ZIP Code · PA

ZIP 19138

Part of Philadelphia, PA

Pop. 30,821·Philadelphia County·124th most expensive ZIP in Pennsylvania

Median rent (all units)

$1,604/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.2%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$328

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 19138 · $1,604

More affordable than 65% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,200

1 BR

$1,310

2 BR

$1,560

3 BR

$1,870

4 BR+

$2,090

Research median

$1,560/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 19138 is 0.6% below its high of $1,613 in June 2026, at $1,604 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Pennsylvania

Rent in ZIP 19138 changed +3.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($57,744) is $1,444 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,310); a 2-bedroom is $1,560.

Rank in Philadelphia

21st cheapest of 43 ZIP codes in Philadelphia.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 19126, 1 mile away, rents for 17% less ($1,338/mo), about $3,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 19138. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,248/yr

At $1,604/mo median

Location

CityPhiladelphia

StatePA

CountyPhiladelphia County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.2% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.2% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 19138 (Philadelphia, PA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 19.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,821

Median income

$57,744

Median age

39.6

Renters

29.1%

Age distribution

23.6%

20%

27.9%

16.7%

Under 1823.6%

18–3420%

35–5427.9%

55–6411.7%

65+16.7%

Gender

44.6%

55.4%

Male44.6%

Female55.4%

Race & ethnicity

92.3%

White2.4%

Black92.3%

Hispanic2.8%

Asian0.9%

Other1.6%

Education (25+)

35.5%

34.2%

19.5%

No HS diploma10.7%

HS diploma35.5%

Some college34.2%

Bachelor's+19.5%

Housing tenure

70.9%

29.1%

Owner70.9%

Renter29.1%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 19138 in Philadelphia, PA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,193 → $1,604

up 34.5%

Income

$44,455 → $57,744

up 29.9%

Population

33,197 → 30,821

down 7.2%

Renter share

37.4% → 29.1%

-8.3 pts

Bachelor's+

16.3% → 19.5%

+3.2 pts

Median age

36.5 → 39.6

+3.1 yrs

Since 2022, the typical rent in ZIP 19138 in Philadelphia, PA has climbed from $1,193 to $1,604, a 34.5% change over five years. Median household income rose from $44,455 to $57,744 between 2021 and 2024, a 29.9% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 7.2% since 2021, moving from about 33,197 residents to roughly 30,821. Renters now make up 29.1% of households, compared with 37.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 19.5% of adults here, versus 16.3% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 19138 in Philadelphia, 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.

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About renting in ZIP 19138

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 19138 covers Philadelphia, PA. The median rent here is $1,604/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,310/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,560/mo.

At 33% of local median household income ($57,744/yr), ZIP 19138 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 19138?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,604/mo in ZIP 19138. The local median household income is $57,744/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 19138?

Rent in ZIP 19138 has risen 3.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.6% below its high of $1,613 in June 2026.

How does ZIP 19138 compare to other ZIPs in Pennsylvania?

ZIP 19138 is in the middle among Pennsylvania ZIP codes for rent, ranking #124 of 261 at $1,604/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 19138 changed +3.2%, against a typical +3.8% across the 205 Pennsylvania ZIP codes Zillow tracks.