CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Renting a three-bedroom home will cost significantly less than buying one in Chester County in 2026, setting the county apart from much of the nation as high home prices and heavy property taxes keep ownership out of reach for many households.
According to a 2026 rental affordability analysis, Chester County defies national patterns highlighted in the ATTOM 2026 Rental Affordability Report, which found that owning is more affordable than renting in nearly 58% of U.S. counties. In Chester County, the math runs in the opposite direction.
The projected Fair Market Rent for a three-bedroom unit in 2026 is about $2,367 per month, while actual rents vary widely by municipality. Three-bedroom rentals in West Chester average roughly $2,606, and high-demand communities such as Chester Springs can exceed $3,400. Countywide, median rents across all unit types stabilized near $2,250 entering 2026, with only modest growth.
Homeownership, by contrast, carries a much steeper monthly price tag. Median home prices across Chester County generally range from $550,000 to $578,000, with three-bedroom homes averaging close to $500,000 and continuing to appreciate. Mortgage rates are expected to hover around 6.3% in 2026, and the county’s median annual property tax bill exceeds $6,191, one of the highest in Pennsylvania.
A typical purchase scenario underscores the gap. Buying a $500,000 home with a 20% down payment results in a monthly mortgage payment of about $2,476. When property taxes and homeowners insurance are added, total monthly ownership costs climb to roughly $3,100. Compared with the Fair Market Rent, renters save an estimated $733 per month.
That affordability gap has helped cement Chester County’s reputation as a seller’s market, driven by critically low housing inventory, strong job growth, and a large share of equity-rich cash buyers who can outcompete mortgage-dependent households. Essential workers and first-time buyers have been hit especially hard as wages struggle to keep pace with rising prices.
Still, pockets of the county offer more attainable ownership opportunities. Areas such as Coatesville, Parkesburg, and Spring City continue to post lower median home prices than the county average, narrowing the cost difference between renting and buying and offering rare entry points for prospective homeowners.
Nationally, ATTOM’s report paints a far different picture. Homeownership costs consumed a smaller share of wages than renting in 57.7% of counties analyzed, even as median home prices rose faster than rents in 69% of markets. Regional divides remain stark, with buying most affordable in the Midwest and least affordable in the West and Northeast.
ATTOM Chief Executive Officer Rob Barber said many households face a difficult choice between renting and buying as prices remain near record highs. While owning often proves cheaper over the long term, he noted that the upfront costs continue to block many would-be buyers.
In Chester County, those pressures are even more pronounced. For 2026, renting remains the clearer financial choice for most households seeking a three-bedroom home — a reality that highlights both the county’s economic strength and its growing affordability challenge.
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