PA · Housing affordability · 2024

PennsylvaniaHousing Affordability by County

Pennsylvania remains one of the more affordable housing markets in America

With homes costing around 3.3× of a typical annual income, Pennsylvania offers better value than the national average and significantly better value than coastal markets.

Good value Population: 13,018,639

Housing costs here are below the national average — a relatively good-value market.

Years of income to buy a home

3.3×

▼ 21% vs US average

Typical home price

$254,500

▼ 26% vs US average

Typical monthly rent

$1,209

▼ 8% vs US average

Renters paying too much for rent

44.6%

▼ 1% vs US average

Homeowners stretched thin

13.7%

▼ 15% vs US average

Typical household income

$77,971

▼ 3% vs US average

How to read the bars: the coloured bar is PA's value; the grey tick is the US average. "Paying too much" means spending more than 30% of income on housing — the standard economic threshold for cost burden.

What the data shows

Buying a home in Pennsylvania is still well within reach for most families. The typical home costs $254,500 — about 3.3× of the typical household income of $77,971 a year. That's one of the better ratios in the country. A family putting aside their entire income, with no other expenses, could cover the purchase price in around 3.3 years.

Renters face real pressure. The typical rent in Pennsylvania is $1,209 a month, and 45% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing — the point at which most financial advisers say rent becomes unaffordable. That figure is 1% lower than the national average of 45%.

13.7% of Pennsylvania homeowners with a mortgage spend more than 30% of their income on housing — close to the national average of 16.1%.

How Pennsylvania ranks nationally

Rank 1 = most expensive / highest burden. Compared against all 50 states and DC (51 in total).

Years to buy a home

38th

of 51 states

Typical home price

35th

of 51 states

Typical monthly rent

28th

of 51 states

Renters paying too much

28th

of 51 states

Common questions

Is Pennsylvania affordable to live in? +

Yes — Pennsylvania is one of the more affordable states in the US. The typical home costs $254,500, which is 3.3× of the typical household income. That puts it well below the national average.

What is the average rent in Pennsylvania? +

The typical monthly rent in Pennsylvania is $1,209, according to the 2024 American Community Survey. About 45% of PA renters spend more than 30% of their income on rent.

How much do you need to earn to buy a home in Pennsylvania? +

As a rough guide, you'd need a household income of around $64,000 a year to comfortably afford the typical Pennsylvania home of $254,500, assuming a 20% down payment and standard mortgage terms. The typical Pennsylvania household earns $77,971 a year.

Explore Pennsylvania county by county on the map

The state average is only part of the story. Drill into individual counties and census tracts to see where affordability varies most across Pennsylvania.

Open PA on the map

Other states in the same tier — Good value