Penn, PA housing market
Home prices around Penn have risen about 63% over the past 5 years. No new homes were permitted in 2025.
Home values, sales, trends and how Penn compares with the towns next door — updated as new data is published.
Home prices up 63% in 5 years
The federal house price index for the ZIP code around Penn rose 63% over the past 5 years, faster than across Pennsylvania (48%). Last year prices rose 5.6%. Carrying the Census median home value forward with that index puts the typical Penn home at roughly $559,000 today.
Show as a table
| Year | Change that year | Since 2000 | Pennsylvania since 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | +5.6% | +164% | +164% |
| 2024 | +19% | +150% | +152% |
| 2023 | +0.6% | +110% | +138% |
| 2022 | +11% | +108% | +122% |
| 2021 | +16% | +87% | +96% |
| 2020 | +0.7% | +62% | +79% |
| 2019 | +4.3% | +61% | +72% |
| 2018 | +3.4% | +54% | +66% |
| 2017 | +5.8% | +49% | +59% |
| 2016 | −0.4% | +41% | +53% |
| 2015 | +1.2% | +41% | +49% |
| 2014 | +3.1% | +39% | +46% |
| 2013 | +1% | +35% | +43% |
| 2012 | −3.4% | +34% | +42% |
| 2011 | −5.8% | +39% | +45% |
| 2010 | −1.2% | +47% | +48% |
| 2009 | −1.9% | +49% | +52% |
| 2008 | −3.1% | +52% | +57% |
| 2007 | +3.5% | +57% | +59% |
| 2006 | +7.5% | +51% | +55% |
| 2005 | +13% | +41% | +44% |
| 2004 | +11% | +25% | +29% |
| 2003 | +3.9% | +13% | +17% |
| 2002 | +1.8% | +8.4% | +12% |
| 2001 | +6.5% | +6.5% | +6.2% |
| 2000 | — | — | — |
Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (annual, developmental) for ZIP code 19506, weighted by land area. It tracks repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, so it shows how prices changed, not what homes cost. The estimated value scales the Census (ACS 2020-2024) median home value by that change.
No new homes permitted in 2025
No permits for new homes were issued in Penn in 2025. The last year with any was 2022 (37 new homes).
Homes vs. people, 2010–2020
Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, Penn gained 173 residents while 52 new homes were permitted: about 3.3 new residents per new home. Building and growth moved roughly in step. Across Pennsylvania: 1.4 new residents per new home.
Residents: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 and 2020 censuses. New homes: permits issued 2010–2019.
Show as a table
| Year | New homes | Single-family | 2+ per building | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Jan–Aug) | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 37 | 37 | 0 | $6.6 million |
| 2021 | 10 | 10 | 0 | $2.5 million |
| 2020 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $620,000 |
| 2019 | 2 | 2 | 0 | $512,000 |
| 2018 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $475,000 |
| 2017 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $262,000 |
| 2016 | 1 | 1 | 0 | $262,000 |
| 2015 | 14 | 14 | 0 | $3.6 million |
| 2014 | 15 | 15 | 0 | $3.6 million |
| 2013 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $702,000 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2011 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2010 | 8 | 8 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2009 | 3 | 3 | 0 | $676,000 |
| 2008 | 5 | 5 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2007 | 6 | 6 | 0 | $1.1 million |
| 2006 | 7 | 7 | 0 | $1.3 million |
| 2005 | 13 | 13 | 0 | $1.8 million |
| 2004 | 4 | 4 | 0 | $705,000 |
| 2003 | 9 | 9 | 0 | $945,000 |
| 2002 | 11 | 11 | 0 | $1.7 million |
| 2001 | 12 | 12 | 0 | $1.5 million |
| 2000 | 18 | 18 | 0 | $2.5 million |
Penn's permit office reported 6 of 12 months in 2025; the Census estimated the rest.
Homes authorized by building permits, counted in the year the permit was issued. U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey, through August 2026.
Penn and its neighbors
| Town | Typical value | 1-yr change | 2-bed rent | New homes 2025 | Median income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn | — | +5.6%† | $1,530 | 0 | $97,167 |
| Jefferson | — | +5.6%† | $1,530 | 0 | $116,250 |
| North Heidelberg | — | +3.3%† | $1,440 | 1 | $92,500 |
| Upper Tulpehocken | — | +5.6%† | $1,490 | 1 | $90,833 |
| Bernville | $408K | +3.9% | $1,530 | 1 | $89,167 |
| Centre | — | +0.5%† | $1,820 | 5 | $95,375 |
| Bern | — | +4.6%† | $1,480 | 3 | $117,897 |
† FHFA price index change, where Zillow has no home value for the town.
3.3 years of income
The typical Penn home costs about 3.3 years of the town's median household income, less than across Pennsylvania (3.7 years).
Home value ÷ ACS median household income.
Owners, rent & taxes
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024.
A two-bedroom rents for about $1,530
HUD's Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom in Penn is $1,530 a month, utilities included: roughly what a modest, recently rented unit costs. Renters already in Penn pay a median of $1,479. A two-bedroom takes about 19% of the town's median household income.
Studio $1,050 · 4 bedrooms $2,030
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, FY2026 Fair Market Rents by ZIP code (19506; Reading, PA MSA), weighted by land area. A Fair Market Rent is the 40th-percentile rent plus utilities for a standard unit. Median rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey.
Home values: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research. Sales, days on market and supply: Redfin Data Center. Income, ownership, taxes and rent: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. New homes: U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey. Price trend: Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index. Fair Market Rents: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Listings link to their publishers.