CHESTER COUNTY, PA — The average rent in Chester County climbed to $2,161 as of September 2025, marking a 3.8% year-over-year increase even as national rental prices continue to soften, according to newly compiled market data.
The modest rise reflects a steady but uneven rental market across the county. Month-over-month, rents inched up just 0.2%, suggesting that while the local market remains tight, growth is moderating compared with the post-pandemic surges of recent years.
Among Chester County’s municipalities, rents show significant variation. Newtown Square posted the highest average rent at roughly $2,546, followed by Glen Mills at $2,454 and Exton at $2,331. Malvern ($2,223), King of Prussia ($2,159), and Phoenixville ($2,064) hovered near the county median. West Chester saw a notable dip from $2,059 in September to $1,769 in October, while Chester Springs averaged about $1,960.
In contrast, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s 2025 Fair Market Rent (FMR) estimates for Chester County remain well below private market averages—$1,645 for a one-bedroom, $1,963 for a two-bedroom, and $2,367 for a three-bedroom unit. These figures help determine voucher limits for low-income households but highlight the growing gap between federally defined affordability and actual market conditions.
Limited Supply Keeps Pressure on Prices
Local analysts attribute the sustained rent growth to persistent supply constraints. Housing construction in Chester County has not fully rebounded to pre-2008 levels, particularly in the affordable segment. As of early 2025, the county’s residential occupancy rate stood at 95.25%, with roughly one in four homes used as rentals. That scarcity continues to squeeze lower-income renters, who face widening affordability challenges.
A 2024 housing report found that the average renter in Pennsylvania earned about $6 less per hour than the wage required to afford a two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent—underscoring the gap between wages and housing costs.
National Trends Show Signs of Relief
Nationally, rental prices have begun to ease. Realtor.com’s September 2025 Rent Report found the median U.S. asking rent for 0–2 bedroom properties at $1,703, down 2.1% year over year and 3.2% below its August 2022 peak. However, rents remain roughly 16.5% higher than before the pandemic.
“Two years of gradual rent declines have given renters a bit more breathing room,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “Still, even as a typical household spends a smaller share of income on rent than a year ago, affordability remains stretched in major markets, particularly along the coasts.”
Realtor.com’s data shows renters now devote an average of 23.4% of their income to housing, down from 24.9% a year earlier. Yet affordability challenges persist, especially in metropolitan areas with limited inventory or high demand.
A Market at a Crossroads
While Chester County’s rent growth is moderate by national standards, the lack of new construction and continued demand from higher-income households are keeping prices elevated. Unless the supply of rental housing expands, affordability will remain out of reach for many working families.
In short, while renters nationwide may be seeing relief, Chester County continues to reflect a market where supply shortages, strong demand, and rising costs keep housing affordability on edge.
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