State College Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in State College, PA (the State College metro area) was $995 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in State College was $1,050 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 State College median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for State College rental vacancy rates, State College rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in State College.
Real Gross Rent in State College 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% |
| State College, PA Median Gross Rent | $995 | +8.39% | -3.21% |
State College, PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for State College peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,028 and is now $33 (3.21%) lower. Average gross rent for State College peaked in real terms in 2015 at $1,076 and is now $26 (2.42%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in State College: State College PA Median, State College PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for State College
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
State College, PA Median |
State College, PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $995 | $1,050 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $918 | $1,010 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $949 | $1,039 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $1,028 | $1,074 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $1,002 | $1,076 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $962 | $1,004 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $915 | $1,056 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $970 | $1,060 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $889 | $987 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $923 | $980 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $876 | $941 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $800 | $865 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $861 | $984 |
State College 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 State College Pennsylvania was 4.55% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in State College Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| State College, PA | 4.55% | -0.83% | +0.34% |
Trends in State College, PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in State College peaked in 2017 at 7.04%. Since then it has fallen by 2.49% to 4.55%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: State College PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for State College
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | State College, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.55% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 5.38% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 7.04% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 4.21% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 2.24% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 1.90% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 1.31% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 1.77% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 1.33% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 2.48% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 2.66% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 1.50% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 1.20% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for State College, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For State College, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.67% in 2019 according to the ACS.
State College 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% |
| State College, PA | 19.67% | +0.79% | +0.12% |
Trends in State College, PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median State College household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.15%. Since then it has fallen by 2.48% to 19.67%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: State College PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in State College Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | State College, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 19.67% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 18.88% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 19.75% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 19.55% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 20.13% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 21.28% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 19.60% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 21.54% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 21.02% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 22.15% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 18.85% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 18.30% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 21.50% |
Renter Fraction in State College Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in State College 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 State College as a fraction of total State College households. In 2019 39.38% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
State College 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% |
| State College, PA | 39.38% | +2.56% | +3.63% |
Trends in the State College, PA Renter Fraction
The State College household renter fraction peaked in in 2009 at 43.26% and is now 3.88% below that level. From a recent low of 35.75% in 2016, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 3.63%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: State College PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of State College Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | State College, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 39.38% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 36.82% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 37.62% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 35.75% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 40.92% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 40.19% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 38.10% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 39.49% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 40.86% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 41.34% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 43.26% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 37.32% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 41.43% |
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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