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City Report · PA

Shippensburg

Pop. 5,620·141st most expensive in Pennsylvania·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,255/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.7%
vs US Median
-$707
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Shippensburg · $1,255
More affordable than 90% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,255/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$50,000/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
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,230/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,255 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: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$15,060/yr
At $1,255/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, -0.7% MoM), not inventory.
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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

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

Can you afford rent in Shippensburg on your salary?

At $1,255/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: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Shippensburg is $1,255/mo as of August 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 $1,255/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 $50,000/year (~$24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,255/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 August 2026.

How does Shippensburg rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

Shippensburg is one of the more affordable cities in Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #141 out of 169 tracked cities at $1,255/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Shippensburg?

Gettysburg is nearby and more affordable at $1,187/mo, which is $68 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 $1,255/mo is $707 (36%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #141 out of 169 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,255/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 →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Shippensburg, PA

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