Rents are right about where Bala Cynwyd's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,304 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Bala Cynwyd usually run 2% below trend in January and 2.1% above it in August, about $94 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Bala Cynwyd is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2019.
Rent in Bala Cynwyd changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
Rent in Bala Cynwyd is 34.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($150,000) is $3,750 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,110).
Upper Darby, 4 miles away, rents for 41% less ($1,351/mo), about $11,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bala Cynwyd. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Bala Cynwyd, PA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 75.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bala Cynwyd, PA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Bala Cynwyd, PA has shifted from $1,799 to $2,304, up 28.1% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $128,945 to $150,000 across the same window, up 16.3% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Bala Cynwyd, PA adding about 1,369 residents over the five-year window, up 15.5% on net. The renter share has risen from 23.2% to 30.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Bala Cynwyd, PA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Bala Cynwyd on your salary?
At $2,304/mo, how Bala Cynwyd rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bala Cynwyd rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bala Cynwyd. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bala Cynwyd
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Bala Cynwyd is $2,304/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,730/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,270/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,910/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,730/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($150,000/yr), Bala Cynwyd ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bala Cynwyd?
At $2,304/mo, rent takes ~18% of Bala Cynwyd's median household income ($150,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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