What does this measure?
The most recent monthly rent plus the average monthly payments for utilities and fuel, as reported to the Census Bureau, adjusted for inflation. The median represents the mid-point of monthly rents (half the values are above the median and half below).
Why is this important?
For those who do not own a home, rent is a necessary expense. The higher a family's rental expenses, the less they have to spend on their other needs. However, higher median rental values can also be indicative of a better home and community.
How does our county compare?
In 2020-24, the median monthly rent in Lancaster County was $1,360, slightly higher than the $1,200 statewide median and below the $1,410 national median. Median monthly rent in Lancaster County increased by 14% since 2010-14, higher than the state increase of 10% and slightly lower than the national increase of 16% during the same time period. The City of Lancaster, with a median monthly rent of $1,240, increased 20% since 2010-14.
Lancaster County had the highest increase in median rent during this time period, followed by Chester and Lebanon with 12% and 10% increases respectively. The remaining counties increased between 5% and 9%. All but one surrounding county have median rents in the $1,100-$1,400 range: Chester County is the outlier, with a median rent above $1,700.
Notes about the data
Data are presented in 2024 dollars. Multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau s American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Figures for the region and surrounding counties were calculated by aggregating county medians based on each county's share of the region s population.
| 2010-14 | 2015-19 | 2020-24 | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $1,102 | $1,151 | $1,209 | ||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County | $1,187 | $1,238 | $1,357 | ||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster City | $1,031 | $1,063 | $1,240 | ||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County School Districts | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Boroughs | |||||||||||||||||||
| Lancaster County Townships | |||||||||||||||||||
| Berks County | $1,125 | $1,152 | $1,181 | ||||||||||||||||
| Chester County | $1,579 | $1,632 | $1,763 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cumberland County | $1,154 | $1,216 | $1,249 | ||||||||||||||||
| Dauphin County | $1,121 | $1,164 | $1,217 | ||||||||||||||||
| Lebanon County | $1,008 | $1,072 | $1,110 | ||||||||||||||||
| York County | $1,110 | $1,174 | $1,193 | ||||||||||||||||
Notes: Figures in 2024 dollars. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.
