Department of Numbers

Williamsport Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Williamsport, PA (the Williamsport metro area) was $755 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Williamsport was $763 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 Williamsport median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Williamsport rental vacancy rates, Williamsport rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Williamsport.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Williamsport 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%
Williamsport, PA Median Gross Rent $755 -4.43% -7.48%

Williamsport, PA Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Williamsport peaked in real terms in 2016 at $816 and is now $61 (7.48%) lower. Average gross rent for Williamsport peaked in real terms in 2016 at $807 and is now $44 (5.45%) lower.

Real Gross Rent in Williamsport: Williamsport PA Median, Williamsport PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Williamsport

Date US
Median
Pennsylvania
Median
Williamsport, PA
Median
Williamsport, PA
Average
2019 $1,097 $951 $755 $763
2018 $1,077 $944 $790 $789
2017 $1,043 $921 $777 $764
2016 $1,027 $923 $816 $807
2015 $1,017 $921 $801 $777
2014 $986 $895 $782 $769
2013 $953 $872 $755 $715
2012 $940 $849 $756 $741
2011 $941 $849 $700 $721
2010 $955 $853 $673 $646
2009 $960 $841 $680 $670

more history ...

Williamsport 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 Williamsport Pennsylvania was 10.13% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Williamsport Pennsylvania

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Pennsylvania 4.87% -0.42% -0.90%
Williamsport, PA 10.13% +0.11% -0.42%

Trends in Williamsport, PA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Williamsport peaked in 2017 at 12.30%. Since then it has fallen by 2.17% to 10.13%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Williamsport PA, Pennsylvania, US

Rental vacancy rate in Pennsylvania

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Williamsport

Date US Pennsylvania Williamsport, PA
2019 5.97% 4.87% 10.13%
2018 6.15% 5.29% 10.02%
2017 6.18% 5.84% 12.30%
2016 5.89% 5.77% 10.55%
2015 5.85% 5.77% 7.26%
2014 6.32% 6.40% 4.87%
2013 6.49% 5.78%
2012 6.77% 5.88% 3.35%
2011 7.40% 6.13%
2010 8.17% 6.47% 4.30%
2009 8.43% 6.80% 4.65%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Williamsport, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Williamsport, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.81% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Williamsport 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%
Williamsport, PA 16.81% -0.10% -2.24%

Trends in Williamsport, PA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Williamsport household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.69%. Since then it has fallen by 2.87% to 16.81%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Williamsport PA, Pennsylvania, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Williamsport Pennsylvania

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Williamsport Pennsylvania

Date US Pennsylvania Williamsport, PA
2019 20.03% 17.98% 16.81%
2018 20.50% 18.26% 16.92%
2017 20.13% 18.10% 17.77%
2016 20.43% 18.58% 19.06%
2015 20.63% 18.70% 17.61%
2014 20.89% 19.12% 19.69%
2013 20.78% 19.11% 18.16%
2012 20.65% 18.69% 18.67%
2011 20.70% 18.78% 18.34%
2010 20.50% 18.58% 17.60%
2009 20.12% 17.88% 17.92%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Williamsport Pennsylvania

You can calculate the renter fraction in Williamsport 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 Williamsport as a fraction of total Williamsport households. In 2019 30.40% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Williamsport 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%
Williamsport, PA 30.40% -0.38% -1.53%

Trends in the Williamsport, PA Renter Fraction

The Williamsport household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 32.26% and is now 1.86% below that level. From a recent low of 27.76% in 2013, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 2.64%. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Williamsport PA, Pennsylvania, US

Fraction of renters in Williamsport

History of Williamsport Renter Fraction

Date US Pennsylvania Williamsport, PA
2019 35.89% 31.59% 30.40%
2018 36.05% 31.40% 30.78%
2017 36.13% 31.70% 31.28%
2016 36.88% 31.50% 31.93%
2015 36.97% 31.28% 30.85%
2014 36.90% 31.17% 31.06%
2013 36.50% 31.05% 27.76%
2012 36.09% 31.09% 29.47%
2011 35.42% 30.51% 31.52%
2010 34.65% 29.87% 32.26%
2009 34.13% 29.48% 31.38%

more history ...

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.