Cost of Living in Northampton 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 Northampton County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Northampton County ranks #2,814 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 10%)
Sourced county brief
Northampton County Median Gross Rent Reaches $1,395 Per Month
Median gross rent in Northampton County was estimated at $1,395 per month according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. This figure is $404 above the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean of $991 per month. The official median gross rent as a percentage of household income, or GRAPI, is 30.0% for the county. This official B25071 metric differs from the Pennsylvania unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 27.7% by 2.3 percentage points. Regarding ownership, the median home value was recorded at $308,600, which is $96,521 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $212,079. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were $1,426, while the state unweighted county mean was $1,010. For renter-occupied households, the median renter-household income was $52,865. These figures provide a snapshot of housing costs and income levels based on federal survey data. See ACS table B25071 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: Northampton County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.0% of renter household income in Northampton County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,395 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,426. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $55,800 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. Northampton County's $1,395 median is 40.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Northampton County
Rent Burden
18.8%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,081
per month
Owner Cost Burden
19.2%
of gross income
The median home in Northampton County may be a stretch
Median home value is $308,600. Estimated monthly cost: $2,464 vs. your max of $2,081.
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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