Pennsylvania Cost of Living
Housing costs and affordability data for 67 counties.
Average Monthly Rent
$960/mo
Average Home Value
$200,333
Average Owner Cost
$995/mo
County cost atlas
Pennsylvania housing costs by county
Compare rent, entry-price context, owner costs, and cost score in one state view. Pin a county, switch layers, then open the full county profile when a place needs closer review.
Counties
67
Avg rent
$960/mo
Owner cost
$995/mo
Avg score
42.9
Higher means lower cost pressure
Atlas layers use U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates. Rent, owner cost, and home value are county medians. Cost score rewards lower rent and lower owner costs, but affordability still depends on income, household size, commute, debt, and personal finances. Use this as decision context, not personalized financial advice.
State Cost Summary
Use these state averages as a starting point, then scan the atlas and rankings for the county-level spread behind them.
Housing Costs in Pennsylvania: An Overview
The median rent in Pennsylvania is $960 per month, which is 17% below the national median of $1,163. That is useful statewide context, but rent burden still depends on local income, household size, commute, and the county a household chooses.
Within Pennsylvania, housing costs vary significantly by county. Chester County has the highest median rent in this dataset at $1,691 per month and a median home value of $461,800. Cameron County has the lowest reported median rent at $699 per month and a median home value of $88,200.
The average home value across Pennsylvania counties is $200,333, 29% lower than the national median of $281,900. Median household income is roughly $69,614, so home values should be read alongside local wages, financing costs, taxes, insurance, and supply.
Before comparing places in Pennsylvania, start with the county-level pattern. Costs can swing dramatically between rural and urban counties. Use the atlas, rankings, and county links below to compare rent, home values, owner costs, and rent burden before opening a specific county profile.
Distribution
Rent Distribution in Pennsylvania
How median rents are spread across 67 counties
Highest Median Rent Counties
Lowest Median Rent Counties
All Pennsylvania Counties
Sorted by median rent, highest first. A higher cost score means lower rent and owner cost pressure within the national scoring model.
| County | Median Rent | Home Value | Owner Cost | Cost Score | Rent/Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chester County | Expensive$1,691/mo | $461,800 | $2,051/mo | 3.0 | 28.0% |
| Montgomery County | Expensive$1,612/mo | $409,900 | $1,905/mo | 4.2 | 29.0% |
| Bucks County | Expensive$1,537/mo | $421,700 | $1,872/mo | 4.8 | 29.0% |
| Pike County | Moderate$1,383/mo | $250,900 | $1,321/mo | 11.4 | 31.0% |
| Monroe County | Moderate$1,347/mo | $241,200 | $1,384/mo | 11.0 | 32.0% |
| Northampton County | Moderate$1,335/mo | $285,000 | $1,418/mo | 10.8 | 30.0% |
| Lehigh County | Moderate$1,326/mo | $276,100 | $1,420/mo | 10.8 | 32.0% |
| Philadelphia County | Moderate$1,323/mo | $232,400 | $1,100/mo | 17.4 | 31.0% |
| Delaware County | Moderate$1,315/mo | $302,400 | $1,646/mo | 8.7 | 32.0% |
| Lancaster County | Moderate$1,289/mo | $279,400 | $1,323/mo | 12.8 | 28.0% |
| Cumberland County | Moderate$1,184/mo | $261,900 | $1,302/mo | 15.0 | 26.0% |
| Centre County | Moderate$1,181/mo | $308,100 | $1,265/mo | 15.8 | 34.0% |
| Dauphin County | Moderate$1,153/mo | $222,300 | $1,232/mo | 17.2 | 27.0% |
| York County | Moderate$1,150/mo | $235,000 | $1,337/mo | 15.4 | 28.0% |
| Berks County | Moderate$1,143/mo | $239,700 | $1,308/mo | 16.1 | 29.0% |
| Allegheny County | Moderate$1,111/mo | $216,700 | $1,154/mo | 20.3 | 27.0% |
| Lebanon County | Moderate$1,087/mo | $227,300 | $1,127/mo | 21.7 | 28.0% |
| Adams County | Moderate$1,084/mo | $256,100 | $1,330/mo | 17.5 | 27.0% |
| Franklin County | Moderate$1,071/mo | $236,300 | $1,169/mo | 21.1 | 25.0% |
| Montour County | Moderate$1,057/mo | $240,300 | $1,002/mo | 27.3 | 27.0% |
| Butler County | Moderate$1,018/mo | $275,600 | $1,130/mo | 24.0 | 26.0% |
| Wayne County | Affordable$979/mo | $228,200 | $957/mo | 32.6 | 29.0% |
| Carbon County | Affordable$975/mo | $193,700 | $1,035/mo | 29.7 | 26.0% |
| Lackawanna County | Affordable$973/mo | $189,900 | $1,057/mo | 29.1 | 28.0% |
| Luzerne County | Affordable$958/mo | $163,800 | $973/mo | 33.4 | 28.0% |
| Union County | Affordable$944/mo | $222,900 | $1,057/mo | 31.1 | 29.0% |
| Washington County | Affordable$922/mo | $220,600 | $1,009/mo | 34.2 | 24.0% |
| Susquehanna County | Affordable$913/mo | $206,700 | $834/mo | 44.9 | 26.0% |
| Columbia County | Affordable$904/mo | $199,200 | $852/mo | 44.2 | 27.0% |
| Wyoming County | Affordable$897/mo | $205,600 | $987/mo | 37.3 | 24.0% |
| Snyder County | Affordable$890/mo | $205,500 | $893/mo | 42.3 | 26.0% |
| Lycoming County | Affordable$887/mo | $195,600 | $1,026/mo | 36.4 | 29.0% |
| Erie County | Affordable$876/mo | $169,500 | $914/mo | 42.4 | 29.0% |
| Bradford County | Affordable$868/mo | $182,300 | $829/mo | 49.1 | 25.0% |
| Beaver County | Affordable$867/mo | $185,500 | $1,001/mo | 39.1 | 26.0% |
| Blair County | Affordable$854/mo | $156,700 | $851/mo | 48.8 | 29.0% |
| Tioga County | Affordable$850/mo | $176,000 | $771/mo | 54.8 | 27.0% |
| Westmoreland County | Affordable$843/mo | $193,100 | $954/mo | 44.0 | 26.0% |
| Schuylkill County | Affordable$842/mo | $140,400 | $817/mo | 52.7 | 25.0% |
| Perry County | Affordable$838/mo | $222,800 | $1,181/mo | 36.4 | 26.0% |
| Clinton County | Affordable$815/mo | $179,100 | $881/mo | 50.8 | 28.0% |
| Forest County | Affordable$808/mo | $111,900 | $481/mo | 78.1 | 24.0% |
| Mercer County | Affordable$808/mo | $153,600 | $767/mo | 59.6 | 27.0% |
| Armstrong County | Affordable$802/mo | $146,300 | $730/mo | 63.6 | 25.0% |
| Crawford County | Affordable$800/mo | $143,400 | $764/mo | 61.0 | 26.0% |
| Huntingdon County | Affordable$795/mo | $180,300 | $780/mo | 60.8 | 24.0% |
| Mifflin County | Affordable$792/mo | $142,900 | $804/mo | 59.6 | 25.0% |
| Clearfield County | Affordable$788/mo | $125,000 | $748/mo | 64.2 | 27.0% |
| Indiana County | Affordable$786/mo | $145,400 | $760/mo | 63.3 | 28.0% |
| Clarion County | Affordable$785/mo | $152,100 | $737/mo | 65.5 | 27.0% |
| Fulton County | Affordable$781/mo | $206,000 | $817/mo | 60.1 | 19.0% |
| Sullivan County | Affordable$781/mo | $186,400 | $766/mo | 63.4 | 25.0% |
| Lawrence County | Affordable$778/mo | $136,700 | $865/mo | 57.0 | 30.0% |
| Northumberland County | Affordable$777/mo | $151,600 | $792/mo | 62.2 | 25.0% |
| Venango County | Affordable$774/mo | $114,500 | $668/mo | 72.0 | 25.0% |
| Bedford County | Affordable$771/mo | $172,900 | $741/mo | 66.9 | 29.0% |
| Fayette County | Affordable$771/mo | $126,900 | $752/mo | 65.9 | 27.0% |
| McKean County | Affordable$769/mo | $98,700 | $691/mo | 70.9 | 26.0% |
| Potter County | Affordable$767/mo | $146,200 | $720/mo | 69.1 | 24.0% |
| Warren County | Affordable$756/mo | $121,800 | $650/mo | 75.6 | 24.0% |
| Greene County | Affordable$754/mo | $146,200 | $754/mo | 67.8 | 25.0% |
| Somerset County | Affordable$749/mo | $130,600 | $751/mo | 68.5 | 26.0% |
| Jefferson County | Affordable$746/mo | $126,700 | $673/mo | 74.9 | 27.0% |
| Cambria County | Affordable$733/mo | $115,900 | $699/mo | 74.0 | 27.0% |
| Juniata County | Affordable$730/mo | $206,300 | $848/mo | 63.9 | 21.0% |
| Elk County | Affordable$720/mo | $128,600 | $643/mo | 80.3 | 27.0% |
| Cameron County | Affordable$699/mo | $88,200 | $595/mo | 85.0 | 30.0% |
Compare Pennsylvania to Other States
See how Pennsylvania counties stack up against counties in other states. Compare rent, home values, and affordability side by side.
Start a ComparisonFrequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Housing Costs
What is the most affordable county in Pennsylvania?
What is the most expensive county to live in Pennsylvania?
How does Pennsylvania's cost of living compare to the national average?
What is the average home value in Pennsylvania?
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Compare Moving QuotesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2019-2023). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.