At $1,516/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,516 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 Hershey changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,587) is $1,965 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,950).
Lemoyne, 14 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,314/mo), about $2,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hershey. 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
Hershey, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, 50.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hershey, PA has changed in 5 years
Median household income rose from $69,626 to $78,587 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.9% shift. The population has contracted by 2.6% since 2021, moving from about 14,619 residents to roughly 14,242. College-educated residents now make up 50.2% of adults here, versus 46.8% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Hershey on your salary?
At $1,516/mo, how Hershey rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hershey rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hershey. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hershey
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Hershey is $1,516/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,020/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,470/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,190/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,890/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($78,587/yr), Hershey ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Hershey?
Is rent going up or down in Hershey?
How does Hershey rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Hershey?
At $1,516/mo, rent takes ~23% of Hershey's median household income ($78,587/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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