Alameda County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Alameda County CA was $1,982 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Alameda County was $1,935 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 Alameda County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Alameda County rental vacancy rates, Alameda County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Alameda County.
Real Gross Rent in Alameda County California (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| California Median Gross Rent | $1,614 | +4.33% | +12.08% |
| Alameda County CA Median Gross Rent | $1,982 | +3.82% | +16.73% |
Alameda County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,982, real median gross rent in Alameda County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,935, real average gross rent in Alameda County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Alameda County CA Median, Alameda County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Alameda County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Alameda County CA Median |
Alameda County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,982 | $1,935 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,909 | $1,886 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,799 | $1,793 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,698 | $1,718 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,605 | $1,630 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,469 | $1,501 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,406 | $1,428 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,346 | $1,372 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,344 | $1,359 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,339 | $1,362 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,351 | $1,387 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,304 | $1,349 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,329 | $1,344 |
Alameda County 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 Alameda County California was 3.40% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Alameda County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Alameda County CA | 3.40% | -1.06% | +1.26% |
Trends in Alameda County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Alameda County peaked in 2006 at 8.46%. Since then it has fallen by 5.06% to 3.40%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.14%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.26%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Alameda County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Alameda County
| Date | US | California | Alameda County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 3.40% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 4.46% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 2.74% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 2.14% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.31% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 2.70% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 3.55% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 3.76% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 4.16% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 5.57% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 4.77% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 6.57% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 7.49% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Alameda County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Alameda County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.96% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Alameda County California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| California | 24.08% | -0.15% | -0.28% |
| Alameda County CA | 21.96% | -0.08% | +0.33% |
Trends in Alameda County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Alameda County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.22%. Since then it has fallen by 0.26% to 21.96%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Alameda County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Alameda County California
| Date | US | California | Alameda County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.96% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 22.03% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 21.75% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 21.63% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 22.22% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 21.62% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 22.13% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 21.53% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 22.10% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 21.40% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 20.79% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 19.38% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 20.91% |
Renter Fraction in Alameda County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Alameda 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 Alameda County as a fraction of total Alameda County households. In 2019 46.98% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Alameda County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| California | 45.14% | -0.04% | -1.22% |
| Alameda County CA | 46.98% | +0.59% | -0.77% |
Trends in the Alameda County CA Renter Fraction
The Alameda County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 48.16% and is now 1.18% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Alameda County CA, California, US
History of Alameda County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Alameda County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 46.98% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 46.39% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 46.67% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 47.75% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 47.50% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 48.16% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 48.12% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 47.80% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 46.99% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 46.64% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 45.88% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 42.59% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 42.70% |
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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