City Report · PA

Paoli

Pop. 6,362·17th most expensive in Pennsylvania·Paoli rents are up 7.9% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$2,394/mo
Year-over-Year
+7.9%
Month-over-Month
+1.4%
vs US Median
+$462
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Paoli · $2,394
More expensive than 76% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
21% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,394/mo, rent takes about 21% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$96,000/yr
Local median income
$138,396/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Paoli's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

1 BR
$1,845
2 BR
$1,962
3 BR
$1,713
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,962/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,394 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 Paoli changed +7.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($138,396) is $3,460 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,713).

Cheaper nearby

Devon, 4 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,905/mo), about $5,900 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$28,728/yr
At $2,394/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 7.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+7.9% YoY, +1.4% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Paoli, PA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 69.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
6,362
Median income
$138,396
Median age
42.4
Renters
24.6%
Age distribution
19.9%
19.6%
27.3%
12.5%
20.7%
Under 1819.9%
18–3419.6%
35–5427.3%
55–6412.5%
65+20.7%
Gender
49.3%
50.7%
Male49.3%
Female50.7%
Race & ethnicity
71.4%
17.7%
White71.4%
Black3%
Hispanic3.1%
Asian17.7%
Other4.7%
Education (25+)
15%
69.5%
No HS diploma3.8%
HS diploma15%
Some college11.7%
Bachelor's+69.5%
Housing tenure
75.4%
24.6%
Owner75.4%
Renter24.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Paoli, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$92,661 → $138,396
up 49.4%
Population
5,838 → 6,362
up 9.0%
Renter share
24.4% → 24.6%
+0.2 pts
Bachelor's+
63.3% → 69.5%
+6.2 pts
Median age
44.3 → 42.4
-1.9 yrs

Median household income grew from $92,661 to $138,396 between 2021 and 2024, a 49.4% shift. Headcount in the area went from 5,838 to 6,362 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.0% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 63.3% to 69.5%.

Community

Discussions about Paoli

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

Can you afford rent in Paoli on your salary?

At $2,394/mo, how Paoli rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Paoli rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Paoli

About renting in Paoli, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Paoli is $2,394/mo as of October 2026. a 2-bedroom runs $1,962/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,845/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,713/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($138,396/yr), Paoli ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Paoli?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $96,000/year (about $46/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,394/mo in Paoli. The local median household income is $138,396/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Paoli?

Rent in Paoli has risen 7.9% over the past year.

How does Paoli rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Paoli is one of the pricier among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #17 of 161 tracked cities at $2,394/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Paoli changed +7.9%, against a typical +3.6% across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Paoli?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Paoli ($2,394/mo) include Devon ($1,905/mo), Phoenixville ($2,048/mo), and Wayne ($2,108/mo).
Income Affordability
21%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,394/mo, rent takes ~21% of Paoli's median household income ($138,396/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Paoli 21%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.07%
Run the Paoli affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Paoli, PA

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