.6%
1 bedroom	7.7%
2 bedrooms	19.5%
3 bedrooms	45.1%
4 bedrooms	21.9%
5+ bedrooms	4.2%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	12.3%
1 vehicle	32.1%
2 vehicles	29.3%
3 or more	26.3%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	2.9%
Electricity	29.1%
Propane / LP gas	6.6%
Fuel oil	42.8%
Wood	7.2%
No fuel used	1.6%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	691	47.4%
Cohabiting couple	159	10.9%
Male householder, no spouse	267	18.3%
Female householder, no spouse	342	23.4%
Households with children under 18	393	26.9%
Households with seniors (65+)	436	29.9%
Average household size	2.47

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	38.4%	27.6%
Married	49.5%	50.4%
Separated	1.4%	2.5%
Widowed	1.8%	9.7%
Divorced	8.9%	9.8%

Education

Less than 9th grade 8.1%

Some HS, no diploma 8.2%

HS graduate 44.0%

Some college, no degree 17.2%

Associate's degree 9.4%

Bachelor's degree 9.1%

Graduate / professional 3.9%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	83.7%
Bachelor's or higher	13.0%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	6	0.8%
Kindergarten	51	7.2%
Elementary school	373	52.5%
High school	182	25.6%
College / grad school	99	13.9%

Employment

Industry of employment

Manufacturing 22.1%

Education & healthcare 19.8%

Retail trade 12.9%

Transportation & utilities 6.9%

Public administration 6.9%

Professional & management 5.4%

Arts, food & hospitality 5.3%

Construction 5.0%

Finance & real estate 4.7%

Agriculture & mining 4.4%

Other services 4.1%

Wholesale trade 1.8%

Information 0.6%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	28.7%
Service	12.5%
Sales & office	20.8%
Natural resources & construction	10.3%
Production & transportation	27.8%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	74.3%
Government	15.6%
Self-employed	9.7%
Unpaid family workers	0.3%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	60.9%
Carpool	20.5%
Public transit	2.0%
Walk	4.3%
Work from home	10.9%
Other means	1.5%
Avg commute (minutes)	31.6

Poverty

All people 16.1%

Under 18 years 24.5%

18 and over 13.3%

Married-couple families 9.1%

Female-led households 27.6%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	40.2%
Retirement income	32.6%
Supplemental Security	4.9%
Cash public assistance	3.6%
Food stamps / SNAP	18.6%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	33.6%
High blood pressure	35.1%
High cholesterol	35.4%
Diabetes	11.9%
Heart disease	8.4%
Stroke	3.9%
Asthma	10.9%
Arthritis	30.4%
Kidney disease	3.4%
Pulmonary disease	10.1%
Cancer	7.2%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	25.5%
Binge drinking	17.8%
No physical activity	29.5%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	36.1%
Depression	25.4%
Fair or poor health	18.6%
Poor mental health	17.5%
Poor physical health	13.5%
No health insurance	13.2%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.4%
Visited dentist	59.1%
Cholesterol screening	87.3%
Teeth loss	21.4%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	239	8.8%

Disability	%
Any disability	15.3%
Under 18	3.3%
18–64 years	12.9%
65 and over	40.4%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	63.8%
Public insurance	36.0%
No insurance	17.0%
Uninsured under 19	29.7%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	3,388	93.8%
Spanish	115	3.4%
Other Indo-European	4	0.1%
Asian & Pacific Islander	111	3.3%
Other languages	0	0.0%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	3,554	98.4%
Born in same state	3,486	96.5%
Born in different state	3,283	90.9%
Foreign born	68	1.9%
Naturalized citizen	57	1.6%
Not a US citizen	37	64.9%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	271	7.5%
Arab	173	4.8%
English	125	3.5%

Ancestry	Count	%
French	100	2.8%
Norwegian	7	0.2%
Polish	2	0.1%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	40.4%
Internet access	83.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 17048

What city is ZIP code 17048 in?

ZIP code 17048 is primarily assigned to Lykens, Pennsylvania.

What county is ZIP code 17048 in?

ZIP code 17048 falls within Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.

How educated is the population of ZIP code 17048?

13% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher — below the national average of ~33%, consistent with a trades-oriented local economy.

What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 17048?

16% of residents in ZIP code 17048 live below the poverty line, above the national average.

Does ZIP code 17048 have a large retiree population?

40% of households in ZIP code 17048 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 17048?

The median home value in ZIP code 17048 is $140,800.

What timezone is ZIP code 17048 in?

ZIP code 17048 observes the EST timezone.