Riverside California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Riverside, CA (the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metro area) was $1,413 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Riverside was $1,419 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 Riverside median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Riverside rental vacancy rates, Riverside rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Riverside.
Real Gross Rent in Riverside 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% |
| Riverside, CA Median Gross Rent | $1,413 | +5.06% | +9.28% |
Riverside, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,413, real median gross rent in Riverside was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,419, real average gross rent in Riverside was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Riverside: Riverside CA Median, Riverside CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Riverside
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Riverside, CA Median |
Riverside, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,413 | $1,419 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,345 | $1,370 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,307 | $1,330 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,293 | $1,313 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,237 | $1,273 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,224 | $1,250 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,185 | $1,214 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,164 | $1,201 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,162 | $1,214 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,205 | $1,257 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,235 | $1,261 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,229 | $1,261 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,140 | $1,164 |
Riverside 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 Riverside California was 4.23% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Riverside California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Riverside, CA | 4.23% | -0.40% | -0.13% |
Trends in Riverside, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Riverside peaked in 2010 at 8.82%. Since then it has fallen by 4.59% to 4.23%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 3.70%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.53%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Riverside CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Riverside
| Date | US | California | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.23% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 4.63% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.70% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 4.36% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 5.03% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 6.35% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 6.54% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 6.42% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 6.85% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 8.82% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 8.14% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 6.80% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 4.69% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Riverside, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Riverside, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 23.90% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Riverside 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% |
| Riverside, CA | 23.90% | -0.24% | -1.55% |
Trends in Riverside, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Riverside household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.48%. Since then it has fallen by 1.58% to 23.90%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Riverside CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Riverside California
| Date | US | California | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 23.90% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 24.14% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 24.54% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 25.45% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 24.95% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 25.48% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 25.37% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 25.40% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 24.81% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 24.16% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 24.17% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 21.91% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 21.56% |
Renter Fraction in Riverside California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Riverside 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 Riverside as a fraction of total Riverside households. In 2019 36.12% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Riverside 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% |
| Riverside, CA | 36.12% | +0.71% | -2.80% |
Trends in the Riverside, CA Renter Fraction
The Riverside household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 39.18% and is now 3.06% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Riverside CA, California, US
History of Riverside Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Riverside, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 36.12% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 35.41% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 37.01% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 38.92% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 39.18% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 39.11% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 38.06% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 37.62% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 35.69% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 34.33% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 34.14% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 32.45% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 32.51% |
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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