Lancaster County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Lancaster County PA was $1,046 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Lancaster County was $1,086 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 Lancaster County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Lancaster County rental vacancy rates, Lancaster County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Lancaster County.
Real Gross Rent in Lancaster 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% |
| Lancaster County PA Median Gross Rent | $1,046 | +5.34% | +4.39% |
Lancaster County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,046, real median gross rent in Lancaster County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,086, real average gross rent in Lancaster County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Lancaster County PA Median, Lancaster County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Lancaster County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Lancaster County PA Median |
Lancaster County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $1,046 | $1,086 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $993 | $1,016 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $1,007 | $1,033 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $1,002 | $1,039 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $998 | $1,030 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $944 | $961 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $944 | $961 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $933 | $972 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $901 | $932 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $919 | $932 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $888 | $923 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $853 | $853 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $886 | $865 |
Lancaster 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 Lancaster County Pennsylvania was 2.62% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Lancaster County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Lancaster County PA | 2.62% | -0.11% | -0.99% |
Trends in Lancaster County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Lancaster County peaked in 2014 at 5.31%. Since then it has fallen by 2.69% to 2.62%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Lancaster County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Lancaster County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Lancaster County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 2.62% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 2.73% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 2.94% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 3.61% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 3.34% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 5.31% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 5.04% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 3.73% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 3.89% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 4.29% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 3.52% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 4.61% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 3.58% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Lancaster County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Lancaster County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.63% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Lancaster 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% |
| Lancaster County PA | 18.63% | +0.98% | -0.09% |
Trends in Lancaster County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Lancaster County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.21%. Since then it has fallen by 0.58% to 18.63%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Lancaster County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Lancaster County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Lancaster County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 18.63% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.65% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 18.49% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.72% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 19.05% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 18.69% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 18.89% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 19.21% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.75% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 19.06% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 16.79% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 16.51% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 17.26% |
Renter Fraction in Lancaster County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County as a fraction of total Lancaster County households. In 2019 30.38% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Lancaster 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% |
| Lancaster County PA | 30.38% | -2.23% | -2.00% |
Trends in the Lancaster County PA Renter Fraction
The Lancaster County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 33.07% and is now 2.69% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Lancaster County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Lancaster County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Lancaster County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 30.38% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 32.61% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 33.07% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 32.38% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 32.61% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 32.23% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 31.41% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 30.95% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 30.00% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 30.44% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 30.24% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 29.36% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 30.43% |
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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