How many renters in Philadelphia, PA pay more than 30% of their income on rent?

Name: Rent burden in Philadelphia, PA, 2020–2024
Creator: US Census Bureau
License: https://www.census.gov/data/developers/about/terms-of-service.html

52.3% (±1.3 points) of renting households in Philadelphia, PA spend 30% or more of their household income on gross rent (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

44.1% spend 35% or more.

The median renting household spends 31.4% of its income on rent.

Figures last updated on November 12, 2026.

Paying 30% or more: 52.3% (±1.3 points)
Paying 35% or more: 44.1% (±1.1 points)
Median share of income: 31.4% (±0.7 points)

Rent as a share of income in Philadelphia

Renting households by gross rent as a percentage of household income, 2020–2024
Share of income spent on rent	Philadelphia	Philadelphia County	Pennsylvania	United States
Less than 15%	12.4% (±0.8 points)	12.4%	14.5%	12.6%
15% to 19.9%	12.4% (±0.7 points)	12.4%	13.0%	12.2%
20% to 24.9%	12.4% (±0.7 points)	12.4%	12.8%	12.6%
25% to 29.9%	10.6% (±0.6 points)	10.6%	11.5%	11.5%
30% to 34.9%	8.2% (±0.6 points)	8.2%	8.7%	9.2%
35% or more	44.1% (±1.1 points)	44.1%	39.5%	41.9%

Households whose income could not be measured against their rent (for example, those reporting no income) are left out of these shares, as the Census Bureau leaves them out.

Philadelphia against Philadelphia County, its state and the nation

Estimate (90% margin of error)
	Philadelphia	Philadelphia County	Pennsylvania	United States
Paying 30% or more	52.3% (±1.3 points)	52.3% (±1.3 points)	48.2% (±0.4 points)	51.1%
Paying 35% or more	44.1% (±1.1 points)	44.1% (±1.1 points)	39.5% (±0.4 points)	41.9%
Median share of income	31.4% (±0.7 points)	31.4% (±0.7 points)	29.2% (±0.2 points)	30.6%
Median renter household income	$48,344 (±$1,293)	$48,344 (±$1,293)	$47,506 (±$425)	$52,966
Median gross rent	$1,397 (±$14)	$1,397 (±$14)	$1,209 (±$5)	$1,413

In Philadelphia, the share of renters paying 30% or more of income is not measurably different from Philadelphia County (52.3%).

It is also higher than in Pennsylvania (48.2%).

It is not measurably different from the national figure (51.1%).

Statewide, it ranks 673 of 2,530.

Rankings use the estimates alone; where margins of error overlap, neighboring ranks may not truly differ.

Renters paying 30% or more of income in places near Philadelphia

Nearest places with a published estimate, compared with Philadelphia
Place	Distance	Renters paying 30% or more of income	Compared with this place
Philadelphia	—	52.3% (±1.3 points)	—
Oak Lane	3.4 mi	25.8% (±35.2 points)	Not measurably different
Melrose Park	3.8 mi	53.5% (±35.8 points)	Not measurably different
Cheltenham Village	4.3 mi	63.3% (±40.6 points)	Not measurably different
Elkins Park	4.7 mi	68.7% (±19.5 points)	Not measurably different
Cheltenham Township	4.8 mi	53.0% (±7.7 points)	Not measurably different
Pennsauken Township	4.9 mi	56.9% (±7.8 points)	Not measurably different
Bala Cynwyd	5.0 mi	48.2% (±14.4 points)	Not measurably different
Palmyra Borough	5.2 mi	54.1% (±13.5 points)	Not measurably different

None of the nearby places differs measurably from this one on this figure.

Distance is measured in a straight line between the Census Bureau’s internal points for each place.

Survey years: 2020–2024 (American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.

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Questions about Philadelphia

Are renters in Philadelphia rent-burdened?

52.3% of renting households in Philadelphia pay 30% or more of their income in gross rent, the share housing researchers usually call rent-burdened (2020–2024 American Community Survey).

What share of income do renters in Philadelphia spend on rent?

The median renting household in Philadelphia, PA spends 31.4% (±0.7 points) of its household income on gross rent.

Sources

To check these figures in the Census Bureau’s own API, request the variables below from the 2024 ACS 5-year data profile (acs/acs5/profile) and detailed tables (acs/acs5) for Philadelphia city, Pennsylvania (place:60000, in state:42).

Each estimate (E or PE) has a margin of error beside it (M or PM).

The API needs a free key.

Request a Census API key.

DP04_0136E, DP04_0136M, DP04_0137PE, DP04_0137PM, DP04_0138PE, DP04_0138PM, DP04_0139PE, DP04_0139PM, DP04_0140PE, DP04_0140PM, DP04_0141PE, DP04_0141PM, DP04_0142PE, DP04_0142PM, B25071_001E, B25071_001M, B25119_003E, B25119_003M

This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.

Figures are published by the US Census Bureau, HUD, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the FBI; Seayora reproduces them and does not adjust them, except where a sentence says it compares dollar figures after inflation. They describe the whole place, not any one building or street, and are not an appraisal, a rent determination, a tax bill, a safety rating or legal advice.