City Report · PA

Monaca

Pop. 5,519·87th most expensive in Pennsylvania·Rental market data updated monthly for Monaca, PA
Median rent (all units)
$1,551/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.1%
vs US Median
-$381
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Monaca · $1,551
More affordable than 72% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
25% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,551/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$62,000/yr
Local median income
$73,538/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Monaca'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 $1,551 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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,538) is $1,838 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,630).

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

Annual cost
$18,612/yr
At $1,551/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 (+0.0% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Monaca, PA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 25.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
5,519
Median income
$73,538
Median age
39
Renters
34.1%
Age distribution
25.9%
19.9%
24.8%
18.2%
Under 1825.9%
18–3419.9%
35–5424.8%
55–6411.2%
65+18.2%
Gender
48.2%
51.8%
Male48.2%
Female51.8%
Race & ethnicity
88.5%
White88.5%
Black1.1%
Hispanic4.5%
Other5.6%
Education (25+)
36.4%
33.7%
25.5%
No HS diploma4.5%
HS diploma36.4%
Some college33.7%
Bachelor's+25.5%
Housing tenure
65.9%
34.1%
Owner65.9%
Renter34.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Monaca, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$51,086 → $73,538
up 43.9%
Population
5,622 → 5,519
down 1.8%
Renter share
40.8% → 34.1%
-6.7 pts
Bachelor's+
23.7% → 25.5%
+1.8 pts
Median age
40.2 → 39
-1.2 yrs

Median household income climbed from $51,086 to $73,538 between 2021 and 2024, a 43.9% shift. Census counts show Monaca, PA losing about 103 residents over the five-year window, down 1.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 40.8% to 34.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Monaca on your salary?

At $1,551/mo, how Monaca rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Monaca rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Monaca

About renting in Monaca, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Monaca is $1,551/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 ($73,538/yr), Monaca ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Monaca?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,551/mo in Monaca. The local median household income is $73,538/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Monaca?

Rent in Monaca has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Monaca rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Monaca is in the middle among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #87 of 161 tracked cities at $1,551/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Monaca?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Monaca ($1,551/mo) include Rochester ($879/mo), Ambridge ($998/mo), and Beaver ($1,087/mo).
Income Affordability
25%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,551/mo, rent takes ~25% of Monaca's median household income ($73,538/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

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

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Monaca, PA

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