Rents are right about where Washington's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $938 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Washington is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2022.
Rent in Washington changed +7.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 114 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.6%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($52,975) is $1,324 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,170); a 3-bedroom is $1,490.
Wheeling, WV, 22 miles away, rents for 13% less ($817/mo), about $1,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Washington. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Washington, PA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 19% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Washington, PA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Washington, PA stood at $737 in 2022 and currently runs about $938, reflecting a 27.3% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $45,049 to $52,975 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.6% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in Washington, PA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Washington
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Can you afford rent in Washington on your salary?
At $938/mo, how Washington rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Washington rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Washington. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Washington
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Washington is $938/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,170/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $980/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,490/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($52,975/yr), Washington ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Washington?
Is rent going up or down in Washington?
How does Washington rent compare to other cities in Pennsylvania?
At $938/mo, rent takes ~21% of Washington's median household income ($52,975/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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