The York metro is home to 459,312 people (up 3.4% over five years), with a median household income of $82,238. Typical rent of $1,380/month works out to 20.1% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of York's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 22.0% |
| Manufacturing | 15.4% |
| Retail trade | 11.4% |
| Professional & management | 9.4% |
| Transportation & utilities | 7.4% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 20.1% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the York market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,380/month suggests a household income around $55,000/year. The metro's median household income is $82,238.
By workforce share: Education & health care (22.0%), Manufacturing (15.4%), Retail trade (11.4%) (Census ACS 5-year).