Rents are right about where Ephrata'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 $1,401 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
Rent in Ephrata is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.
Rent in Ephrata changed +5.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($69,735) is $1,743 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,600).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ephrata. 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
Ephrata, PA is majority owner-occupied, 23.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ephrata, PA has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Ephrata, PA has increased from $1,036 to $1,401, a 35.2% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $56,280 to $69,735 across the same window, up 23.9% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 44.4% of households, compared with 49.8% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Ephrata, PA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Ephrata on your salary?
At $1,401/mo, how Ephrata rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ephrata rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ephrata. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ephrata
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ephrata is $1,401/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $850/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,200/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,560/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($69,735/yr), Ephrata ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Ephrata?
Is rent going up or down in Ephrata?
How does Ephrata rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
At $1,401/mo, rent takes ~24% of Ephrata's median household income ($69,735/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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