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

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Lancaster, PA is $1,552. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lancaster cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?

Lancaster falls in the middle range for Pennsylvania, ranking #89 out of 167 cities at $1,552/mo.

When was Lancaster rent data last updated?

Lancaster 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

Lancaster

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

Pop. 57,719·89th most expensive in Pennsylvania·Rental market data updated monthly for Lancaster, PA

Median rent (all units)

$1,552/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.9%

vs US Median

-$413

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lancaster · $1,552

More affordable than 72% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

61/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what Lancaster's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,552/mo

Expected by trend

$1,643/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,050

1 BR

$1,173

2 BR

$1,477

3 BR

$1,927

4 BR+

$1,957

Research median

$1,477/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

$18,624/yr

At $1,552/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, +0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Lancaster, PA is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 29.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

57,719

Median income

$63,690

Median age

32.2

Renters

51.4%

Age distribution

20.8%

33.7%

24.9%

Under 1820.8%

18–3433.7%

35–5424.9%

55–6410.2%

65+10.4%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

47.3%

14.3%

40.6%

White47.3%

Black14.3%

Hispanic40.6%

Asian3%

Education (25+)

15.7%

32.4%

22.6%

29.4%

No HS diploma15.7%

HS diploma32.4%

Some college22.6%

Bachelor's+29.4%

Housing tenure

48.6%

51.4%

Owner48.6%

Renter51.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lancaster, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,173 → $1,552

up 32.3%

Income

$54,145 → $63,690

up 17.6%

Population

58,034 → 57,719

down 0.5%

Renter share

53.4% → 51.4%

-2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

25.4% → 29.4%

+4.0 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Lancaster, PA has climbed by $379 per month, settling near $1,552 after starting the period at $1,173. Median household income grew from $54,145 to $63,690 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.6% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 14.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 51.4% of households rent today, against 53.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 25.4% to 29.4%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Lancaster, PA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Lancaster

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View Lancaster rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lancaster on your salary?

At $1,552/mo, how Lancaster rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 19.9% income

very comfortable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 28% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 24.3% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 13.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 10.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 30% income

affordable

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 33.2% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 26.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Lancaster rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lancaster

About renting in Lancaster, PA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Lancaster is $1,552/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,050/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,477/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,173/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,927/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($63,690/yr), Lancaster ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lancaster an affordable city for renters?

Lancaster is considered affordable for renters. At $1,552/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($63,690/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lancaster falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Lancaster?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,552/mo in Lancaster. The local median household income is $63,690/yr, meaning the typical Lancaster household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lancaster?

Rent in Lancaster has increased 2.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Lancaster neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Lancaster are 17602 ($1,377/mo), 17603 ($1,470/mo), and 17601 ($1,970/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Lancaster is $1,552/mo.

How does Lancaster rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Lancaster is middle-of-the-pack for Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #89 out of 167 tracked cities at $1,552/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lancaster?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Lancaster ($1,552/mo): Columbia ($1,291/mo), Ephrata ($1,340/mo), Manheim ($1,479/mo).

What percentage of Lancaster residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 51.4% of Lancaster households are renters, while 48.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Lancaster has a strong rental market.

How does Lancaster rent compare to the national average?

Lancaster's median rent of $1,552/mo is $413 (21%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #89 out of 167 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,552/mo, rent takes ~29% of Lancaster's median household income ($63,690/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lancaster 29%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.07%

Run the Lancaster affordability calculator →

Nearby cities