Renting
Data from November 2026
Renting in Pennsylvania
The typical rent in Pennsylvania is $1,209 a month (Average 2020–2024). HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms is about $1,528 (Fiscal year 2027, population-weighted average): paying it without spending more than 30% of income takes $29.38 an hour full time. Here are the figures by size and by county, how many households spend too much, and where to ask for help.
Key numbers in Pennsylvania
- Typical rent
- $1,209
- per month, Average 2020–2024
- 14% less than the U.S.
- Fair market rent, 2 BR
- $1,528
- HUD, Fiscal year 2027, weighted average
- From $1,014 to $1,860 depending on the county.
- Wage needed
- $29.38
- per hour, 2 bedrooms
- About $61,120 a year to stay under 30% of income.
- Burdened households
- 48%
- spend 30% or more on rent
- Nationwide, 51%.
Fair market rent
What HUD sets by size
HUD publishes a fair market rent every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they cover. Here it runs from the cheapest to the most expensive area of Pennsylvania, with the hourly wage it takes to pay it without going past 30% of income (40 hours a week).
Includes basic utilities. It is neither the lowest nor the highest rent on the market: it is a reference point.
-
Studio
Wage: $13.58–$27.65 an hour
Lowest: $706 Highest: $1,438
-
1 bedroom
Wage: $14.90–$29.96 an hour
Lowest: $775 Highest: $1,558
-
2 bedrooms
Wage: $19.50–$35.77 an hour
Lowest: $1,014 Highest: $1,860
-
3 bedrooms
Wage: $23.23–$44.35 an hour
Lowest: $1,208 Highest: $2,306
-
4 bedrooms
Wage: $25.63–$49.83 an hour
Lowest: $1,333 Highest: $2,591
Each bar runs from the cheapest area to the most expensive; all share one scale that starts at zero. Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)
Rent burden
How many households spend too much
HUD counts rent as a burden when it reaches 30% of income or more. In Pennsylvania, 48% of renter households are in that position; nationwide, 51% (Average 2020–2024, Census).
Paying too much rent leaves little for food, transportation and savings. If that is you, the agencies below can guide you for free.
48%
of renter households spend 30% or more of their income on rent.
1,617,882 renter households in Pennsylvania
- Spend half or more of their income 25%
- Spend 30% or more, but less than half 23%
- Spend less than 30% 52%
By place
Every county, with its figure
The 2-bedroom fair market rent, the typical rent, the hourly wage it takes and the share of burdened households, in every county in Pennsylvania. Highest fair market rent first.
| Chester County | $1,860 | $1,763 | $35.77 | 48% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | $1,860 | $1,683 | $35.77 | 49% |
| Bucks County | $1,860 | $1,605 | $35.77 | 48% |
| Philadelphia County | $1,860 | $1,397 | $35.77 | 52% |
| Delaware County | $1,860 | $1,372 | $35.77 | 55% |
| Northampton County | $1,839 | $1,395 | $35.37 | 50% |
| Lehigh County | $1,839 | $1,383 | $35.37 | 55% |
| Carbon County | $1,839 | $994 | $35.37 | 44% |
| Cumberland County | $1,598 | $1,249 | $30.73 | 42% |
| Dauphin County | $1,598 | $1,217 | $30.73 | 45% |
| Perry County | $1,598 | $874 | $30.73 | 43% |
| Lancaster County | $1,553 | $1,357 | $29.87 | 46% |
| Monroe County | $1,550 | $1,393 | $29.81 | 57% |
| Centre County | $1,537 | $1,207 | $29.56 | 57% |
| Pike County | $1,521 | $1,378 | $29.25 | 50% |
| Montour County | $1,436 | $1,142 | $27.62 | 38% |
| Berks County | $1,418 | $1,181 | $27.27 | 52% |
| Allegheny County | $1,389 | $1,153 | $26.71 | 46% |
| Butler County | $1,389 | $1,041 | $26.71 | 42% |
| Washington County | $1,389 | $949 | $26.71 | 40% |
| Beaver County | $1,389 | $890 | $26.71 | 42% |
| Westmoreland County | $1,389 | $879 | $26.71 | 40% |
| Fayette County | $1,389 | $793 | $26.71 | 43% |
| Lackawanna County | $1,363 | $1,007 | $26.21 | 48% |
| Luzerne County | $1,363 | $1,004 | $26.21 | 46% |
| Wyoming County | $1,363 | $943 | $26.21 | 37% |
| Adams County | $1,354 | $1,115 | $26.04 | 44% |
| Lebanon County | $1,353 | $1,110 | $26.02 | 47% |
| York County | $1,327 | $1,193 | $25.52 | 48% |
| Franklin County | $1,325 | $1,093 | $25.48 | 41% |
| Lycoming County | $1,217 | $913 | $23.40 | 47% |
| Wayne County | $1,184 | $1,038 | $22.77 | 52% |
| Blair County | $1,151 | $885 | $22.13 | 46% |
| Columbia County | $1,136 | $943 | $21.85 | 42% |
| Greene County | $1,135 | $789 | $21.83 | 39% |
| Bradford County | $1,100 | $901 | $21.15 | 39% |
| Lawrence County | $1,095 | $831 | $21.06 | 51% |
| Erie County | $1,091 | $904 | $20.98 | 49% |
| Snyder County | $1,084 | $929 | $20.85 | 42% |
| Schuylkill County | $1,068 | $876 | $20.54 | 42% |
| Susquehanna County | $1,060 | $933 | $20.38 | 44% |
| Tioga County | $1,045 | $863 | $20.10 | 46% |
| Armstrong County | $1,043 | $785 | $20.06 | 43% |
| Union County | $1,028 | $974 | $19.77 | 48% |
| Mercer County | $1,028 | $843 | $19.77 | 46% |
| Mifflin County | $1,014 | $822 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Clinton County | $1,014 | $820 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Forest County | $1,014 | $817 | $19.50 | 29% |
| Huntingdon County | $1,014 | $810 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Fulton County | $1,014 | $809 | $19.50 | 37% |
| McKean County | $1,014 | $809 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Potter County | $1,014 | $809 | $19.50 | 41% |
| Northumberland County | $1,014 | $806 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Crawford County | $1,014 | $802 | $19.50 | 45% |
| Indiana County | $1,014 | $800 | $19.50 | 49% |
| Clarion County | $1,014 | $798 | $19.50 | 45% |
| Venango County | $1,014 | $795 | $19.50 | 48% |
| Clearfield County | $1,014 | $791 | $19.50 | 42% |
| Bedford County | $1,014 | $784 | $19.50 | 50% |
| Sullivan County | $1,014 | $775 | $19.50 | 35% |
| Juniata County | $1,014 | $756 | $19.50 | 26% |
| Warren County | $1,014 | $755 | $19.50 | 33% |
| Somerset County | $1,014 | $753 | $19.50 | 39% |
| Jefferson County | $1,014 | $750 | $19.50 | 44% |
| Cambria County | $1,014 | $739 | $19.50 | 43% |
| Elk County | $1,014 | $719 | $19.50 | 44% |
| Cameron County | $1,014 | $689 | $19.50 | 41% |
- Chester $1,860$35.77
- Montgomery $1,860$35.77
- Bucks $1,860$35.77
- Philadelphia $1,860$35.77
- Delaware $1,860$35.77
- Northampton $1,839$35.37
- Lehigh $1,839$35.37
- Carbon $1,839$35.37
- Cumberland $1,598$30.73
- Dauphin $1,598$30.73
- Perry $1,598$30.73
- Lancaster $1,553$29.87
- Monroe $1,550$29.81
- Centre $1,537$29.56
- Pike $1,521$29.25
- Montour $1,436$27.62
- Berks $1,418$27.27
- Allegheny $1,389$26.71
- Butler $1,389$26.71
- Washington $1,389$26.71
- Beaver $1,389$26.71
- Westmoreland $1,389$26.71
- Fayette $1,389$26.71
- Lackawanna $1,363$26.21
- Luzerne $1,363$26.21
- Wyoming $1,363$26.21
- Adams $1,354$26.04
- Lebanon $1,353$26.02
- York $1,327$25.52
- Franklin $1,325$25.48
- Lycoming $1,217$23.40
- Wayne $1,184$22.77
- Blair $1,151$22.13
- Columbia $1,136$21.85
- Greene $1,135$21.83
- Bradford $1,100$21.15
- Lawrence $1,095$21.06
- Erie $1,091$20.98
- Snyder $1,084$20.85
- Schuylkill $1,068$20.54
- Susquehanna $1,060$20.38
- Tioga $1,045$20.10
- Armstrong $1,043$20.06
- Union $1,028$19.77
- Mercer $1,028$19.77
- Mifflin $1,014$19.50
- Clinton $1,014$19.50
- Forest $1,014$19.50
- Huntingdon $1,014$19.50
- Fulton $1,014$19.50
- McKean $1,014$19.50
- Potter $1,014$19.50
- Northumberland $1,014$19.50
- Crawford $1,014$19.50
- Indiana $1,014$19.50
- Clarion $1,014$19.50
- Venango $1,014$19.50
- Clearfield $1,014$19.50
- Bedford $1,014$19.50
- Sullivan $1,014$19.50
- Juniata $1,014$19.50
- Warren $1,014$19.50
- Somerset $1,014$19.50
- Jefferson $1,014$19.50
- Cambria $1,014$19.50
- Elk $1,014$19.50
- Cameron $1,014$19.50
Source: Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site) Source: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates Average 2020–2024 American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (external site)
Your rights as a tenant in Pennsylvania
What Pennsylvania law says about deposits, notices and eviction, with the citation for each rule.
See your rights, rule by ruleA summary of state law, not legal advice. Cities may have additional rules.
- How much can they charge for a deposit?
- Up to 2 months of rent
- 68 P.S. §250.511a(a)-(b)
- When must they return my deposit?
- 30 days
- 68 P.S. §250.512(a)
- If I fall behind on rent, what notice must I get?
- 10 days
- 68 P.S. §250.501(b)
- How much notice ends a month-to-month rental?
- 15 days
- 68 P.S. §250.501(b)
- Only a court order can remove you68 P.S. §250.501 et seq.; 68 P.S. §399.1 et seq.
Help
Where to ask for help with rent in Pennsylvania
Free or official help. Demand usually exceeds funding, so waiting lists are common: ask at the agency for your county.
-
75 counseling agencies
HUD-approved; 32 serve in Spanish. They counsel renters for free.
See the agencies -
Rental assistance programs
Verified at their official source.
- Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program · Open, per the source · Verified November 6, 2026
Tool
How much rent can you afford?
Enter your income and compare with the fair market rent in your county.
Frequently asked questions
Which county in Pennsylvania is the most expensive to rent in?
By 2-bedroom fair market rent (Fiscal year 2027), the most expensive is Chester County ($1,860, about $35.77 an hour) and the cheapest Mifflin County ($1,014, about $19.50 an hour).
How many households in Pennsylvania spend too much on rent?
48% of renter households in Pennsylvania spend 30% or more of their income on rent, and 25% spend half or more (Average 2020–2024, Census). Nationwide, 51%.
What is fair market rent?
A figure HUD publishes every year by area and home size; Section 8 and other programs use it to set what they pay. It is not a market price or a cap on landlords. In Pennsylvania, for 2 bedrooms in Fiscal year 2027, it runs from $1,014 to $1,860 depending on the county.
Where do I ask for help paying rent in Pennsylvania?
85 public housing agencies run Section 8 vouchers and public housing in Pennsylvania; demand usually exceeds funding and waiting lists are common. HUD-approved counseling agencies counsel for free. Your county page shows the nearest ones.