San Diego County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in San Diego County CA was $1,758 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in San Diego County was $1,773 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 San Diego County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for San Diego County rental vacancy rates, San Diego County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in San Diego County.
Real Gross Rent in San Diego 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% |
| San Diego County CA Median Gross Rent | $1,758 | +3.53% | +11.62% |
San Diego County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,758, real median gross rent in San Diego County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,773, real average gross rent in San Diego County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: San Diego County CA Median, San Diego County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for San Diego County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
San Diego County CA Median |
San Diego County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,758 | $1,773 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,698 | $1,737 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,648 | $1,680 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,575 | $1,617 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,514 | $1,574 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,450 | $1,523 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,357 | $1,441 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,333 | $1,416 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,336 | $1,398 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,396 | $1,465 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,395 | $1,469 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,372 | $1,433 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,340 | $1,401 |
San Diego 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 San Diego County California was 4.77% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in San Diego County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| San Diego County CA | 4.77% | +0.51% | +0.98% |
Trends in San Diego County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in San Diego County peaked in 2011 at 5.54%. Since then it has fallen by 0.77% to 4.77%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 3.25%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.52%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: San Diego County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for San Diego County
| Date | US | California | San Diego County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.77% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 4.26% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.48% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 3.79% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 3.25% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 3.62% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 4.05% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 4.46% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 5.54% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 5.43% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 5.05% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 4.57% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 4.24% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for San Diego County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For San Diego County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 25.12% in 2019 according to the ACS.
San Diego 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% |
| San Diego County CA | 25.12% | -0.19% | -0.36% |
Trends in San Diego County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median San Diego County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2016 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.48%. Since then it has fallen by 0.36% to 25.12%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: San Diego County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in San Diego County California
| Date | US | California | San Diego County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 25.12% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 25.31% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 25.16% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 25.48% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 25.44% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 24.89% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 25.18% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 24.92% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 24.96% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 25.01% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 24.39% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 22.68% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 22.83% |
Renter Fraction in San Diego County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in San Diego 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 San Diego County as a fraction of total San Diego County households. In 2019 46.17% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
San Diego 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% |
| San Diego County CA | 46.17% | -0.73% | -1.76% |
Trends in the San Diego County CA Renter Fraction
The San Diego County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 47.97% and is now 1.80% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: San Diego County CA, California, US
History of San Diego County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | San Diego County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 46.17% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 46.90% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 46.51% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 47.93% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 47.97% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 47.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 47.23% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 46.88% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 46.71% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 46.06% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 44.82% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 44.11% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 41.77% |
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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