The Pennsylvania rental market
Pennsylvania tracks median rent across 161 cities, ranging from Sharon at $844/mo to Newtown Square at $3,314/mo. The state average of $1,674/mo runs about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Pennsylvania cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +5.7% over the past year. 51 of 187 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 136 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 9 of 161 Pennsylvania cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
39 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, West Chester ($2,277/mo) costs 2.5 times as much as Johnstown ($896/mo).
Across 31 Pennsylvania cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in January and peak in July, a typical swing of 1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 10 of 17 Pennsylvania cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Pennsylvania cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Pennsylvania rent questions
What is the average rent in Pennsylvania?
The average median rent across 161 tracked cities in Pennsylvania is $1,674/mo, about 13% below the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Pennsylvania city has the highest rent?
Newtown Square has the highest median rent in Pennsylvania at $3,314/mo.
Which Pennsylvania city has the most affordable rent?
Sharon is the most affordable tracked city in Pennsylvania, with a median rent of $844/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Pennsylvania?
Across Pennsylvania cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +5.7% over the past year.
How does Pennsylvania rent compare to the rest of the country?
51 of 187 tracked Pennsylvania cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 136 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Pennsylvania?
By population, the largest rental markets in Pennsylvania are Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.