San Jose California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in San Jose, CA (the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area) was $2,374 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in San Jose was $2,304 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 Jose median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for San Jose rental vacancy rates, San Jose rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in San Jose.
Real Gross Rent in San Jose 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 Jose, CA Median Gross Rent | $2,374 | +2.15% | +10.93% |
San Jose, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $2,374, real median gross rent in San Jose was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $2,304, real average gross rent in San Jose was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in San Jose: San Jose CA Median, San Jose CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for San Jose
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
San Jose, CA Median |
San Jose, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $2,374 | $2,304 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $2,324 | $2,275 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $2,282 | $2,227 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $2,140 | $2,103 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $2,009 | $2,013 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,878 | $1,884 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,727 | $1,754 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,660 | $1,684 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,577 | $1,605 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,578 | $1,618 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,612 | $1,634 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,544 | $1,595 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,510 | $1,568 |
San Jose 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 Jose California was 4.88% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in San Jose California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| San Jose, CA | 4.88% | +1.03% | +1.85% |
Trends in San Jose, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in San Jose peaked in 2017 at 5.15%. Since then it has fallen by 0.27% to 4.88%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: San Jose CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for San Jose
| Date | US | California | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.88% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 3.85% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 5.15% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 3.03% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.75% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 2.90% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 2.86% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 2.93% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 2.71% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 4.03% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 3.40% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 3.35% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 4.48% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for San Jose, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For San Jose, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.77% in 2019 according to the ACS.
San Jose 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 Jose, CA | 21.77% | -0.20% | -0.52% |
Trends in San Jose, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median San Jose household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.61%. Since then it has fallen by 0.84% to 21.77%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: San Jose CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in San Jose California
| Date | US | California | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.77% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 21.97% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 22.61% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.29% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 22.29% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 22.13% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 21.50% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 20.63% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 20.85% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 20.18% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 20.08% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 18.82% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 18.95% |
Renter Fraction in San Jose California
You can calculate the renter fraction in San Jose 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 Jose as a fraction of total San Jose households. In 2019 44.79% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
San Jose 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 Jose, CA | 44.79% | +0.48% | +1.39% |
Trends in the San Jose, CA Renter Fraction
At 44.79%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in San Jose was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: San Jose CA, California, US
History of San Jose Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | San Jose, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 44.79% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 44.31% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 42.82% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 43.40% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 43.76% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 43.69% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 44.02% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 43.62% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 43.05% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 42.70% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 41.12% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 39.06% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 39.43% |
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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