City Report · PA

Bloomsburg

Pop. 13,024·135th most expensive in Pennsylvania·Bloomsburg rents are up 9.0% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,165/mo
Year-over-Year
+9.0%
Month-over-Month
+2.6%
vs US Median
-$767
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Bloomsburg · $1,165
More affordable than 93% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
27% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,165/mo, rent takes about 27% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$47,000/yr
Local median income
$51,536/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Bloomsburg's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$760
1 BR
$910
2 BR
$1,110
3 BR
$1,370
4 BR+
$1,650
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,110/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,165 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in Bloomsburg changed +9.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($51,536) is $1,288 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,110); a 3-bedroom is $1,370.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bloomsburg. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$13,980/yr
At $1,165/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 9.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+9.0% YoY, +2.6% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Bloomsburg, PA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
13,024
Median income
$51,536
Median age
24.3
Renters
64.6%
Age distribution
54.8%
13.2%
12.9%
Under 1810.1%
18–3454.8%
35–5413.2%
55–649%
65+12.9%
Gender
47.2%
52.8%
Male47.2%
Female52.8%
Race & ethnicity
86.9%
White86.9%
Black3.6%
Hispanic8.6%
Asian1%
Education (25+)
44.6%
18%
32.5%
No HS diploma4.9%
HS diploma44.6%
Some college18%
Bachelor's+32.5%
Housing tenure
35.4%
64.6%
Owner35.4%
Renter64.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Bloomsburg, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$41,540 → $51,536
up 24.1%
Population
12,850 → 13,024
up 1.4%
Renter share
61.8% → 64.6%
+2.8 pts
Bachelor's+
35.1% → 32.5%
-2.6 pts
Median age
23.8 → 24.3
+0.5 yrs

Median household income climbed from $41,540 to $51,536 between 2021 and 2024, a 24.1% shift. Census counts show Bloomsburg, PA adding about 174 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. The renter share has risen from 61.8% to 64.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 35.1% to 32.5% across the same window.

Community

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View Bloomsburg rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Bloomsburg on your salary?

At $1,165/mo, how Bloomsburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Bloomsburg rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Bloomsburg. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Bloomsburg

About renting in Bloomsburg, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Bloomsburg is $1,165/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $760/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $910/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,370/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($51,536/yr), Bloomsburg ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Bloomsburg?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $47,000/year (about $23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,165/mo in Bloomsburg. The local median household income is $51,536/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Bloomsburg?

Rent in Bloomsburg has risen 9.0% over the past year.

How does Bloomsburg rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Bloomsburg is one of the more affordable among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #135 of 161 tracked cities at $1,165/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Bloomsburg changed +9.0%, against a typical +3.6% across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bloomsburg?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Bloomsburg ($1,165/mo) include Tamaqua ($1,063/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,165/mo, rent takes ~27% of Bloomsburg's median household income ($51,536/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Bloomsburg 27%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.07%
Run the Bloomsburg affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Bloomsburg, PA

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