Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Pennsylvania was $951 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $976 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Pennsylvania median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Pennsylvania rental vacancy rates, Pennsylvania rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Pennsylvania.
Real Gross Rent in Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
Pennsylvania Real Gross Rent Trends
At $951, real median gross rent in Pennsylvania was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $976, real average gross rent in Pennsylvania was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Pennsylvania: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Pennsylvania
| Date | US Median | Pennsylvania Median | Pennsylvania Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $976 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $965 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $935 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $947 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $943 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $909 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $889 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $870 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $865 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $867 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $856 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $815 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $818 |
Pennsylvania Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Pennsylvania was 4.87% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
Trends in Pennsylvania Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Pennsylvania peaked in 2006 at 8.09%. Since then it has fallen by 3.22% to 4.87%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% |
Pennsylvania Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Pennsylvania, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Pennsylvania, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.98% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
Trends in Pennsylvania Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Pennsylvania household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.12%. Since then it has fallen by 1.13% to 17.98%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% |
Renter Fraction in Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Pennsylvania in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Pennsylvania as a fraction of total Pennsylvania households. In 2019 31.59% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Pennsylvania Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
Trends in the Pennsylvania Renter Fraction
The Pennsylvania household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 31.70% and is now 0.11% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Pennsylvania, US
History of Pennsylvania Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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