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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Harrisburg, PA is $1,361. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Harrisburg cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?

Harrisburg is among the more affordable cities in Pennsylvania, ranking #114 out of 167 cities at $1,361/mo.

When was Harrisburg rent data last updated?

Harrisburg rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · PA

Harrisburg

Name: Average Rent Prices in Harrisburg, PA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 50,287·114th most expensive in Pennsylvania·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$1,361/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.0%

Month-over-Month

-1.2%

vs US Median

-$604

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Harrisburg · $1,361

More affordable than 84% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

61/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Harrisburg's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,361/mo

Expected by trend

$1,437/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$948

1 BR

$1,107

2 BR

$1,363

3 BR

$1,753

4 BR+

$1,807

Research median

$1,363/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$16,332/yr

At $1,361/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, -1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Harrisburg, PA is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 25.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

50,287

Median income

$48,099

Median age

33.4

Renters

63.4%

Age distribution

27.5%

25.1%

24.4%

12.9%

Under 1827.5%

18–3425.1%

35–5424.4%

55–6410.1%

65+12.9%

Gender

47.4%

52.6%

Male47.4%

Female52.6%

Race & ethnicity

30.8%

43.2%

26.4%

White30.8%

Black43.2%

Hispanic26.4%

Asian2.2%

Education (25+)

14.8%

33.7%

25.7%

25.9%

No HS diploma14.8%

HS diploma33.7%

Some college25.7%

Bachelor's+25.9%

Housing tenure

36.6%

63.4%

Owner36.6%

Renter63.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Harrisburg, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,016 → $1,361

up 34.0%

Income

$44,444 → $48,099

up 8.2%

Population

49,969 → 50,287

up 0.6%

Renter share

64.4% → 63.4%

-1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

22.5% → 25.9%

+3.4 pts

Median age

31.6 → 33.4

+1.8 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Harrisburg, PA has increased by $345 per month, settling near $1,361 after starting the period at $1,016. Household income in the area moved from $44,444 to $48,099 across the same window, up 8.2% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 22.5% to 25.9%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Harrisburg, PA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Harrisburg

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View Harrisburg rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Harrisburg on your salary?

At $1,361/mo, how Harrisburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 17.5% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 24.6% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 21.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 11.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 9.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 26.3% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 29.1% income

affordable

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 23.6% income

affordable

By apartment size

Harrisburg rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Harrisburg

About renting in Harrisburg, PA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Harrisburg is $1,361/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $948/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,363/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,107/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,753/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($48,099/yr), Harrisburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Harrisburg an affordable city for renters?

Harrisburg is considered moderate for renters. At $1,361/mo, rent takes approximately 34% of the local median household income ($48,099/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Harrisburg slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Harrisburg?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $54,000/year (~$26/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,361/mo in Harrisburg. The local median household income is $48,099/yr, meaning the typical Harrisburg household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Harrisburg?

Rent in Harrisburg has increased 3.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Harrisburg neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Harrisburg are 17113 ($1,061/mo), 17103 ($1,104/mo), and 17104 ($1,202/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Harrisburg is $1,361/mo.

How does Harrisburg rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Harrisburg is one of the more affordable cities in Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #114 out of 167 tracked cities at $1,361/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Harrisburg?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Harrisburg ($1,361/mo): Lemoyne ($1,319/mo), Middletown ($1,322/mo).

What percentage of Harrisburg residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 63.4% of Harrisburg households are renters, while 36.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Harrisburg has a strong rental market.

How does Harrisburg rent compare to the national average?

Harrisburg's median rent of $1,361/mo is $604 (31%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #114 out of 167 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

34%

MODERATE

At $1,361/mo, rent takes ~34% of Harrisburg's median household income ($48,099/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Harrisburg 34%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.07%

Run the Harrisburg affordability calculator →

Nearby cities