Chester County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Chester County PA was $1,393 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Chester County was $1,353 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Chester County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Chester County rental vacancy rates, Chester County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Chester County.
Real Gross Rent in Chester County Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
| Chester County PA Median Gross Rent | $1,393 | +7.57% | +10.03% |
Chester County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,393, real median gross rent in Chester County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Chester County peaked in real terms in 2015 at $1,371 and is now $18 (1.31%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Chester County PA Median, Chester County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Chester County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Chester County PA Median |
Chester County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $1,393 | $1,353 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $1,295 | $1,286 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $1,289 | $1,298 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $1,266 | $1,277 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $1,344 | $1,371 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $1,275 | $1,320 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $1,233 | $1,288 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $1,214 | $1,247 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $1,209 | $1,262 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $1,268 | $1,275 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $1,194 | $1,223 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $1,218 | $1,231 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $1,170 | $1,188 |
Chester County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Chester County Pennsylvania was 5.88% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Chester County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Chester County PA | 5.88% | +1.97% | +0.63% |
Trends in Chester County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Chester County peaked in 2014 at 7.07%. Since then it has fallen by 1.19% to 5.88%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Chester County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Chester County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Chester County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 5.88% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 3.91% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 5.26% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 5.25% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 3.96% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 7.07% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 2.84% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 6.00% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 4.68% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 4.99% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 4.80% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 5.86% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 6.48% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Chester County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Chester County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.39% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Chester County Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
| Chester County PA | 16.39% | +0.99% | +0.69% |
Trends in Chester County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Chester County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 16.98%. Since then it has fallen by 0.59% to 16.39%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Chester County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Chester County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Chester County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 16.39% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 15.40% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 15.52% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 15.70% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 16.80% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 16.98% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 16.80% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 16.61% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 16.96% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 16.16% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 15.43% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 14.97% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 15.45% |
Renter Fraction in Chester County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Chester County in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Chester County as a fraction of total Chester County households. In 2019 25.65% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Chester County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Chester County PA | 25.65% | +0.26% | -0.26% |
Trends in the Chester County PA Renter Fraction
The Chester County household renter fraction peaked in in 2011 at 26.76% and is now 1.11% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Chester County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Chester County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Chester County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 25.65% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 25.39% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 24.59% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 25.91% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 24.34% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 24.08% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 26.01% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 23.88% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 26.76% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 24.25% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 23.14% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 22.72% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 22.05% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / Pennsylvania
- / Chester County
