City Report · PA

Chambersburg

Pop. 22,319·125th most expensive in Pennsylvania·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,287/mo
Year-over-Year
+3.3%
Month-over-Month
+0.2%
vs US Median
-$645
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Chambersburg · $1,287
More affordable than 89% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
57/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% below what Chambersburg's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent
$1,287/mo
Expected by trend
$1,337/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Chambersburg's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,020
1 BR
$1,050
2 BR
$1,280
3 BR
$1,710
4 BR+
$1,930
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,280/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,287 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

Compared with the peak

Rent in Chambersburg is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in Chambersburg changed +3.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,576) is $1,414 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,280); a 3-bedroom is $1,710.

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

Annual cost
$15,444/yr
At $1,287/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (3.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+3.3% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Chambersburg, PA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 27.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
22,319
Median income
$56,576
Median age
39.6
Renters
57.3%
Age distribution
19.8%
24.1%
26.1%
19%
Under 1819.8%
18–3424.1%
35–5426.1%
55–6411%
65+19%
Gender
49.6%
50.4%
Male49.6%
Female50.4%
Race & ethnicity
71%
22.6%
White71%
Black7%
Hispanic22.6%
Asian0.8%
Education (25+)
44.7%
19%
27.3%
No HS diploma9%
HS diploma44.7%
Some college19%
Bachelor's+27.3%
Housing tenure
42.7%
57.3%
Owner42.7%
Renter57.3%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Chambersburg, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,044 → $1,287
up 23.3%
Income
$48,323 → $56,576
up 17.1%
Population
22,141 → 22,319
up 0.8%
Renter share
57.2% → 57.3%
+0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
24.6% → 27.3%
+2.7 pts
Median age
39.1 → 39.6
+0.5 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Chambersburg, PA paid around $1,044 a month. That figure now sits near $1,287, up 23.3% from the 2022 baseline. Median household income climbed from $48,323 to $56,576 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.1% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 24.6% to 27.3% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Chambersburg, PA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Chambersburg on your salary?

At $1,287/mo, how Chambersburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Chambersburg rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Chambersburg

About renting in Chambersburg, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Chambersburg is $1,287/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,020/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,280/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,710/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($56,576/yr), Chambersburg ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Chambersburg?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,287/mo in Chambersburg. The local median household income is $56,576/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Chambersburg?

Rent in Chambersburg has risen 3.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2022.

How does Chambersburg rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Chambersburg is one of the more affordable among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #125 of 161 tracked cities at $1,287/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Chambersburg changed +3.3%, against a typical +3.6% across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chambersburg?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Chambersburg ($1,287/mo) include Shippensburg ($1,161/mo).
Income Affordability
27%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,287/mo, rent takes ~27% of Chambersburg's median household income ($56,576/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

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

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Chambersburg, PA

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