ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 17603

Part of Lancaster, PA

Pop. 67,571·Lancaster County·147th most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$1,510/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$422

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 17603 · $1,510

More affordable than 72% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,160

1 BR

$1,290

2 BR

$1,610

3 BR

$2,090

4 BR+

$2,130

Research median

$1,610/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

September. Asking rents in ZIP 17603 usually run 0.5% below trend in September and 0.4% above it in April, about $14 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 17603 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2016.

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in ZIP 17603 changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 17603 rose 44.8% while median household income rose 40% ($55,067 to $77,084). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 17603 is 54.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($77,084) is $1,927 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,610); a 3-bedroom is $2,090.

Rank in Lancaster

2nd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Lancaster.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 17512, 8 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,347/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 17603. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,120/yr

At $1,510/mo median

Location

CityLancaster

StatePA

CountyLancaster County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.1% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 17603 (Lancaster, PA) is majority owner-occupied, 37.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

67,571

Median income

$77,084

Median age

35.7

Renters

38.1%

Age distribution

21.4%

27.3%

23.5%

16.5%

Under 1821.4%

18–3427.3%

35–5423.5%

55–6411.4%

65+16.5%

Gender

47.1%

52.9%

Male47.1%

Female52.9%

Race & ethnicity

62.6%

27.3%

White62.6%

Black7.6%

Hispanic27.3%

Asian3.7%

Education (25+)

32.1%

20.6%

37.7%

No HS diploma9.6%

HS diploma32.1%

Some college20.6%

Bachelor's+37.7%

Housing tenure

61.9%

38.1%

Owner61.9%

Renter38.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 17603 in Lancaster, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,083 → $1,510

up 39.4%

Income

$68,349 → $77,084

up 12.8%

Population

67,601 → 67,571

up 0.0%

Renter share

38.7% → 38.1%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

33.8% → 37.7%

+3.9 pts

Median age

34.9 → 35.7

+0.8 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 17603 in Lancaster, PA has shifted from $1,083 to $1,510, up 39.4% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $77,084 today, compared with $68,349 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 33.8% to 37.7% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 17603

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 17603 covers Lancaster, PA. The median rent here is $1,510/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,290/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,610/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($77,084/yr), ZIP 17603 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 17603?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $60,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,510/mo in ZIP 17603. The local median household income is $77,084/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 17603?

Rent in ZIP 17603 has risen 5.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2016.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 17603?

Asking rents in ZIP 17603 are usually lowest in September, about 0.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in April, about 0.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $14 a month. This pattern comes from 10 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 17603?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 17603 rose 44.8% while median household income rose 40%, from $55,067 to $77,084. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 17603 compare to other ZIPs in Pennsylvania?

ZIP 17603 is in the middle among Pennsylvania ZIP codes for rent, ranking #147 of 261 at $1,510/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 17603 changed +5.1%, against a typical +3.8% across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks.