CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Chester County’s rental market remained tight as of Saturday, January 31, with average rent around $2,115, up 3.3% from a year earlier, according to figures cited in a report summarizing 2025 rental activity and January 2026 asking rents.
The county’s average rent was higher than the national average rent of $1,895 cited for the same period, while rents locally ticked up 0.1% month over month, reflecting what the report described as a stabilized but premium market compared with other parts of the region.
By contrast, Realtor.com said the broader U.S. rental market has moved in tenants’ favor, with vacancy across the 50 largest metros rising to 7.6% in 2025 from 7.2% in 2024 and the national median asking rent falling 1.5% year over year in January to $1,672, according to the Realtor.com January Rental Report.
“After years of being squeezed by limited inventory, renters are finally seeing the supply wave work in their favor,” Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com, said in the report.
That national leverage is not mirrored in Chester County, where the Philadelphia suburban market that includes the county is running about 95% occupied, with roughly 11 prospective tenants competing for each available unit, according to the data.
Within the county, rents varied by submarket, with West Chester listed at about $1,741 for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,079 for a two-bedroom unit.
The report also noted that some higher-end developments, including Weatherstone Flats in Chester Springs and Chestnut Square in West Chester, have continued to add units with modern amenities and varied floor plans as demand persists.
Realtor.com said conditions can shift quickly even as the national picture improves, citing areas such as Pittsburgh and Richmond where stronger demand moved markets toward a more balanced environment.
“We are seeing a fascinating tug-of-war,” Realtor.com economist Jiayi Xu said, pointing to new construction boosting renter negotiating room in some regions while demand tightens supply in others.
Realtor.com said it has adopted an updated methodology beginning with data released since February 2026, meaning figures published going forward will not be directly comparable with prior releases.
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