Flagstaff Arizona Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Flagstaff, AZ (the Flagstaff metro area) was $1,231 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Flagstaff was $1,208 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 Flagstaff median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Flagstaff rental vacancy rates, Flagstaff rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Flagstaff.
Real Gross Rent in Flagstaff Arizona (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Arizona Median Gross Rent | $1,101 | +4.36% | +7.73% |
| Flagstaff, AZ Median Gross Rent | $1,231 | -1.99% | +19.75% |
Flagstaff, AZ Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Flagstaff peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,256 and is now $25 (1.99%) lower. At $1,208, real average gross rent in Flagstaff was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Flagstaff: Flagstaff AZ Median, Flagstaff AZ Average, Arizona Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Flagstaff
| Date | US Median |
Arizona Median |
Flagstaff, AZ Median |
Flagstaff, AZ Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,101 | $1,231 | $1,208 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,055 | $1,256 | $1,192 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,052 | $1,253 | $1,139 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,022 | $1,028 | $957 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $990 | $1,159 | $1,087 |
| 2014 | $986 | $967 | $1,023 | $987 |
| 2013 | $953 | $937 | $1,115 | $1,079 |
| 2012 | $940 | $945 | $1,041 | $1,013 |
| 2011 | $941 | $918 | $988 | $917 |
| 2010 | $955 | $943 | $1,070 | $991 |
| 2009 | $960 | $979 | $1,059 | $1,054 |
| 2007 | $927 | $962 | $1,015 | $996 |
| 2005 | $910 | $896 | $986 | $900 |
Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff Arizona was 12.26% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Flagstaff Arizona
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Arizona | 5.32% | -0.39% | -1.09% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 12.26% | -1.51% | +3.07% |
Trends in Flagstaff, AZ Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Flagstaff peaked in 2018 at 13.77%. Since then it has fallen by 1.51% to 12.26%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Flagstaff AZ, Arizona, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Flagstaff
| Date | US | Arizona | Flagstaff, AZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.32% | 12.26% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.71% | 13.77% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.99% | 6.71% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.41% | 9.19% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 7.72% | 8.47% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.11% | 5.61% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 8.89% | 5.35% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 9.01% | 5.17% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 10.21% | 6.86% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 11.07% | 4.85% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.62% | 6.22% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.22% | 3.55% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 8.57% | 8.38% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Flagstaff, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Flagstaff, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 25.43% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Flagstaff Arizona Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Arizona | 21.29% | +0.31% | -0.58% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 25.43% | +1.49% | +4.04% |
Trends in Flagstaff, AZ Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Flagstaff household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 27.29%. Since then it has fallen by 1.86% to 25.43%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Flagstaff AZ, Arizona, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Flagstaff Arizona
| Date | US | Arizona | Flagstaff, AZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 21.29% | 25.43% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.98% | 23.94% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 21.63% | 26.56% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 21.87% | 21.39% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 21.74% | 24.68% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 21.95% | 23.37% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 22.02% | 25.10% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 22.28% | 25.74% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 21.84% | 24.38% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 21.65% | 27.29% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 21.15% | 21.96% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 19.70% | 20.89% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 19.43% | 22.99% |
Renter Fraction in Flagstaff Arizona
You can calculate the renter fraction in Flagstaff 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 Flagstaff as a fraction of total Flagstaff households. In 2019 38.50% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Flagstaff Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Arizona | 34.74% | -0.45% | -2.02% |
| Flagstaff, AZ | 38.50% | +1.32% | -1.46% |
Trends in the Flagstaff, AZ Renter Fraction
The Flagstaff household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 43.03% and is now 4.53% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Flagstaff AZ, Arizona, US
History of Flagstaff Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Arizona | Flagstaff, AZ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 34.74% | 38.50% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 35.19% | 37.18% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 35.28% | 38.74% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 36.76% | 39.96% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.09% | 38.90% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.86% | 39.64% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 37.94% | 43.03% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.44% | 39.79% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 36.27% | 38.60% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 34.75% | 38.42% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.94% | 41.88% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.91% | 35.84% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 31.83% | 39.21% |
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. ↩
