Department of Numbers

Sacramento County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Sacramento County CA was $1,363 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Sacramento County was $1,356 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 Sacramento County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Sacramento 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%
Sacramento County CA Median Gross Rent $1,363 +3.02% +16.40%

Sacramento County CA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,363, real median gross rent in Sacramento County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,356, real average gross rent in Sacramento County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Sacramento County CA Median, Sacramento County CA Average, California Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Sacramento County

Date US
Median
California
Median
Sacramento County CA
Median
Sacramento County CA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,614 $1,363 $1,356
2018 $1,077 $1,547 $1,323 $1,312
2017 $1,043 $1,492 $1,261 $1,276
2016 $1,027 $1,440 $1,171 $1,195
2015 $1,017 $1,391 $1,133 $1,172
2014 $986 $1,339 $1,074 $1,125
2013 $953 $1,289 $1,068 $1,105
2012 $940 $1,277 $1,047 $1,104
2011 $941 $1,268 $1,065 $1,109
2010 $955 $1,300 $1,095 $1,148
2009 $960 $1,316 $1,106 $1,163

more history ...

Sacramento 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 Sacramento County California was 2.46% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Sacramento County California

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
California 4.06% +0.09% +0.75%
Sacramento County CA 2.46% -1.78% -1.09%

Trends in Sacramento County CA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Sacramento County peaked in 2007 at 8.84%. Since then it has fallen by 6.38% to 2.46%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Sacramento County CA, California, US

Rental vacancy rate in California

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Sacramento County

Date US California Sacramento County CA
2019 5.97% 4.06% 2.46%
2018 6.15% 3.97% 4.24%
2017 6.18% 3.49% 2.56%
2016 5.89% 3.31% 3.55%
2015 5.85% 3.33% 4.27%
2014 6.32% 3.90% 6.09%
2013 6.49% 4.22% 5.55%
2012 6.77% 4.51% 7.03%
2011 7.40% 4.94% 6.08%
2010 8.17% 5.86% 6.49%
2009 8.43% 5.76% 8.34%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Sacramento County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Sacramento County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 22.71% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Sacramento 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%
Sacramento County CA 22.71% +0.35% +0.27%

Trends in Sacramento County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Sacramento County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.28%. Since then it has fallen by 0.57% to 22.71%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Sacramento County CA, California, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Sacramento County California

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Sacramento County California

Date US California Sacramento County CA
2019 20.03% 24.08% 22.71%
2018 20.50% 24.23% 22.36%
2017 20.13% 24.18% 23.28%
2016 20.43% 24.36% 22.44%
2015 20.63% 24.39% 21.74%
2014 20.89% 24.57% 21.85%
2013 20.78% 24.40% 22.99%
2012 20.65% 24.69% 22.42%
2011 20.70% 24.59% 22.62%
2010 20.50% 24.18% 22.31%
2009 20.12% 23.52% 22.17%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Sacramento County California

You can calculate the renter fraction in Sacramento 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 Sacramento County as a fraction of total Sacramento County households. In 2019 43.22% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Sacramento 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%
Sacramento County CA 43.22% +0.48% -1.61%

Trends in the Sacramento County CA Renter Fraction

The Sacramento County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 45.79% and is now 2.57% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Sacramento County CA, California, US

Fraction of renters in Sacramento County

History of Sacramento County Renter Fraction

Date US California Sacramento County CA
2019 35.89% 45.14% 43.22%
2018 36.05% 45.18% 42.74%
2017 36.13% 45.21% 43.65%
2016 36.88% 46.36% 44.83%
2015 36.97% 46.41% 45.79%
2014 36.90% 46.27% 45.78%
2013 36.50% 46.21% 45.79%
2012 36.09% 45.97% 44.02%
2011 35.42% 45.12% 43.95%
2010 34.65% 44.36% 42.79%
2009 34.13% 43.43% 42.33%

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.