City Report · PA

Shippensburg

Pop. 5,620·135th most expensive in Pennsylvania·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,264/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+5.4%
vs US Median
-$701
Rising (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Shippensburg rents
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Shippensburg · $1,264
More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,264/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$51,000/yr
Local median income
$51,503/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Shippensburg's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$890
1 BR
$1,000
2 BR
$1,230
3 BR
$1,600
4 BR+
$1,700
Research median
$1,230/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$15,168/yr
At $1,264/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +5.4% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Shippensburg, PA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 35% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
5,620
Median income
$51,503
Median age
34.9
Renters
55.8%
Age distribution
20.6%
30.3%
20.6%
21.4%
Under 1820.6%
18–3430.3%
35–5420.6%
55–647.1%
65+21.4%
Gender
51.5%
48.5%
Male51.5%
Female48.5%
Race & ethnicity
92.3%
White92.3%
Black3.8%
Other3.6%
Education (25+)
37.5%
18.2%
35%
No HS diploma9.3%
HS diploma37.5%
Some college18.2%
Bachelor's+35%
Housing tenure
44.2%
55.8%
Owner44.2%
Renter55.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Shippensburg, PA has changed in 5 years

Income
$45,219 → $51,503
up 13.9%
Population
5,668 → 5,620
down 0.8%
Renter share
55.2% → 55.8%
+0.6 pts
Bachelor's+
34% → 35%
+1.0 pts
Median age
34.4 → 34.9
+0.5 yrs

Median household income climbed from $45,219 to $51,503 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.9% shift.

Community

Discussions about Shippensburg

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

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

Can you afford rent in Shippensburg on your salary?

At $1,264/mo, how Shippensburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Shippensburg rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Shippensburg

About renting in Shippensburg, PA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Shippensburg is $1,264/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $890/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,230/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,600/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($51,503/yr), Shippensburg ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Shippensburg an affordable city for renters?

Shippensburg is considered affordable for renters. At $1,264/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($51,503/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Shippensburg falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Shippensburg?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $51,000/year (~$25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,264/mo in Shippensburg. The local median household income is $51,503/yr, meaning the typical Shippensburg household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Shippensburg?

Rent in Shippensburg has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of July 2026.

How does Shippensburg rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Shippensburg is one of the more affordable cities in Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #135 out of 167 tracked cities at $1,264/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Shippensburg?

Gettysburg is nearby and more affordable at $1,247/mo, which is $17 less than Shippensburg.

What percentage of Shippensburg residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.8% of Shippensburg households are renters, while 44.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Shippensburg has a strong rental market.

How does Shippensburg rent compare to the national average?

Shippensburg's median rent of $1,264/mo is $701 (36%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #135 out of 167 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,264/mo, rent takes ~29% of Shippensburg's median household income ($51,503/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Shippensburg 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax3.07%
Run the Shippensburg affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Shippensburg
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Shippensburg, PA

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Shippensburg.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.