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Cost of Living & Affordability: East Stroudsburg, PA

Updated 2026 · Based on median market data for East Stroudsburg, PA

Cap Rate
4.78%
Median Price
$300K
Rent/Mo
$1,850
1% Rule
0.62%
Fails

Housing Affordability

East Stroudsburg's price-to-income ratio is 6.3x — homes cost 6.3 times the local median household income of $47,800. Housing is stretched relative to local incomes. Many workers are effectively priced out of buying, creating deep rental demand. This is favorable for landlords but also means your tenants may be more cost-sensitive.

Rent vs Buy Analysis

A typical mortgage payment on a median-priced home in East Stroudsburg (20% down at 7%) is approximately $1,995/mo for principal and interest alone — add taxes and insurance and the all-in payment reaches roughly $2,440. The median rent of $1,850/mo is roughly comparable to buying costs — in this environment, renters choose flexibility while buyers choose equity building. When renting is cheaper than buying, the renter pool stays deep and vacancy stays low.

Income & Employment

The median household income in East Stroudsburg is $47,800, with a population of 50,000 growing at 0.2% per year. East Stroudsburg is a smaller market. Research the local employment base carefully — smaller cities can be significantly impacted by a single employer's decisions.

What This Means for Investors

Despite higher relative prices, East Stroudsburg compensates with deep rental demand from a large population priced out of homeownership. Focus on neighborhoods where rent growth is strongest and tenant quality is highest.

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How East Stroudsburg Compares

East Stroudsburg vs Pennsylvania state average and national average across key investment metrics. East Stroudsburg outperforms both benchmarks on cap rate.

Metric
East Stroudsburg
Pennsylvania Avg
National Avg
Cap Rate
4.78%
3.81%
3.81%
Median Price
$300K
$244K
$333K
Median Rent
$1,850
$1,250
$1,524
Property Tax
1.38%
1.38%
1.08%
Vacancy
6%
6%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.2%/yr
0.2%/yr
0.9%/yr

Nearby Northeast Markets

City
Cap Rate
Price
Rent
Tax
East Stroudsburg, PA
4.8%
$300K
$1,850
1.38%
Reading, PA
3.2%
$300K
$1,460
1.42%
York, PA
2.9%
$300K
$1,360
1.38%
Harrisburg, PA
3.1%
$300K
$1,410
1.4%
Augusta, ME
3.2%
$305K
$1,420
1.3%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is East Stroudsburg affordable for renters?
Renters in East Stroudsburg spend approximately 46% of median household income on rent. This exceeds the 30% affordability threshold, meaning housing costs are stretched relative to local incomes. The median household income is $47,800, below the level needed for comfortable renting.
What is the price-to-income ratio in East Stroudsburg?
East Stroudsburg's price-to-income ratio is 6.3x, meaning homes cost 6.3 times the local median income. This is elevated — most residents find buying difficult, supporting deep rental demand.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in East Stroudsburg?
A mortgage payment (20% down, 7% rate) on the median $300K home is approximately $1,596/mo before taxes and insurance. Adding those costs brings it to roughly $2,041/mo. The median rent of $1,850/mo is less than the cost of buying — this parity means some renters could transition to buying.
How does East Stroudsburg's cost of living compare to the national average?
Home prices in East Stroudsburg ($300K) are 10% below the national average. Rents ($1,850/mo) are 21% above average. Property taxes (1.38%) are above the 1.08% national average.
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Explore East Stroudsburg & Related Markets

More East Stroudsburg Guides

Rental Property Investment GuideRent AnalysisProperty Tax GuideAppreciation & Growth ForecastNeighborhood Investment Guide

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