Columbia County, PA at a glance
Median household income
$64,644$5,387 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Columbia County, PA?
HUD’s fair market rent for each size, against what a typical household here earns. Change the income to see yours.
How much is rent in Columbia County, PA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Columbia County, PA, with the income each one takes if rent stays under 30% of it.
| Unit Size | Monthly Rent | Annual Rent | 30% Rule Min. Income | % of Median Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / Efficiency | $786 | $9,432 | $31,440 | 14.6% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $941 | $11,292 | $37,640 | 17.5% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,140 | $13,680 | $45,600 | 21.2% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,367 | $16,404 | $54,680 | 25.4% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,572 | $18,864 | $62,880 | 29.2% |
Rent in Columbia County, PA, with the wage each unit needs →
What a typical income covers in Columbia County, PA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $64,644 a year ($5,387 a month before tax).
What $64,644 leaves after Pennsylvania taxes
Federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and Pennsylvania tax on the local median income. Change the salary to see yours.
Rent, jobs and pay in Pennsylvania
Living in Columbia County, PA: common questions
What is the median household income in Columbia County, PA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Columbia County, PA is $64,644 per year (approximately $5,387 per month).
What is the average rent in Columbia County, PA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $786 for a studio, $941 for one bedroom, $1,140 for two, $1,367 for three and $1,572 for four, utilities included.
It is not an average of listings. HUD sets it at the rent 40% of recent movers paid or less for a standard unit, so a new lease on a nicer place will usually cost more.
Is Columbia County, PA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 2.4% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for Pennsylvania is 97.6, where the U.S. is 100. Rent moves the number most: housing is where places differ, while goods cost about the same everywhere.
How much do you need to earn to comfortably afford rent in Columbia County, PA?
To keep a $1,140 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $45,600 a year, or $3,800 a month. That is 71% of what the typical household in Columbia County, PA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Columbia County, PA?
On the local median income of $64,644 ($5,387 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $2,694 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,616 for everything else and $1,077 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,140 takes 42% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Columbia County, PA?
Homes in Pennsylvania paid 21.7¢ per kWh on average (EIA). At 900 kWh a month, a typical use, that is about $196. Your bill depends mostly on heating and cooling.