Median household income in Pennsylvania is $77,971 and median rent is $1,209 a month, per Census 2020 to 2024 estimates. Compare at least three written offers on APR and total cost, verify the lender's license with the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, and never pay a fee before funding.
On this page
- Pennsylvania by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for Pennsylvania borrowers
- Largest places in Pennsylvania
- Other sizable places in Pennsylvania
- Counties with the most residents
- How Pennsylvania earns a living
- More context for Pennsylvania budgets
- Checking a lender in Pennsylvania
- Can Pennsylvania residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in Pennsylvania
- Frequently asked questions
Pennsylvania by the numbers
Pennsylvania in sixteen numbers, each beside the U.S. value and a rank where 1 is the highest of 51.
| What we measured | Pennsylvania | United States | Rank of 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $77,971 | $80,734 | 24th |
| Working from home | 16% | 15% | 21st |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 35% | 36% | 23rd |
| Age, median | 40.9 | 38.9 | 8th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.474 | 0.483 | 20th |
| Share of households under $35,000 | 22% | 21% | 21st |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 39% | 41% | 23rd |
| People below the poverty line | 11.7% | 12.5% | 27th |
| Unemployment rate (ACS) | 5.3% | 5.2% | 17th |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $1,209 | $1,413 | 28th |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 48% | 51% | 30th |
| Median home value | $254,500 | $332,700 | 35th |
| Homes owner-occupied | 69% | 65% | 17th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 24% | 28% | 37th |
| Home value to income ratio | 3.3x | 4.1x | 37th |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 16% | 17% | 16th |
What the numbers mean for Pennsylvania borrowers
Owners make up 69% of Pennsylvania households. With a median home value of $254,500, 35th of 51, a house costs about 3.3 years of median household income. Among owners with a mortgage, 24% spend 30 percent or more of income on housing (U.S.: 28%). An unsecured loan keeps the house out of the deal, which is worth something even when a home-equity line is cheaper.
Median gross rent in Pennsylvania is $1,209 a month, ranking 28th, and 48% of renters are cost-burdened by the Census definition, compared with 51% nationally. For a renter, the safest loan is the smallest one that fixes the problem, sized to what is left after rent.
Roughly one in 3 Pennsylvania households earns six figures (39%), and 12% clear $200,000, while 22% live on less than $35,000. The income gap matters for borrowing: the same $300 payment is a rounding error for one household and a budget crisis for another.
A middle-of-the-road Pennsylvania household brings in $77,971 a year. That is 3% below the $80,734 national median and good for 24th place. Use it as a yardstick: if your income sits well below the median, keep the loan smaller and the term shorter.
Largest places in Pennsylvania
The 12 most populous places in Pennsylvania, with Census income, rent and home value for each. Linked names have their own local guide on this site.
| City or town | County | People | Median income | Median gross rent | Home value (median) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia | Philadelphia County | 1,579,706 | $61,953 | $1,397 | $243,100 |
| Pittsburgh | Allegheny County | 304,759 | $65,742 | $1,261 | $205,800 |
| Allentown | Lehigh County | 125,976 | $55,494 | $1,317 | $206,600 |
| Reading | Berks County | 95,242 | $44,091 | $1,067 | $121,300 |
| Erie | Erie County | 93,850 | $46,113 | $870 | $115,200 |
| Bethlehem | Northampton County, Lehigh County | 77,956 | $68,879 | $1,382 | $260,400 |
| Scranton | Lackawanna County | 76,033 | $50,739 | $1,048 | $158,100 |
| Lancaster | Lancaster County | 57,719 | $63,690 | $1,240 | $219,500 |
| Levittown | Bucks County | 50,926 | $105,071 | $1,556 | $341,300 |
| Harrisburg | Dauphin County | 50,287 | $48,099 | $1,062 | $124,200 |
| York | York County | 44,938 | $48,420 | $1,014 | $119,700 |
| Wilkes-Barre | Luzerne County | 44,423 | $48,515 | $946 | $117,200 |
Of the places the Census Bureau tracks in Pennsylvania, 86 have 10,000 or more people and 10 have 50,000 or more. The income gap between towns is wide: among places over 20,000, Murrysville has the highest median at $121,823 and Chester the lowest at $41,342. King of Prussia renters pay the most ($2,077 at the median) and New Castle renters the least ($741).
Other sizable places in Pennsylvania
20 more Pennsylvania places, largest first.
| Community | Population | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Altoona | 43,196 | $51,250 | $819 |
| State College | 41,050 | $45,424 | $1,273 |
| Norristown | 35,893 | $66,701 | $1,422 |
| Chester | 33,619 | $41,342 | $1,091 |
| Bethel Park | 32,881 | $107,090 | $1,311 |
| Drexel Hill | 30,451 | $88,168 | $1,357 |
| Hazleton | 30,111 | $46,177 | $1,089 |
| Easton | 29,739 | $69,348 | $1,325 |
| Monroeville | 28,295 | $79,218 | $1,175 |
| Williamsport | 27,612 | $48,851 | $855 |
| Plum | 26,723 | $98,705 | $1,177 |
| Lebanon | 26,536 | $48,456 | $992 |
| King of Prussia | 25,857 | $117,912 | $2,077 |
| Pottstown | 23,476 | $60,828 | $1,260 |
| Chambersburg | 22,319 | $56,576 | $1,099 |
| Allison Park | 22,045 | $113,822 | $1,222 |
| Carlisle | 21,852 | $61,720 | $1,094 |
| New Castle | 21,579 | $42,219 | $741 |
| Baldwin | 21,057 | $80,983 | $1,066 |
| Murrysville | 20,817 | $121,823 | $1,587 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in State College (34%) and least in Allison Park (13%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
The largest 16 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, by population.
| County | Residents | Median household income | Median rent | Typical home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia County | 1,579,706 | $61,953 | $1,397 | $243,100 |
| Allegheny County | 1,238,177 | $78,548 | $1,153 | $227,600 |
| Montgomery County | 867,573 | $113,915 | $1,683 | $436,700 |
| Bucks County | 647,461 | $114,764 | $1,605 | $445,700 |
| Delaware County | 579,222 | $89,546 | $1,372 | $332,200 |
| Lancaster County | 557,931 | $86,959 | $1,357 | $301,100 |
| Chester County | 547,840 | $127,208 | $1,763 | $485,600 |
| York County | 462,924 | $84,829 | $1,193 | $248,600 |
| Berks County | 433,015 | $79,777 | $1,181 | $257,300 |
| Lehigh County | 378,792 | $80,079 | $1,383 | $300,400 |
| Westmoreland County | 352,500 | $74,109 | $879 | $203,500 |
| Luzerne County | 327,675 | $63,691 | $1,004 | $174,100 |
| Northampton County | 318,580 | $89,184 | $1,395 | $308,600 |
| Dauphin County | 289,593 | $76,242 | $1,217 | $236,400 |
| Erie County | 269,052 | $63,354 | $904 | $177,000 |
| Cumberland County | 268,323 | $87,494 | $1,249 | $277,600 |
The richest county by median income is Chester County ($127,208); the lowest is Cameron County ($50,573). Lenders price your own file, not your county, but local costs decide how much payment your budget can carry.
How Pennsylvania earns a living
Which sectors put Pennsylvania to work? The four biggest are below, alongside national shares.
| Industry | Share of Pennsylvania workers | U.S. share | Gap vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 27% | 24% | +3.2 pts |
| Manufacturing | 11% | 10% | +1.5 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 11% | 13% | -1.3 pts |
| Retail trade | 11% | 11% | +0.2 pts |
Education, health care and social assistance is the sector with the biggest gap over the national mix, employing 27% of Pennsylvania workers (U.S.: 24%). Industry matters to a borrower because it decides how easy income is to document: salaried and public jobs verify quickly, while tips, commission, seasonal and contract pay need more records.
More context for Pennsylvania budgets
The median Pennsylvania resident is 40.9. Four-year degrees: 35% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.474, 20th of 51.
Long commutes of 45 minutes or more affect 16% of Pennsylvania workers, which ranks 16th of 51. Vehicle costs are a fixed line for long-distance commuters, so keep a repair cushion before taking on a new payment.
Jobs and hardship: an average 5.3% unemployment rate in the 2020 to 2024 survey, and 11.7% of people below the federal poverty line. If you were recently out of work, wait until you have a few steady paychecks before you apply.
Checking a lender in Pennsylvania
Before you share details with any lender, confirm it may lend in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is the state banking agency listed in the Conference of State Bank Supervisors directory.
- Confirm the license on NMLS Consumer Access before you upload documents.
- Never pay a fee before the money arrives; the FTC calls that an advance-fee loan scam.
- CFPB complaints reach the lender and are tracked by a federal regulator.
Can Pennsylvania residents use the questionnaire?
Availability of lending partners varies by state. When Pennsylvania is not yet covered, the form tells you on the second step and lets you join an email list, with no calls and nothing else collected.
Local guides in Pennsylvania
City-level guides for Pennsylvania (6 so far):
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a lender in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. Many lenders' state licenses also appear on NMLS Consumer Access, and the CFPB takes complaints nationwide.
How much does a typical Pennsylvania household earn?
About $77,971. Half of Pennsylvania households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in Pennsylvania?
$1,209 a month at the median, 28th of 51. 48% of Pennsylvania renters are cost-burdened, against 51% nationwide.
Do home values in Pennsylvania change how I should borrow?
The median home in Pennsylvania is valued at $254,500, about 3.3 times the median household income of $77,971. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.