Georgia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Georgia was $1,049 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,036 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 Georgia median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Georgia rental vacancy rates, Georgia rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Georgia.
Real Gross Rent in Georgia (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Georgia Median Gross Rent | $1,049 | +2.24% | +7.37% |
Georgia Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,049, real median gross rent in Georgia was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,036, real average gross rent in Georgia was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Georgia: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Georgia
| Date | US Median | Georgia Median | Georgia Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,049 | $1,036 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,026 | $1,009 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $988 | $992 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $977 | $979 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $964 | $961 |
| 2014 | $986 | $931 | $920 |
| 2013 | $953 | $895 | $891 |
| 2012 | $940 | $890 | $876 |
| 2011 | $941 | $900 | $896 |
| 2010 | $955 | $915 | $901 |
| 2009 | $960 | $912 | $894 |
| 2007 | $927 | $902 | $872 |
| 2005 | $910 | $886 | $858 |
Georgia 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 Georgia was 7.28% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Georgia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Georgia | 7.28% | +0.05% | +1.13% |
Trends in Georgia Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Georgia peaked in 2009 at 12.32%. Since then it has fallen by 5.04% to 7.28%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 6.15%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.13%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Georgia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Georgia
| Date | US | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.28% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.23% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.73% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.15% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.47% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.17% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.26% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 9.53% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 10.72% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 11.72% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.32% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.54% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.53% |
Georgia Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Georgia, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Georgia, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.31% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Georgia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Georgia | 20.31% | -0.28% | -0.59% |
Trends in Georgia Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Georgia household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.73%. Since then it has fallen by 1.42% to 20.31%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Georgia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Georgia
| Date | US | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.31% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.59% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.46% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.90% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 21.29% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 21.46% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 21.33% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 21.28% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 21.73% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 21.17% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.17% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.76% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.66% |
Renter Fraction in Georgia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Georgia 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 Georgia as a fraction of total Georgia households. In 2019 35.87% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Georgia Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Georgia | 35.87% | -0.33% | -2.59% |
Trends in the Georgia Renter Fraction
The Georgia household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 38.46% and is now 2.59% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Georgia, US
History of Georgia Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Georgia |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 35.87% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 36.20% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.12% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.46% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.16% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 37.77% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 37.34% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 36.35% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 35.42% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 33.83% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.96% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.46% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 33.19% |
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. ↩
