Seattle Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Seattle, WA (the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area) was $1,621 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Seattle was $1,609 in 2019. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2020 Seattle median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Seattle rental vacancy rates, Seattle rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Seattle.
Real Gross Rent in Seattle Washington (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Washington Median Gross Rent | $1,359 | +1.42% | +14.39% |
| Seattle, WA Median Gross Rent | $1,621 | +1.89% | +16.87% |
Seattle, WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,621, real median gross rent in Seattle was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,609, real average gross rent in Seattle was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Seattle: Seattle WA Median, Seattle WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Seattle
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Seattle, WA Median |
Seattle, WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $1,621 | $1,609 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $1,591 | $1,603 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,488 | $1,491 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $1,387 | $1,430 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $1,340 | $1,364 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $1,245 | $1,292 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $1,195 | $1,236 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $1,148 | $1,212 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $1,120 | $1,185 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $1,136 | $1,208 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $1,157 | $1,221 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $1,067 | $1,135 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $1,014 | $1,069 |
Seattle Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2019 the rental vacancy rate for Seattle Washington was 4.42% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Seattle Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Seattle, WA | 4.42% | +0.43% | +1.74% |
Trends in Seattle, WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Seattle peaked in 2005 at 6.04%. Since then it has fallen by 1.62% to 4.42%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.68%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.74%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Seattle WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Seattle
| Date | US | Washington | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | 4.42% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 3.99% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 3.61% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 2.68% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | 2.91% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 3.25% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | 4.19% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 4.49% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 5.00% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 5.58% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 5.13% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 4.64% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | 6.04% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Seattle, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Seattle, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.69% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Seattle Washington Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Washington | 20.73% | -0.59% | +0.43% |
| Seattle, WA | 20.69% | -0.65% | +0.46% |
Trends in Seattle, WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Seattle household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.34%. Since then it has fallen by 0.65% to 20.69%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Seattle WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Seattle Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 20.69% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 21.34% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 21.08% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 20.23% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 20.12% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 19.85% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 20.18% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 19.71% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 19.42% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 19.34% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 19.02% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 17.05% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 17.71% |
Renter Fraction in Seattle Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Seattle in at least two ways: by housing units or by population. I've gone with the housing units measure here. This measure looks at the number of renting households in Seattle as a fraction of total Seattle households. In 2019 40.28% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Seattle Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Washington | 36.92% | -0.26% | -0.61% |
| Seattle, WA | 40.28% | +0.04% | -0.23% |
Trends in the Seattle, WA Renter Fraction
The Seattle household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 40.87% and is now 0.59% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Seattle WA, Washington, US
History of Seattle Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Seattle, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 40.28% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 40.24% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 40.01% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 40.51% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 40.06% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 40.70% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 40.87% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 40.47% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 40.05% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 39.38% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 38.23% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 35.68% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 37.41% |
1. Gross rent is defined as contract rent plus the estimated average monthly cost of utilities (electricity, gas, water, and sewer) and fuel (oil, coal, kerosene, wood, etc.). Because some rentals include utilities and others don't, gross rent is a way of normalizing the variability. ↩
2. Real dollars are calculated using the CPI-U less shelter series. ↩
3. The rental vacancy rate is computed by dividing the number of vacant units for rent by the sum of the renter-occupied units, vacant units that are for rent, and vacant units that have been rented but not yet occupied. ↩
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