Dauphin County, PA at a glance
Median household income
$76,242$6,354 per month · U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-YearHow much rent can you afford in Dauphin 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 Dauphin County, PA? By bedroom, 2026
HUD's fiscal 2026 Fair Market Rents for Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA MSA, 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 | $1,058 | $12,696 | $42,320 | 16.7% |
| 1-Bedroom Apartment | $1,212 | $14,544 | $48,480 | 19.1% |
| 2-Bedroom ApartmentBenchmark | $1,493 | $17,916 | $59,720 | 23.5% |
| 3-Bedroom Home | $1,920 | $23,040 | $76,800 | 30.2% |
| 4-Bedroom Home | $1,977 | $23,724 | $79,080 | 31.1% |
What a typical income covers in Dauphin County, PA
The 50/30/20 rule applied to the local median of $76,242 a year ($6,354 a month before tax).
What $76,242 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 Dauphin County, PA: common questions
What is the median household income in Dauphin County, PA?
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year survey, the median household income in Dauphin County, PA is $76,242 per year (approximately $6,354 per month).
What is the average rent in Dauphin County, PA?
The closest official figure is HUD's Fair Market Rent for 2026: $1,058 for a studio, $1,212 for one bedroom, $1,493 for two, $1,920 for three and $1,977 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 Dauphin County, PA expensive to live in?
Prices there run 1.3% below the U.S. average. BEA's regional price parity for the metro area is 98.7, 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 Dauphin County, PA?
To keep a $1,493 two-bedroom under 30% of gross income, a household needs about $59,720 a year, or $4,977 a month. That is 78% of what the typical household in Dauphin County, PA earns.
How much do you need to live comfortably in Dauphin County, PA?
On the local median income of $76,242 ($6,354 a month before tax), the 50/30/20 rule leaves $3,177 a month for needs like rent, utilities and groceries, $1,906 for everything else and $1,271 for savings or debt. A two-bedroom at $1,493 takes 47% of the needs share.
How much is the electric bill in Dauphin 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.