Average Rent in Lancaster, PA (2026)

Typical asking rent in Lancaster is $1,496. Across the 3 ZIP codes with data it runs from $1,353 to $1,885, so which side of town you buy on matters as much as the city average. Data as of July 2026.

Median rent
$1,496
Average rent
$1,578
Lowest ZIP
$1,353
Highest ZIP
$1,885

Rent by ZIP code in Lancaster

ZIP codeCountyTypical rentvs city median
17601Lancaster County$1,885+26%
17603Lancaster County$1,4960%
17602Lancaster County$1,353-10%

Rent by bedroom count in Lancaster

Zillow's index above blends every unit size into one number. For a bedroom level view, these are HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rents for Lancaster County. They include utilities and sit near the 40th percentile of the market, so treat them as the low side of what a typical unit lists for.

Unit sizeFY2027 Fair Market RentChange from FY2026
Studio$1,152+4.5%
1 bedroom$1,256+3.0%
2 bedroom$1,553+1.8%
3 bedroom$1,978-0.1%
4 bedroom$2,041+1.0%

Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Updates when HUD publishes a new fiscal year.

Is rent going up or down in Lancaster?

Typical rent across Lancaster County is $1,566 as of August 2026. That is up 3.7% from a year earlier and up 32.6% over five years.

YearTypical rent, Lancaster CountyChange
2021$1,227+11.9%
2022$1,327+8.2%
2023$1,401+5.5%
2024$1,469+4.9%
2025$1,530+4.1%
2026 (through August)$1,566+2.4%

Zillow Observed Rent Index for the county, all home types, last published month of each year. Each row is compared with the end of the year before it.

Lancaster rent questions

What is the average rent in Lancaster, PA?
Typical asking rent in Lancaster is $1,496 a month as of July 2026, across 3 ZIP codes. By ZIP code it runs from $1,353 to $1,885.
How much is rent for a 2 bedroom in Lancaster?
HUD's FY2027 Fair Market Rent for a two bedroom in Lancaster County is $1,553 a month including utilities. A one bedroom is $1,256 and a three bedroom is $1,978. Fair Market Rent is set near the 40th percentile, so a typical unit lists somewhat higher.
Is rent going up or down in Lancaster?
Rent is rising. Typical rent in Lancaster County is $1,566 as of August 2026, up 3.7% from a year earlier.
What is the cheapest ZIP code to rent in Lancaster?
ZIP 17602 has the lowest typical asking rent in Lancaster at $1,353 a month, compared with $1,496 for the city overall.
How much income do you need to rent in Lancaster?
Most landlords look for gross income of about three times the rent. At the typical Lancaster rent of $1,496, that is about $4,488 a month, or $53,856 a year. This is a common screening rule of thumb, and individual landlords set their own.

How to use these numbers

These are Zillow Observed Rent Index values, a smoothed measure of typical asking rent for single family homes, condos, and apartments in each ZIP code. They describe what units are listed for, not what any specific unit will get. Condition, bedroom count, and the exact block all move the number.

If you are underwriting a purchase, use the ZIP figure rather than the city median, and then verify against live listings for the same bedroom count before you commit. Lancaster sits in the Lancaster, PA metro area.

Other Pennsylvania cities

Would a rental in Lancaster cash flow?

Start the analyzer with the Lancaster median rent of $1,496 and add a real purchase price to see cash flow, cap rate, and cash-on-cash return.