Atlanta Georgia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Atlanta, GA (the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta metro area) was $1,224 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Atlanta was $1,222 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 Atlanta median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Atlanta rental vacancy rates, Atlanta rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Atlanta.
Real Gross Rent in Atlanta 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% |
| Atlanta, GA Median Gross Rent | $1,224 | +2.86% | +9.48% |
Atlanta, GA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,224, real median gross rent in Atlanta was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,222, real average gross rent in Atlanta was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Atlanta: Atlanta GA Median, Atlanta GA Average, Georgia Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Atlanta
| Date | US Median |
Georgia Median |
Atlanta, GA Median |
Atlanta, GA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,049 | $1,224 | $1,222 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,026 | $1,190 | $1,193 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $988 | $1,150 | $1,165 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $977 | $1,118 | $1,133 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $964 | $1,077 | $1,098 |
| 2014 | $986 | $931 | $1,037 | $1,058 |
| 2013 | $953 | $895 | $997 | $1,019 |
| 2012 | $940 | $890 | $988 | $1,007 |
| 2011 | $941 | $900 | $987 | $1,023 |
| 2010 | $955 | $915 | $1,017 | $1,031 |
| 2009 | $960 | $912 | $1,039 | $1,055 |
| 2007 | $927 | $902 | $1,030 | $1,032 |
| 2005 | $910 | $886 | $1,016 | $1,028 |
Atlanta 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 Atlanta Georgia was 6.20% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Atlanta Georgia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Georgia | 7.28% | +0.05% | +1.13% |
| Atlanta, GA | 6.20% | -0.66% | +0.62% |
Trends in Atlanta, GA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Atlanta peaked in 2009 at 13.96%. Since then it has fallen by 7.76% to 6.20%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 5.58%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.62%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Atlanta GA, Georgia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Atlanta
| Date | US | Georgia | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.28% | 6.20% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.23% | 6.86% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.73% | 6.14% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.15% | 5.58% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.47% | 5.93% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.17% | 8.42% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.26% | 9.22% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 9.53% | 9.68% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 10.72% | 10.79% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 11.72% | 12.92% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.32% | 13.96% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.54% | 11.34% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.53% | 12.81% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Atlanta, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Atlanta, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.47% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Atlanta 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% |
| Atlanta, GA | 20.47% | +0.28% | 0.00% |
Trends in Atlanta, GA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Atlanta household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.98%. Since then it has fallen by 0.51% to 20.47%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Atlanta GA, Georgia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Atlanta Georgia
| Date | US | Georgia | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.31% | 20.47% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.59% | 20.19% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.46% | 20.46% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.90% | 20.47% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 21.29% | 20.23% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 21.46% | 20.98% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 21.33% | 20.39% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 21.28% | 20.41% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 21.73% | 20.84% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 21.17% | 20.53% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.17% | 19.73% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.76% | 18.40% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.66% | 18.04% |
Renter Fraction in Atlanta Georgia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Atlanta 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 Atlanta as a fraction of total Atlanta households. In 2019 35.73% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Atlanta 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% |
| Atlanta, GA | 35.73% | -0.27% | -2.95% |
Trends in the Atlanta, GA Renter Fraction
The Atlanta household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 38.68% and is now 2.95% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Atlanta GA, Georgia, US
History of Atlanta Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Georgia | Atlanta, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 35.87% | 35.73% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 36.20% | 36.00% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.12% | 37.04% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.46% | 38.68% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.16% | 38.45% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 37.77% | 37.59% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 37.34% | 36.68% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 36.35% | 36.19% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 35.42% | 35.66% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 33.83% | 33.50% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.96% | 31.52% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.46% | 30.44% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 33.19% | 32.54% |
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. ↩
