How much does it cost to rent in State College, PA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in State College, PA is $1,888. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is State College cheaper than other Pennsylvania cities?

State College falls in the middle range for Pennsylvania, ranking #58 out of 167 cities at $1,888/mo.

When was State College rent data last updated?

State College rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · PA

State College

Name: Average Rent Prices in State College, PA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 41,050·58th most expensive in Pennsylvania·State College rents are up 17.2% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,888/mo

Year-over-Year

+17.2%

Month-over-Month

-1.7%

vs US Median

-$77

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss State College rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

State College · $1,888

More expensive than 52% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

41/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what State College's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,888/mo

Expected by trend

$1,808/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where State College's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,355

1 BR

$1,360

2 BR

$1,580

3 BR

$1,925

4 BR+

$2,095

Research median

$1,580/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

$22,656/yr

At $1,888/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 17.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+17.2% YoY, -1.7% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

State College, PA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 68.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

41,050

Median income

$45,424

Median age

21.2

Renters

73.9%

Age distribution

74%

Under 185.7%

18–3474%

35–549.6%

55–643.9%

65+6.8%

Gender

52.9%

47.1%

Male52.9%

Female47.1%

Race & ethnicity

78.5%

White78.5%

Black3.9%

Hispanic6.1%

Asian9.4%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

14.4%

14.2%

68.4%

No HS diploma3%

HS diploma14.4%

Some college14.2%

Bachelor's+68.4%

Housing tenure

26.1%

73.9%

Owner26.1%

Renter73.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How State College, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,328 → $1,888

up 42.2%

Income

$43,015 → $45,424

up 5.6%

Population

40,352 → 41,050

up 1.7%

Renter share

71.2% → 73.9%

+2.7 pts

Bachelor's+

70.3% → 68.4%

-1.9 pts

Rent in State College, PA has climbed 42.2% since 2021, going from about $1,328 per month to roughly $1,888 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $43,015 in 2021 to $45,424 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 36.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 40,352 to 41,050 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.7% change. About 73.9% of households rent today, against 71.2% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the State College, PA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about State College

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View State College rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in State College on your salary?

At $1,888/mo, how State College rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 24.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 29.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 36.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 40.4% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 32.7% income

stretched

By apartment size

State College rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in State College

About renting in State College, PA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in State College is $1,888/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,355/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,580/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,360/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,925/mo.

At 50% of local median household income ($45,424/yr), State College ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 17.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is State College an affordable city for renters?

State College is considered stretched for renters. At $1,888/mo, rent takes approximately 50% of the local median household income ($45,424/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. State College significantly exceeds that threshold, making it challenging for many renters.

How much income do you need to rent in State College?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $76,000/year (~$37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,888/mo in State College. The local median household income is $45,424/yr, meaning the typical State College household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in State College?

Rent in State College has increased 17.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which State College neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in State College are 16803 ($1,904/mo), and 16801 ($1,909/mo). Citywide, the median rent in State College is $1,888/mo.

How does State College rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?

State College is middle-of-the-pack for Pennsylvania for rent, ranking #58 out of 167 tracked cities at $1,888/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than State College?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than State College ($1,888/mo): Lock Haven ($890/mo), Altoona ($1,138/mo), Newville ($1,325/mo).

What percentage of State College residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 73.9% of State College households are renters, while 26.1% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, State College has a strong rental market.

How does State College rent compare to the national average?

State College's median rent of $1,888/mo is $77 (4%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks #58 out of 167 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

50%

STRETCHED

At $1,888/mo, rent takes ~50% of State College's median household income ($45,424/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

State College 50%Benchmark 30%

State income tax3.07%

Run the State College affordability calculator →

Nearby cities