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Best Cities for Rental Property in Pennsylvania

30 Pennsylvania cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Pennsylvania markets is 3.8%, with median home prices averaging $244K and rents averaging $1,250/mo. Pottsville leads with a 6.3% cap rate at a $155K median price. Property taxes average 1.38% across Pennsylvania markets.

3.8%
Avg Cap Rate
$244K
Avg Price
$1,250/mo
Avg Rent
30
Cities Tracked

Pennsylvania Rental Market Analysis

Pennsylvania offers 30 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 3.8% is above the 3.81% national average, making Pennsylvania an attractive state for cash flow investors. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Pennsylvania home prices average $244K, which is 27% below the national average of $333K. Rents average $1,250/mo. The most affordable entry point is Johnstown at $115K, while Pottsville offers the highest cap rate at 6.3%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.38% across Pennsylvania, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Cranberry Twp has the lowest rate at 1.32%.Vacancy averages 6.0%, in line with national norms.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Pennsylvania averages 0.21% per year, led by Cranberry Twp at 1.5%. Home values are appreciating at 2.3% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Pennsylvania is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Pennsylvania Compares to National Averages

Metric
Pennsylvania
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
3.8%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$244K
$333K
Avg Rent
$1,250/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.38%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
6.0%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.21%/yr
0.92%/yr

Pennsylvania Cities by Cap Rate Tier

6% – 7% (3)5% – 6% (3)4% – 5% (5)3% – 4% (12)Below 3% (7)

All 30 Pennsylvania Cities Ranked

1
Pottsville, PA6.3% cap rate
$155K median$1,160/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
2
New Castle, PA6.1% cap rate
$155K median$1,140/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
3
DuBois, PA6.0% cap rate
$135K median$980/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
4
Johnstown, PA5.8% cap rate
$115K median$810/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
5
Cranberry Twp, PA5.5% cap rate
$220K median$1,450/mo rent1.32% tax1.5% growth
6
Pittsburgh, PA5.3% cap rate
$220K median$1,450/mo rent1.36% tax0.2% growth
7
East Stroudsburg, PA4.8% cap rate
$300K median$1,850/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
8
Scranton, PA4.4% cap rate
$220K median$1,300/mo rent1.44% tax-0.2% growth
9
Altoona, PA4.2% cap rate
$170K median$960/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
10
Sunbury, PA4.1% cap rate
$165K median$920/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
11
Indiana, PA4.1% cap rate
$155K median$860/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
12
Bethlehem, PA3.6% cap rate
$350K median$1,770/mo rent1.36% tax0.3% growth
13
Allentown, PA3.5% cap rate
$350K median$1,770/mo rent1.38% tax0.3% growth
14
Philadelphia, PA3.4% cap rate
$375K median$1,860/mo rent1.36% tax0.2% growth
15
Erie, PA3.4% cap rate
$210K median$1,050/mo rent1.4% tax-0.4% growth
16
Bloomsburg, PA3.3% cap rate
$240K median$1,170/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
17
Reading, PA3.2% cap rate
$300K median$1,460/mo rent1.42% tax0.1% growth
18
Lock Haven, PA3.2% cap rate
$190K median$910/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
19
Somerset, PA3.2% cap rate
$170K median$810/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
20
State College, PA3.2% cap rate
$340K median$1,610/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
21
Lewisburg, PA3.1% cap rate
$280K median$1,320/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
22
Harrisburg, PA3.1% cap rate
$300K median$1,410/mo rent1.4% tax0.1% growth
23
Meadville, PA3.0% cap rate
$165K median$760/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
24
Williamsport, PA3.0% cap rate
$225K median$1,030/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
25
York, PA2.9% cap rate
$300K median$1,360/mo rent1.38% tax0.1% growth
26
Lebanon, PA2.9% cap rate
$305K median$1,370/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
27
Selinsgrove, PA2.9% cap rate
$230K median$1,030/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
28
Chambersburg, PA2.7% cap rate
$280K median$1,200/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth
29
Lancaster, PA2.4% cap rate
$375K median$1,510/mo rent1.35% tax0.4% growth
30
Gettysburg, PA2.0% cap rate
$325K median$1,210/mo rent1.38% tax0.2% growth

Other Northeast States

New York (24 cities · 4.2% avg)Delaware (2 cities · 4.1% avg)Maine (4 cities · 3.5% avg)Massachusetts (8 cities · 3.0% avg)Connecticut (8 cities · 2.9% avg)Vermont (3 cities · 2.6% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pennsylvania a good state for rental property investing?
Pennsylvania has an average cap rate of 3.8% across 30 cities, which is above the national average of 3.81%. The best-performing city is Pottsville at 6.3%. Average home prices of $244K offer affordable entry points. Property taxes at 1.38% are moderate.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Pennsylvania?
Pottsville leads Pennsylvania with a 6.3% cap rate, $155K median price, and $1,160/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Cranberry Twp (1.5% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Pennsylvania?
Property taxes in Pennsylvania average 1.38%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Cranberry Twp at 1.32%. On an average-priced home of $244K, annual taxes are approximately $3,366.
How many Pennsylvania cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 30 Pennsylvania cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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