In short
The median value of owner-occupied homes is $277,600 in Pennsylvania and $253,600 in the city of Philadelphia, against $360,600 nationwide, according to the Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. The FHFA House Price Index shows Pennsylvania prices up 3.9% and Philadelphia-area prices up 2.8% between the second quarters of 2025 and 2026.
What the median home value is
The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) asks owners how much they think their home would sell for if it were for sale. The median value in table B25077 is the middle answer among all owner-occupied homes in an area, from condos to large houses.
This is the owner’s own estimate. It is not a sale price, not an appraisal and not a list price. It covers every home that owners occupy, including homes bought decades ago, so it describes the existing stock rather than what buyers paid this year.
The latest one-year ACS estimates cover 2024. The Census Bureau schedules the 2025 one-year estimates for October 29, 2026, so the figures below will change at that point.
What it costs: median value in 2024
| Area | Median value, 2024 | Margin of error (90%) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | $360,600 | ±$618 |
| Pennsylvania | $277,600 | ±$1,517 |
| Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington metro area | $375,100 | ±$2,652 |
| Philadelphia County | $253,600 | ±$6,236 |
| City of Philadelphia | $253,600 | ±$6,236 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024, table B25077, universe: owner-occupied housing units.
The city and the county show the same figure because the Census Bureau reports the same territory for both. Three points stand out:
- The Pennsylvania median is $83,000 below the national median.
- The city of Philadelphia sits $24,000 below the state median and $121,500 below the metro-area median. The metro area also includes suburbs outside the city (its Census name covers PA, NJ, DE and MD), which pull its figure up.
- The margin of error for the city (±$6,236) is wider than for the state because the sample is smaller. The true city median is very likely between about $247,400 and $259,800.
How prices have moved: the FHFA index
The ACS gives a level. To see the trend, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) publishes a House Price Index built on repeat sales: it compares the prices of the same single-family homes each time they sell. FHFA’s flagship index uses seasonally adjusted, purchase-only data from mortgages bought or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
The latest quarterly release, published August 25, 2026, covers the second quarter of 2026. It includes purchase-only indexes for metro divisions such as Philadelphia, PA, the Pennsylvania part of the metro area.
| Area | 1-year change (Q2 2025 to Q2 2026) | 5-year change (Q2 2021 to Q2 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | +2.1% | +33.4% |
| Pennsylvania | +3.9% | +37.2% |
| Philadelphia, PA metro division | +2.8% | +27.0% |
Source: FHFA House Price Index, purchase-only, seasonally adjusted, quarterly files for states, metro areas and the U.S. Changes calculated by Payotte from the published index values.
Pennsylvania prices rose faster than the national index over both periods. The Philadelphia metro division grew more slowly than the state as a whole over both periods.
A worked example
Take a Philadelphia-area home worth $250,000 in the second quarter of 2021. If it had followed the Philadelphia metro division index exactly, it would have been worth about $317,500 in the second quarter of 2026 (+27.0%). Over the last year alone, it would have gained about $8,700 (+2.8%). A single home can move very differently from the index: location, condition and renovations matter more than the average.
How to use these figures when buying
- Use the ACS median for budgets and comparisons between places. It is the only measure here that gives a dollar level for the state, the city and the metro area with the same method.
- Use the FHFA index for the direction of prices. It tells you whether prices in the area are rising or falling, not what a given home is worth.
- For a specific home, look at recent sales and the appraisal. Your lender orders an appraisal before it approves the loan; see our guide to home appraisal costs.
Closing costs come on top of the price. Our Pennsylvania closing costs guide explains who pays what, and our page on buying a home in Philadelphia applies these numbers to the city. First-time buyers can also check the Pennsylvania first-time buyer programs.
Method and dataset
ACS median value. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Estimates, vintage 2024 (released in 2025), table B25077 “Median Value (Dollars)”, variable B25077_001E with margin of error B25077_001M. Universe: owner-occupied housing units. Geographies: United States (0100000US), Pennsylvania (0400000US42), Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington metro area (310M700US37980), Philadelphia County (0500000US42101), Philadelphia city (1600000US4260000). Values were read through the data.census.gov access API on October 13, 2026, one geography per request. The 2025 one-year estimates are scheduled for October 29, 2026.
FHFA index. FHFA House Price Index, quarterly purchase-only, seasonally adjusted series, files hpi_po_state.txt (Pennsylvania), hpi_po_metro.txt (Philadelphia, PA metro division, code 37964) and hpi_po_us_and_census.txt (USA), release of August 25, 2026, data through the second quarter of 2026. Index values used: Pennsylvania 364.21 (Q2 2025), 275.85 (Q2 2021) and 378.53 (Q2 2026); Philadelphia, PA division 416.12, 336.87 and 427.82; United States 426.58, 326.58 and 435.69. Changes are the ratio of the Q2 2026 value to the earlier value, minus one. The U.S. one-year result (+2.1%) matches the figure in FHFA’s release. FHFA’s next quarterly release, with third-quarter 2026 data, is scheduled for November 24, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is the median home value in Pennsylvania?
The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the median value of owner-occupied homes in Pennsylvania at $277,600, with a margin of error of ±$1,517. The national median is $360,600. These are owners’ own estimates, not sale prices.
What is the median home value in Philadelphia?
For the city of Philadelphia, which is also Philadelphia County, the 2024 ACS median value is $253,600 (±$6,236). The Philadelphia–Camden–Wilmington metro area is at $375,100.
Is the ACS median value the same as the median sale price?
No. The ACS asks owners what they think their home would sell for, and it includes every owner-occupied home, not only the ones sold this year. Sale prices of recent transactions can be higher or lower.
Are Pennsylvania home prices going up or down?
According to the FHFA purchase-only index, Pennsylvania prices rose 3.9% between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026, and the Philadelphia, PA metro division rose 2.8%. Over five years, they rose 37.2% and 27.0%.
When will these figures be updated?
The Census Bureau schedules the 2025 one-year ACS estimates for October 29, 2026. FHFA’s next quarterly index, with third-quarter 2026 data, is scheduled for November 24, 2026.
Compare with the other states: Median home price by state.
More Pennsylvania guides
- Closing costs in Pennsylvania: what buyers and sellers pay
- Pennsylvania realty transfer tax: 1% state, 4.578% in Philadelphia
- Pennsylvania property tax: rates, relief and appeals
- Pennsylvania seller disclosure: what sellers must tell buyers
- Do you need a real estate attorney to close in Pennsylvania?
- Pennsylvania foreclosure process: timeline, notices and help
- First-time buyer programs in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia
- How to verify a real estate license in Pennsylvania
Sources
- Table B25077, Median Value (Dollars), ACS 1-Year Estimates 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- 2025 ACS Data Release Schedule (U.S. Census Bureau) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- U.S. House Prices Rise 2.1 Percent Year over Year, Up 0.3 Percent Quarter over Quarter (FHFA, August 25, 2026) (consulted October 13, 2026)
- FHFA House Price Index datasets, quarterly purchase-only indexes (state, metro, U.S.) (consulted October 13, 2026)