Philadelphia County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Philadelphia County PA was $1,079 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Philadelphia County was $1,118 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 Philadelphia County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Philadelphia County rental vacancy rates, Philadelphia County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Philadelphia County.
Real Gross Rent in Philadelphia County 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% |
| Philadelphia County PA Median Gross Rent | $1,079 | +2.66% | +5.58% |
Philadelphia County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,079, real median gross rent in Philadelphia County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,118, real average gross rent in Philadelphia County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Philadelphia County PA Median, Philadelphia County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Philadelphia County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Philadelphia County PA Median |
Philadelphia County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $1,079 | $1,118 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $1,051 | $1,078 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $999 | $989 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $1,022 | $1,067 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $1,010 | $1,046 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $988 | $1,001 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $961 | $985 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $932 | $946 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $921 | $933 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $934 | $953 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $933 | $940 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $905 | $903 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $906 | $913 |
Philadelphia County 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 Philadelphia County Pennsylvania was 4.65% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Philadelphia County PA | 4.65% | -0.23% | -2.32% |
Trends in Philadelphia County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Philadelphia County peaked in 2006 at 12.39%. Since then it has fallen by 7.74% to 4.65%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Philadelphia County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Philadelphia County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.65% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 4.88% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 6.30% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 6.97% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 7.21% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 8.13% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 6.50% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 7.89% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 7.68% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 7.27% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 9.06% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 10.15% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 9.64% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Philadelphia County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Philadelphia County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 27.27% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Philadelphia County 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% |
| Philadelphia County PA | 27.27% | +0.42% | -0.98% |
Trends in Philadelphia County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Philadelphia County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 29.92%. Since then it has fallen by 2.65% to 27.27%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Philadelphia County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 27.27% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 26.85% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 29.25% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 28.26% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 27.71% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 28.77% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 29.74% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 29.71% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 29.92% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 29.16% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 26.53% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 26.13% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 26.71% |
Renter Fraction in Philadelphia County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Philadelphia County 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 Philadelphia County as a fraction of total Philadelphia County households. In 2019 47.75% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Philadelphia County 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% |
| Philadelphia County PA | 47.75% | +0.47% | -0.11% |
Trends in the Philadelphia County PA Renter Fraction
The Philadelphia County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 51.02% and is now 3.27% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Philadelphia County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Philadelphia County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Philadelphia County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 47.75% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 47.28% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 51.02% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 47.86% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 47.35% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 47.99% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 49.00% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 47.82% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 45.99% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 45.90% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 45.36% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 42.56% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 43.29% |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
