B-

York, PA

Source:

Affordability Score: 67/100

Population: 175,624 · 7 ZIP codes

The affordability dashboard for York, PA aggregates Census ACS 5-Year Estimates across 7 ZIP codes covering 175,624 residents, then layers in county-level federal data to produce an overall grade of B- (67/100). The headline inputs are median household income of $78,052, median home value of $216,887, median rent of $1,276 per month, and 29.9% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher. These four metrics alone explain most of the variance between city dashboards.

Cross-agency feeds widen the picture beyond Census demographics. HUD publishes a Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in this county at $1,335 per month (studio $925, 1BR $1,060, 3BR $1,796, 4BR $1,850).

Reading the overall grade requires reading all seven dimensions together. The score weights Income 20%, Safety 20%, Housing 15%, Rent 15%, Education 10%, Commute 10%, and Childcare 10%, with each sub-score benchmarked against national percentiles rather than state averages — so the grade is genuinely comparable across any city in the country. Strengths visible in the raw data for York, PA include housing, rent. Unemployment currently reads 5.2% and poverty 11.3% — numbers worth keeping alongside the headline grade.

Score Breakdown

Income B-
$78,052
Median household income
Education D
29.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher
Housing B+
2.8x
Home value $216,887 vs income
Commute C
24 min
Average commute time
Rent B+
$1,335/mo
2BR fair market rent (21% of income)
Safety N/A
N/A
Violent crime rate (county)
Childcare N/A
N/A
Center-based infant care cost

Income & Employment

Median Income
$78,052
▲ 26% vs national
Per Capita Income
$39,943
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
Poverty Rate
11.3%

Housing

Median Home Value
$216,887
▼ 21% vs national
Median Rent
$1,276/mo
Owner Occupied
67.9%
2BR Fair Market Rent
$1,335/mo
▲ 11% vs national

Fair Market Rents by Bedroom

Studio
$925
1BR
$1,060
2BR
$1,335
3BR
$1,796
4BR
$1,850

Safety

Violent Crime Rate
Data Source
FBI UCR (county-level)

Education & Family

Bachelor's Degree+
29.9%
▼ 0 ppt vs national
High School+
66.0%
Median Age
38.9
Avg. Commute
24 min
▼ 2 min vs national

Childcare Costs

Infant (Center)
Toddler (Center)
Preschool (Center)
School-Age (Center)

What This Means

York, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100), aggregated from 7 ZIP codes with a total population of 175,624. This area performs well in housing and rent. Data was unavailable for safety, childcare — these dimensions were excluded from the overall score.

Nearby City Dashboards

Explore York ZIP Codes
View all 7 ZIP codes with demographics and individual scorecards
View ZIPs →

What are common questions about this dashboard?

Is York, PA affordable?
York, PA receives an overall affordability grade of B- (67/100) based on Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data. Median household income is $78,052. Median home value is $216,887.
What is the cost of living in York?
Key cost metrics: Median rent $1,276/mo. 2BR fair market rent $1,335/mo. Median home value $216,887.
How is the affordability score calculated?
The score evaluates 7 dimensions weighted by importance: Income (20%), Safety (20%), Housing (15%), Rent (15%), Education (10%), Commute (10%), and Childcare (10%). Each metric is compared against national percentile benchmarks from Census, HUD, FBI, and DOL data.

Data as of 2024. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates. Source: HUD Fair Market Rents. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report. Source: DOL National Database of Childcare Prices. Verify with HUD →