Department of Numbers

Washington County Arkansas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington County AR was $817 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Washington County was $879 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 Washington County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Washington County rental vacancy rates, Washington County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Washington County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Washington County Arkansas (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Arkansas Median Gross Rent $742 -0.27% +1.09%
Washington County AR Median Gross Rent $817 +0.99% +4.08%

Washington County AR Real Gross Rent Trends

At $817, real median gross rent in Washington County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $879, real average gross rent in Washington County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Washington County AR Median, Washington County AR Average, Arkansas Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Washington County

Date US
Median
Arkansas
Median
Washington County AR
Median
Washington County AR
Average
2019 $1,097 $742 $817 $879
2018 $1,077 $744 $809 $833
2017 $1,043 $733 $768 $797
2016 $1,027 $734 $785 $792
2015 $1,017 $737 $752 $773
2014 $986 $721 $754 $793
2013 $953 $694 $729 $794
2012 $940 $681 $720 $723
2011 $941 $690 $689 $720
2010 $955 $713 $752 $813
2009 $960 $691 $721 $735

more history ...

Washington County Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Washington County Arkansas was 2.56% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington County Arkansas

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Arkansas 7.37% -0.98% -0.69%
Washington County AR

Trends in Washington County AR Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Washington County peaked in 2009 at 16.66%. Since then it has fallen by 14.10% to 2.56%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 1.21%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.35%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington County AR, Arkansas, US

Rental vacancy rate in Arkansas

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington County

Date US Arkansas Washington County AR
2019 5.97% 7.37%
2018 6.15% 8.35% 2.56%
2017 6.18% 8.22% 6.47%
2016 5.89% 8.06% 1.21%
2015 5.85% 8.50% 4.69%
2014 6.32% 9.60% 5.07%
2013 6.49% 9.66% 6.61%
2012 6.77% 9.13% 6.11%
2011 7.40% 10.00% 9.93%
2010 8.17% 10.46% 16.06%
2009 8.43% 10.48% 16.66%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Washington County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Washington County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.30% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Washington County Arkansas Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Arkansas 18.19% -0.45% -0.78%
Washington County AR 19.30% +0.35% -0.40%

Trends in Washington County AR Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Washington County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.10%. Since then it has fallen by 1.80% to 19.30%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington County AR, Arkansas, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Washington County Arkansas

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington County Arkansas

Date US Arkansas Washington County AR
2019 20.03% 18.19% 19.30%
2018 20.50% 18.64% 18.95%
2017 20.13% 18.60% 17.82%
2016 20.43% 18.97% 19.70%
2015 20.63% 19.86% 18.43%
2014 20.89% 19.86% 19.03%
2013 20.78% 19.52% 19.74%
2012 20.65% 19.15% 19.71%
2011 20.70% 19.78% 20.44%
2010 20.50% 19.99% 21.10%
2009 20.12% 19.23% 18.74%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Washington County Arkansas

You can calculate the renter fraction in Washington County 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 Washington County as a fraction of total Washington County households. In 2019 47.05% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Washington County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Arkansas 34.53% +0.29% -0.92%
Washington County AR 47.05% +0.23% -3.28%

Trends in the Washington County AR Renter Fraction

The Washington County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 50.33% and is now 3.28% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Washington County AR, Arkansas, US

Fraction of renters in Washington County

History of Washington County Renter Fraction

Date US Arkansas Washington County AR
2019 35.89% 34.53% 47.05%
2018 36.05% 34.24% 46.82%
2017 36.13% 34.75% 43.98%
2016 36.88% 35.45% 50.33%
2015 36.97% 34.83% 47.18%
2014 36.90% 34.21% 45.34%
2013 36.50% 34.28% 46.37%
2012 36.09% 33.76% 43.57%
2011 35.42% 33.40% 44.92%
2010 34.65% 32.59% 43.40%
2009 34.13% 33.96% 43.12%

more history ...

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.