City Report · PA

Red Lion

Pop. 6,516·81st most expensive in Pennsylvania·Red Lion rents are up 7.6% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,604/mo
Year-over-Year
+7.6%
Month-over-Month
+1.3%
vs US Median
-$328
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Red Lion · $1,604
More affordable than 68% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
26% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,604/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$64,000/yr
Local median income
$72,901/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Red Lion's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$840
1 BR
$950
2 BR
$1,190
3 BR
$1,610
4 BR+
$1,670
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 $1,604 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 Red Lion changed +7.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($72,901) is $1,823 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,670).

Cheaper nearby

York, 9 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,367/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$19,248/yr
At $1,604/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 7.6% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+7.6% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Red Lion, PA is majority owner-occupied, 16.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
6,516
Median income
$72,901
Median age
35.5
Renters
36.5%
Age distribution
19.9%
29%
19%
17.2%
14.9%
Under 1819.9%
18–3429%
35–5419%
55–6417.2%
65+14.9%
Gender
48.8%
51.2%
Male48.8%
Female51.2%
Race & ethnicity
84.2%
White84.2%
Black5.5%
Hispanic1.3%
Asian4.1%
Other4.9%
Education (25+)
15.5%
42.6%
25.4%
16.5%
No HS diploma15.5%
HS diploma42.6%
Some college25.4%
Bachelor's+16.5%
Housing tenure
63.5%
36.5%
Owner63.5%
Renter36.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Red Lion, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$61,083 → $72,901
up 19.3%
Population
6,478 → 6,516
up 0.6%
Renter share
43.5% → 36.5%
-7.0 pts
Bachelor's+
17.2% → 16.5%
-0.7 pts
Median age
36.9 → 35.5
-1.4 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $72,901 today, compared with $61,083 five years earlier. Renters now make up 36.5% of households, compared with 43.5% five years ago.

Community

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View Red Lion rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Red Lion on your salary?

At $1,604/mo, how Red Lion rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Red Lion rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Red Lion

About renting in Red Lion, PA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Red Lion is $1,604/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $840/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,190/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $950/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,610/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($72,901/yr), Red Lion ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Red Lion?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,604/mo in Red Lion. The local median household income is $72,901/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Red Lion?

Rent in Red Lion has risen 7.6% over the past year.

How does Red Lion rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Red Lion is in the middle among Pennsylvania cities for rent, ranking #81 of 161 tracked cities at $1,604/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Red Lion changed +7.6%, against a typical +3.6% across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Red Lion?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Red Lion ($1,604/mo) include Dallastown ($1,079/mo), Columbia ($1,347/mo), and York ($1,367/mo).
Income Affordability
26%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,604/mo, rent takes ~26% of Red Lion's median household income ($72,901/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Red Lion 26%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.07%
Run the Red Lion affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Red Lion, PA

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