Washington District of Columbia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington, DC (the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area) was $1,708 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Washington was $1,702 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 Washington median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Washington rental vacancy rates, Washington rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Washington.
Real Gross Rent in Washington District of Columbia (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| District of Columbia Median Gross Rent | $1,603 | +3.89% | +11.24% |
| Washington, DC Median Gross Rent | $1,708 | +0.47% | +3.89% |
Washington, DC Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,708, real median gross rent in Washington was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2012. At $1,702, real average gross rent in Washington was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2012.
Real Gross Rent in Washington: Washington DC Median, Washington DC Average, District of Columbia Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Washington
| Date | US Median |
District of Columbia Median |
Washington, DC Median |
Washington, DC Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,603 | $1,708 | $1,702 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,543 | $1,700 | $1,694 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,546 | $1,680 | $1,672 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,441 | $1,644 | $1,643 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,503 | $1,647 | $1,657 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,436 | $1,610 | $1,628 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,376 | $1,560 | $1,592 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,314 | $1,515 | $1,551 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,313 | — | — |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,339 | — | — |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,207 | — | — |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,097 | — | — |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,040 | — | — |
Washington 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 Washington District of Columbia was 5.01% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington District of Columbia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| District of Columbia | 6.96% | +0.17% | +0.10% |
| Washington, DC | 5.01% | 0.00% | +0.06% |
Trends in Washington, DC Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Washington peaked in 2017 at 5.43%. Since then it has fallen by 0.42% to 5.01%. Data records for this series originated in 2012.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington DC, District of Columbia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington
| Date | US | District of Columbia | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 6.96% | 5.01% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.79% | 5.01% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.72% | 5.43% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.86% | 4.95% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.12% | 4.57% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.41% | 5.17% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.23% | 5.14% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.90% | 4.90% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | — |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.55% | — |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.07% | — |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 5.23% | — |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Washington, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Washington, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.40% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Washington District of Columbia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| District of Columbia | 20.85% | -0.50% | -1.02% |
| Washington, DC | 19.40% | -0.21% | -0.26% |
Trends in Washington, DC Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Washington household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2012 series origin) at 20.07%. Since then it has fallen by 0.67% to 19.40%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington DC, District of Columbia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington District of Columbia
| Date | US | District of Columbia | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.85% | 19.40% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.35% | 19.61% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 21.84% | 19.61% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 21.87% | 19.66% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 22.48% | 19.98% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 22.78% | 20.07% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 23.21% | 19.71% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 22.26% | 19.37% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 23.12% | — |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 23.60% | — |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 21.43% | — |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 20.63% | — |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.14% | — |
Renter Fraction in Washington District of Columbia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Washington 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 Washington as a fraction of total Washington households. In 2019 36.48% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Washington Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| District of Columbia | 58.50% | +0.78% | -2.25% |
| Washington, DC | 36.48% | +0.02% | -1.10% |
Trends in the Washington, DC Renter Fraction
The Washington household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 37.75% and is now 1.27% below that level. From a recent low of 36.37% in 2017, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 0.11%. The origin year for the series is 2012.
Fraction of Renting Households: Washington DC, District of Columbia, US
History of Washington Renter Fraction
| Date | US | District of Columbia | Washington, DC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 58.50% | 36.48% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 57.72% | 36.46% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 57.79% | 36.37% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 60.75% | 37.58% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 60.06% | 37.75% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 59.44% | 37.30% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 59.32% | 37.31% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 58.49% | 37.12% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 58.82% | — |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 57.53% | — |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 55.22% | — |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 55.46% | — |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 57.49% | — |
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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