Orange County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Orange County CA was $1,929 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Orange County was $1,965 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 Orange County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Orange County rental vacancy rates, Orange County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Orange County.
Real Gross Rent in Orange 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% |
| Orange County CA Median Gross Rent | $1,929 | +1.21% | +6.99% |
Orange County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,929, real median gross rent in Orange County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,965, real average gross rent in Orange County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Orange County CA Median, Orange County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Orange County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Orange County CA Median |
Orange County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,929 | $1,965 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,906 | $1,931 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,842 | $1,866 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,803 | $1,821 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,723 | $1,755 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,660 | $1,699 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,579 | $1,644 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,558 | $1,615 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,545 | $1,601 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,567 | $1,626 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,640 | $1,687 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,612 | $1,647 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,540 | $1,558 |
Orange 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 Orange County California was 5.04% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Orange County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Orange County CA | 5.04% | +0.99% | +2.04% |
Trends in Orange County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Orange County peaked in 2009 at 5.98%. Since then it has fallen by 0.94% to 5.04%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 3.00%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.04%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Orange County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Orange County
| Date | US | California | Orange County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 5.04% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 4.05% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.00% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 3.00% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 3.01% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 3.36% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 3.75% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 3.52% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 4.16% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 5.48% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 5.98% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 4.03% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 3.75% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Orange County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Orange County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 24.13% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Orange 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% |
| Orange County CA | 24.13% | -0.90% | -1.12% |
Trends in Orange County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Orange County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.25%. Since then it has fallen by 1.12% to 24.13%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Orange County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Orange County California
| Date | US | California | Orange County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 24.13% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 25.03% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 24.86% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 25.25% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 24.85% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 24.72% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 24.25% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 24.42% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 23.74% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 23.74% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 24.03% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 22.47% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 22.42% |
Renter Fraction in Orange County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Orange 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 Orange County as a fraction of total Orange County households. In 2019 42.89% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Orange 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% |
| Orange County CA | 42.89% | +0.32% | -0.47% |
Trends in the Orange County CA Renter Fraction
The Orange County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 43.38% and is now 0.49% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Orange County CA, California, US
History of Orange County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Orange County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 42.89% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 42.57% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 42.64% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 43.36% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 43.38% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 42.59% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 42.49% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 43.14% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 41.38% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 40.76% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 39.86% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 37.29% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 38.03% |
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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