Pennsylvania State, Local Data & Statistics

Population, Income, Rent & Housing Statistics
Total population: 13,018,639 Household income: $77,971 Rent: $1,209

Overview

Total population
13,018,639
Rent
$1,209
Year built
1965
Household income
$77,971
Per capita income
$44,355
Poverty rate
11.7%
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Household size
2.4 persons
Rent over 30% of income
44.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State
Pennsylvania
Total population
13,018,639
Adults over 25
9,189,697
Total households
5,274,853
Household size
2.4 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Income & Poverty

Household income
$77,971
Per capita income
$44,355
Poverty rate
11.7%
Unemployment rate
3.6%
Rent over 30% of income
44.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Housing

Rent
$1,209
Year built
1965
Households that rent
30.7%
Households that own
69.3%
Rooms per home (all homes)
6.0

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Race

White
74.5%
Black
10.6%
Asian
3.8%
Two or more races
7.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino
8.7%
Not Hispanic or Latino
91.3%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Commute

Commute rate
84.4%
Commute time to work
26 mins
Work from home
15.6%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Education

Less than high school
21.3%
High school graduate or GED
32.9%
Some college or associate degree
10.6%
Bachelor’s degree or higher
35.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available, with the exception of the unemployment rate, which is sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). ACS 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

 

Comparison of Pennsylvania with: New York Ohio New Jersey United States

Pennsylvania

Total population13,018,639
Rent$1,209
Year built1965
Household income$77,971
Per capita income$44,355
Poverty rate11.7%
Unemployment rate3.6%

New York

Total population19,852,366
Rent$1,621
Year built1959
Household income$85,974
Per capita income$50,712
Poverty rate14%
Unemployment rate4.3%

Ohio

Total population11,810,293
Rent$1,034
Year built1970
Household income$71,389
Per capita income$40,552
Poverty rate13.3%
Unemployment rate4.3%

New Jersey

Total population9,343,809
Rent$1,720
Year built1970
Household income$103,556
Per capita income$54,253
Poverty rate9.7%
Unemployment rate4.5%

United States

Total population334,922,499
Rent$1,413
Year built1980
Household income$80,734
Per capita income$44,673
Poverty rate12.5%
Unemployment rate4%
Metric StatePennsylvaniaStateNew YorkStateOhioStateNew JerseyCountyUnited States
Total population13,018,63919,852,36611,810,2939,343,809334,922,499
Rent$1,209$1,621$1,034$1,720$1,413
Year built19651959197019701980
Household income$77,971$85,974$71,389$103,556$80,734
Per capita income$44,355$50,712$40,552$54,253$44,673
Poverty rate11.7%14%13.3%9.7%12.5%
Unemployment rate3.6%4.3%4.3%4.5%4%

Pennsylvania is compared to its neighboring states — New York, Ohio and New Jersey — plus the United States overall.

View the full multi-level comparison →

 

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Summary for Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has about 13,018,639 residents.

RENT & INCOME

Monthly rent in Pennsylvania is $1,209, which is lower than the United States level of $1,413. Household income in Pennsylvania is $77,971, lower than the United States figure of $80,734. Additionally, the share of residents living below the poverty line is 11.7%, lower than the U.S. rate of 12.5%.

HOUSING & AFFORDABILITY

Owner-occupied households represent 69.3% of homes. About 30.7% of households in Pennsylvania are renters. Around 44.6% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating a high housing cost burden statewide. Many homes were built around 1965, reflecting a generally older housing stock.

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT

Educational attainment is high, with about 35.2% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Unemployment in Pennsylvania is 3.6%, lower than the U.S. rate of 4%.

 

 

Pennsylvania — Rent vs Household Income

 

 

Pennsylvania — Poverty vs Unemployment

 

💰 Rent in Pennsylvania (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,209 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing, including the apartment or home and essential utilities such as heat, water, and electricity. Even when utilities are billed separately, an estimated average cost for utilities is included, in line with the U.S. Census Bureau’s (ACS) definition of gross rent.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in Pennsylvania

Annual Household Income: $77,971

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in this area — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in Pennsylvania

Estimated Rate: 11.7%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, households that rent: 1,617,882 (30.7%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this area?
Household Type Count Share
Renter-Occupied 1,617,882 30.7%
Owner-Occupied 3,656,971 69.3%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 721,590 (44.6%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?
Household Group Households Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%) 721,590 44.6%
Other renter households 896,292 55.4%
Total renter households 1,617,882 100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in this area are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in Pennsylvania

Less than High School: 1,953,560 people (21.3%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 3,026,419 people (32.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 978,351 people (10.6%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 3,231,367 people (35.2%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 9,189,697

📊 Unemployment Rate in Pennsylvania

Estimated Rate: 3.6%

💡 What does Unemployment Rate mean?

Definition: The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who do not have a job but are actively looking for one.

Labor Force = Employed + Unemployed (aged 16+ and actively participating in the workforce).

Formula: (Unemployed ÷ Labor Force) × 100

Does NOT include: People who are retired, students not looking for work, homemakers, or otherwise not seeking employment.

Example: If there are 1000 people in the labor force and 80 are unemployed, then the unemployment rate is 8%.

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

 

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.