Contra Costa County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Contra Costa County CA was $1,948 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Contra Costa County was $1,902 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 Contra Costa County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Contra Costa County rental vacancy rates, Contra Costa County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Contra Costa County.
Real Gross Rent in Contra Costa 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% |
| Contra Costa County CA Median Gross Rent | $1,948 | +4.73% | +9.93% |
Contra Costa County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,948, real median gross rent in Contra Costa County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,902, real average gross rent in Contra Costa County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Contra Costa County CA Median, Contra Costa County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Contra Costa County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Contra Costa County CA Median |
Contra Costa County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,948 | $1,902 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,860 | $1,847 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,821 | $1,793 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,772 | $1,769 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,641 | $1,647 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,523 | $1,522 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,463 | $1,500 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,430 | $1,488 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,381 | $1,449 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,434 | $1,478 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,450 | $1,495 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,424 | $1,470 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,401 | $1,420 |
Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County California was 4.43% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Contra Costa County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Contra Costa County CA | 4.43% | +0.54% | +2.63% |
Trends in Contra Costa County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Contra Costa County peaked in 2006 at 8.05%. Since then it has fallen by 3.62% to 4.43%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 1.80%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.63%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Contra Costa County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Contra Costa County
| Date | US | California | Contra Costa County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.43% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 3.89% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.54% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 1.80% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.00% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 3.31% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 3.25% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 4.57% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 4.90% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 7.94% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 6.62% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 6.24% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 6.99% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Contra Costa County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Contra Costa County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.82% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Contra Costa 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% |
| Contra Costa County CA | 21.82% | +0.24% | -0.48% |
Trends in Contra Costa County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Contra Costa County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.34%. Since then it has fallen by 0.52% to 21.82%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Contra Costa County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Contra Costa County California
| Date | US | California | Contra Costa County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.82% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 21.57% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 22.23% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.30% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 22.34% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 21.55% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 21.07% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 21.74% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 20.64% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 20.88% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 20.31% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 19.03% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 19.36% |
Renter Fraction in Contra Costa County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Contra Costa 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 Contra Costa County as a fraction of total Contra Costa County households. In 2019 34.58% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Contra Costa 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% |
| Contra Costa County CA | 34.58% | +1.25% | -1.41% |
Trends in the Contra Costa County CA Renter Fraction
The Contra Costa County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 36.33% and is now 1.75% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Contra Costa County CA, California, US
History of Contra Costa County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Contra Costa County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 34.58% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 33.33% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 32.21% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 35.99% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 35.88% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 36.33% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 35.32% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 35.80% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 34.47% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 33.94% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 32.16% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 28.82% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 29.25% |
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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