Dauphin County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Dauphin County PA was $953 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Dauphin County was $940 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 Dauphin County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Dauphin County rental vacancy rates, Dauphin County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Dauphin County.
Real Gross Rent in Dauphin 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% |
| Dauphin County PA Median Gross Rent | $953 | +1.71% | +1.17% |
Dauphin County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Dauphin County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $964 and is now $11 (1.14%) lower. Average gross rent for Dauphin County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $988 and is now $48 (4.86%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Dauphin County PA Median, Dauphin County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Dauphin County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Dauphin County PA Median |
Dauphin County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $953 | $940 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $937 | $935 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $964 | $988 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $942 | $935 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $926 | $914 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $873 | $861 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $879 | $880 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $889 | $884 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $885 | $866 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $879 | $855 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $875 | $856 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $836 | $797 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $795 | $775 |
Dauphin 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 Dauphin County Pennsylvania was 6.83% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Dauphin County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Dauphin County PA | 6.83% | — | +1.61% |
Trends in Dauphin County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Dauphin County peaked in 2005 at 14.31%. Since then it has fallen by 7.48% to 6.83%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 5.22%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.61%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Dauphin County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Dauphin County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Dauphin County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 6.83% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | — |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 7.60% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 5.22% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 7.60% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 5.30% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 7.29% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 7.85% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 8.36% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 10.85% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 7.46% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 8.21% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 14.31% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Dauphin County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Dauphin County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.83% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Dauphin 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% |
| Dauphin County PA | 18.83% | -0.27% | +0.93% |
Trends in Dauphin County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Dauphin County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.32%. Since then it has fallen by 0.49% to 18.83%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Dauphin County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Dauphin County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Dauphin County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 18.83% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 19.10% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 18.21% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 17.90% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 19.32% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 18.73% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 18.62% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 19.21% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.95% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 18.10% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 18.91% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 17.07% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 15.52% |
Renter Fraction in Dauphin County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Dauphin 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 Dauphin County as a fraction of total Dauphin County households. In 2019 36.62% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Dauphin 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% |
| Dauphin County PA | 36.62% | -1.22% | +0.41% |
Trends in the Dauphin County PA Renter Fraction
The Dauphin County household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 37.84% and is now 1.22% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Dauphin County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Dauphin County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Dauphin County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 36.62% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 37.84% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 35.28% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 36.21% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 37.14% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 35.92% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 35.82% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 37.35% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 36.26% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 34.64% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 35.93% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 34.07% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 31.32% |
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. ↩
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