Cost of Living in Franklin 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 Franklin County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Franklin County ranks #2,511 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 20%)
Sourced county brief
Median Gross Rent Levels in Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Median gross rent in Franklin County was estimated at $1,093 per month, which is $102 higher than the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $991. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) was 26.3%, sitting 1.4 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 27.7%. The median home value was $249,800, which is $37,721 above the state unweighted county mean of $212,079. Selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,210 per month, compared to a state unweighted county mean of $1,010. Renter-household median income was recorded at $50,164. These figures are from the American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates and are intended for reporting purposes only. No causal factors for these differences are implied. See ACS table B25064 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: Franklin County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 26.3% of renter household income in Franklin 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 $1,093 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,210. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $43,720 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. Franklin County's $1,093 median is 10.3% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Franklin County
Rent Burden
17.0%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,797
per month
Owner Cost Burden
18.9%
of gross income
The median home in Franklin County may be a stretch
Median home value is $249,800. Estimated monthly cost: $1,994 vs. your max of $1,797.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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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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