How much does it cost to rent in Downingtown, PA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Downingtown, PA is $2,554. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Downingtown cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?

Downingtown is one of the pricier cities in Pennsylvania, ranking #9 out of 169 cities tracked at $2,554/mo.

When was Downingtown rent data last updated?

Downingtown rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Downingtown, PA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Downingtown, PA at $1,980 per month, which is 22% below the $2,554 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · PA

Downingtown

Name: Average Rent Prices in Downingtown, PA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 8,255·9th most expensive in Pennsylvania·Downingtown rents are up 8.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,554/mo

Year-over-Year

+8.5%

Month-over-Month

+3.6%

vs US Median

+$592

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Downingtown rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Downingtown · $2,554

More expensive than 81% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

53/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Downingtown's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,554/mo

Expected by trend

$2,588/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Downingtown's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,510

1 BR

$1,660

2 BR

$1,980

3 BR

$2,390

4 BR+

$2,710

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,980/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,554 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$30,648/yr

At $2,554/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 8.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+8.5% YoY, +3.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Downingtown, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 49.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

8,255

Median income

$96,228

Median age

38.9

Renters

52%

Age distribution

20.2%

23.9%

29.4%

13.3%

13.2%

Under 1820.2%

18–3423.9%

35–5429.4%

55–6413.3%

65+13.2%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

63.7%

13%

15.3%

White63.7%

Black13%

Hispanic6.7%

Asian15.3%

Other1.3%

Education (25+)

27.2%

20.8%

49.2%

No HS diploma2.8%

HS diploma27.2%

Some college20.8%

Bachelor's+49.2%

Housing tenure

48%

52%

Owner48%

Renter52%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Downingtown, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,727 → $2,554

up 47.9%

Income

$72,669 → $96,228

up 32.4%

Population

8,047 → 8,255

up 2.6%

Renter share

47.7% → 52%

+4.3 pts

Bachelor's+

40.5% → 49.2%

+8.7 pts

Rent in Downingtown, PA has climbed 47.9% since 2021, going from about $1,727 per month to roughly $2,554 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $72,669 in 2021 to $96,228 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.5 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 8,047 to 8,255 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.6% change. About 52% of households rent today, against 47.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 40.5% to 49.2%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Downingtown, PA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Downingtown

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View Downingtown rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Downingtown on your salary?

At $2,554/mo, how Downingtown rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 32.8% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 46.2% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 40.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 22.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 17.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 49.3% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 54.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 44.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Downingtown rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Downingtown

About renting in Downingtown, PA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Downingtown is $2,554/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,510/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,660/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,390/mo.

At 32% of local median household income ($96,228/yr), Downingtown ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Downingtown an affordable city for renters?

Downingtown is considered moderate for renters. At $2,554/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($96,228/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Downingtown slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Downingtown?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $102,000/year (~$49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,554/mo in Downingtown. The local median household income is $96,228/yr, meaning the typical Downingtown household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Downingtown?

Rent in Downingtown has increased 8.5% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Downingtown rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Downingtown is one of the pricier cities in Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #9 out of 169 tracked cities at $2,554/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Downingtown?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Downingtown ($2,554/mo): Coatesville ($1,694/mo), Thorndale ($1,869/mo), Kennett Square ($2,222/mo).

What percentage of Downingtown residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 52% of Downingtown households are renters, while 48% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Downingtown has a strong rental market.

How does Downingtown rent compare to the national average?

Downingtown's median rent of $2,554/mo is $592 (30%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #9 out of 169 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $2,554/mo, rent takes ~32% of Downingtown's median household income ($96,228/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Downingtown 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.07%

Run the Downingtown affordability calculator →

Nearby cities