San Luis Obispo California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in San Luis Obispo, CA (the San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles metro area) was $1,654 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in San Luis Obispo was $1,598 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 Luis Obispo median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for San Luis Obispo rental vacancy rates, San Luis Obispo rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in San Luis Obispo.
Real Gross Rent in San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo, CA Median Gross Rent | $1,654 | +13.60% | +20.29% |
San Luis Obispo, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,654, real median gross rent in San Luis Obispo was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,598, real average gross rent in San Luis Obispo was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in San Luis Obispo: San Luis Obispo CA Median, San Luis Obispo CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for San Luis Obispo
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
San Luis Obispo, CA Median |
San Luis Obispo, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,654 | $1,598 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,456 | $1,442 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $1,447 | $1,466 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $1,375 | $1,415 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $1,330 | $1,425 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,287 | $1,323 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,267 | $1,272 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,258 | $1,290 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,303 | $1,271 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,271 | $1,384 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,282 | $1,365 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,258 | $1,230 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,254 | $1,301 |
San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo California was 7.50% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in San Luis Obispo California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| San Luis Obispo, CA | 7.50% | +3.62% | +4.92% |
Trends in San Luis Obispo, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
At 7.50%, San Luis Obispo residential rental vacancy rate in 2019 is at the highest point since 2005, the beginning of our reporting for this series.
Rental Vacancy Rate: San Luis Obispo CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for San Luis Obispo
| Date | US | California | San Luis Obispo, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 7.50% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 3.88% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.63% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 2.58% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.79% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 3.22% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 1.71% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 2.23% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 3.86% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 6.04% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 5.63% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 2.03% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 4.27% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for San Luis Obispo, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For San Luis Obispo, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 25.69% in 2019 according to the ACS.
San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo, CA | 25.69% | +1.57% | +3.36% |
Trends in San Luis Obispo, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median San Luis Obispo household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 26.70%. Since then it has fallen by 1.02% to 25.69%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: San Luis Obispo CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in San Luis Obispo California
| Date | US | California | San Luis Obispo, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 25.69% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 24.12% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 23.42% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.33% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 24.02% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 23.05% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 24.82% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 23.56% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 26.70% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 25.28% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 23.83% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 22.57% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 24.21% |
Renter Fraction in San Luis Obispo California
You can calculate the renter fraction in San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo as a fraction of total San Luis Obispo households. In 2019 37.58% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo, CA | 37.58% | -1.14% | +0.17% |
Trends in the San Luis Obispo, CA Renter Fraction
The San Luis Obispo household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 44.94% and is now 7.36% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: San Luis Obispo CA, California, US
History of San Luis Obispo Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | San Luis Obispo, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 37.58% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 38.72% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 39.64% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 37.41% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 41.06% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 40.38% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 43.17% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 44.94% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 43.89% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 39.93% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 38.08% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 42.60% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 37.18% |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / California
- / San Luis Obispo
