City Report · PA

Irwin

Pop. 3,831·131st most expensive in Pennsylvania·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,246/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.8%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
vs US Median
-$686
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Irwin · $1,246
More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
25% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,246/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/yr
Local median income
$59,963/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Irwin's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$930
1 BR
$990
2 BR
$1,190
3 BR
$1,520
4 BR+
$1,630
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,190/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,246 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

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in Irwin changed +1.8% 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 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($59,963) is $1,499 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,190); a 3-bedroom is $1,520.

Cheaper nearby

Jeannette, 6 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,113/mo), about $1,600 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$14,952/yr
At $1,246/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (1.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.8% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Irwin, PA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 35.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
3,831
Median income
$59,963
Median age
38.1
Renters
56.9%
Age distribution
19.7%
26.5%
24.7%
13.4%
15.6%
Under 1819.7%
18–3426.5%
35–5424.7%
55–6413.4%
65+15.6%
Gender
38.1%
61.9%
Male38.1%
Female61.9%
Race & ethnicity
90.8%
White90.8%
Black0.7%
Hispanic2.3%
Other6.2%
Education (25+)
30.7%
29.6%
35.8%
No HS diploma3.8%
HS diploma30.7%
Some college29.6%
Bachelor's+35.8%
Housing tenure
43.1%
56.9%
Owner43.1%
Renter56.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Irwin, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$54,477 → $59,963
up 10.1%
Population
3,894 → 3,831
down 1.6%
Renter share
48.2% → 56.9%
+8.7 pts
Bachelor's+
36.7% → 35.8%
-0.9 pts
Median age
45.3 → 38.1
-7.2 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $59,963 today, compared with $54,477 five years earlier. Census counts show Irwin, PA losing about 63 residents over the five-year window, down 1.6% on net. The renter share has risen from 48.2% to 56.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

Discussions about Irwin

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

Can you afford rent in Irwin on your salary?

At $1,246/mo, how Irwin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Irwin rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Irwin

About renting in Irwin, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Irwin is $1,246/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,190/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $990/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,520/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($59,963/yr), Irwin ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Irwin?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $50,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,246/mo in Irwin. The local median household income is $59,963/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Irwin?

Rent in Irwin has risen 1.8% over the past year.

How does Irwin rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Irwin is one of the more affordable among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #131 of 161 tracked cities at $1,246/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Irwin changed +1.8%, against a typical +3.6% across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Irwin?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Irwin ($1,246/mo) include McKeesport ($1,054/mo), Turtle Creek ($1,108/mo), and Jeannette ($1,113/mo).
Income Affordability
25%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,246/mo, rent takes ~25% of Irwin's median household income ($59,963/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Irwin 25%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.07%
Run the Irwin affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Irwin, PA

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