Cost of Living in Fayette County, Pennsylvania
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Fayette County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Fayette County ranks #1,056 of 3,142 counties for affordability (top 34%)
Sourced county brief
Renter Median Income Snapshot for Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Renter-household median income in Fayette County was estimated at $32,516 during the 2020-2024 period. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 27.1%, which is 0.6 percentage points lower than the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of 27.7%. Median gross rent in the county was $793 per month, while the state unweighted county mean was $991. The median home value in Fayette County was $143,200, representing a difference of $68,879 compared to the state unweighted county mean of $212,079. For owner-occupied units, median monthly costs were $770, lower than the state unweighted county mean of $1,010. These data points represent a specific historical period and do not indicate market trends or future conditions. See ACS table B25119 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Fayette County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.1% of renter household income in Fayette County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $793 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $770. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $31,720 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Pennsylvania unweighted mean of county median rents is $991 per month. Fayette County's $793 median is 20.0% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Fayette County
Rent Burden
16.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,359
per month
Owner Cost Burden
15.9%
of gross income
You can likely afford the median home in Fayette County
Median home value is $143,200. Estimated monthly cost: $1,143 vs. your max of $1,359.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
See how much you need to earn to comfortably afford housing
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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