Harrisburg Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Harrisburg, PA (the Harrisburg-Carlisle metro area) was $946 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Harrisburg was $942 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 Harrisburg median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Harrisburg rental vacancy rates, Harrisburg rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Harrisburg.
Real Gross Rent in Harrisburg 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% |
| Harrisburg, PA Median Gross Rent | $946 | 0.00% | -2.07% |
Harrisburg, PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Harrisburg peaked in real terms in 2016 at $966 and is now $20 (2.07%) lower. Average gross rent for Harrisburg peaked in real terms in 2018 at $975 and is now $33 (3.38%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Harrisburg: Harrisburg PA Median, Harrisburg PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Harrisburg
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Harrisburg, PA Median |
Harrisburg, PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $946 | $942 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $946 | $975 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $944 | $968 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $966 | $970 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $938 | $948 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $883 | $892 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $891 | $895 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $862 | $887 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $888 | $879 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $881 | $860 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $856 | $856 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $842 | $826 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $796 | $800 |
Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg Pennsylvania was 4.99% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Harrisburg Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 4.99% | +2.37% | +0.83% |
Trends in Harrisburg, PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Harrisburg peaked in 2005 at 10.37%. Since then it has fallen by 5.38% to 4.99%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 2.62%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.37%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Harrisburg PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Harrisburg
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.99% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 2.62% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 6.60% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 4.16% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.31% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 5.14% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 5.39% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 5.80% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 7.90% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 8.39% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 5.52% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 5.88% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 10.37% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Harrisburg, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Harrisburg, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.93% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Harrisburg 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% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 16.93% | -0.44% | -1.09% |
Trends in Harrisburg, PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Harrisburg household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.24%. Since then it has fallen by 1.31% to 16.93%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Harrisburg PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Harrisburg Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 16.93% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.36% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 16.89% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.02% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 18.24% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 17.37% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 17.97% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 17.76% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 17.81% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 17.51% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 16.99% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 16.18% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 14.97% |
Renter Fraction in Harrisburg Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg as a fraction of total Harrisburg households. In 2019 32.48% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Harrisburg 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% |
| Harrisburg, PA | 32.48% | -1.36% | +0.13% |
Trends in the Harrisburg, PA Renter Fraction
The Harrisburg household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 33.84% and is now 1.36% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Harrisburg PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Harrisburg Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Harrisburg, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 32.48% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 33.84% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 30.97% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 32.35% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 32.69% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 32.03% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 32.67% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 32.15% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 32.11% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 29.77% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 31.32% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 29.41% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 28.12% |
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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