Columbus Georgia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Columbus, GA (the Columbus metro area) was $862 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Columbus was $871 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 Columbus median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Columbus rental vacancy rates, Columbus rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Columbus.
Real Gross Rent in Columbus 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% |
| Columbus, GA Median Gross Rent | $862 | -0.92% | -1.15% |
Columbus, GA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Columbus peaked in real terms in 2016 at $872 and is now $10 (1.15%) lower. Average gross rent for Columbus peaked in real terms in 2016 at $905 and is now $34 (3.76%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Columbus: Columbus GA Median, Columbus GA Average, Georgia Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Columbus
| Date | US Median |
Georgia Median |
Columbus, GA Median |
Columbus, GA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,049 | $862 | $871 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,026 | $870 | $867 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $988 | $832 | $853 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $977 | $872 | $905 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $964 | $868 | $904 |
| 2014 | $986 | $931 | $855 | $859 |
| 2013 | $953 | $895 | $830 | $836 |
| 2012 | $940 | $890 | $819 | $814 |
| 2011 | $941 | $900 | $821 | $827 |
| 2010 | $955 | $915 | $845 | $818 |
| 2009 | $960 | $912 | $839 | $811 |
| 2007 | $927 | $902 | $798 | $754 |
| 2005 | $910 | $886 | $709 | $636 |
Columbus 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 Columbus Georgia was 8.09% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Columbus Georgia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Georgia | 7.28% | +0.05% | +1.13% |
| Columbus, GA | 8.09% | -0.54% | +2.49% |
Trends in Columbus, GA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Columbus peaked in 2006 at 15.32%. Since then it has fallen by 7.23% to 8.09%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 4.28%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.81%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Columbus GA, Georgia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Columbus
| Date | US | Georgia | Columbus, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.28% | 8.09% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.23% | 8.63% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.73% | 7.97% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.15% | 5.60% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.47% | 4.28% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.17% | 6.49% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.26% | 9.22% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 9.53% | 9.95% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 10.72% | 11.18% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 11.72% | 11.15% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.32% | 10.01% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.54% | 15.17% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.53% | 15.30% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Columbus, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Columbus, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.10% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Columbus 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% |
| Columbus, GA | 21.10% | +0.47% | -1.92% |
Trends in Columbus, GA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Columbus household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.82%. Since then it has fallen by 3.71% to 21.10%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Columbus GA, Georgia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Columbus Georgia
| Date | US | Georgia | Columbus, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.31% | 21.10% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.59% | 20.63% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.46% | 22.49% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.90% | 23.03% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 21.29% | 23.60% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 21.46% | 22.78% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 21.33% | 23.41% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 21.28% | 21.50% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 21.73% | 23.05% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 21.17% | 24.82% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.17% | 21.90% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.76% | 19.43% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.66% | 20.34% |
Renter Fraction in Columbus Georgia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Columbus 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 Columbus as a fraction of total Columbus households. In 2019 43.70% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Columbus 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% |
| Columbus, GA | 43.70% | -0.61% | -3.01% |
Trends in the Columbus, GA Renter Fraction
The Columbus household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 47.79% and is now 4.09% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Columbus GA, Georgia, US
History of Columbus Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Georgia | Columbus, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 35.87% | 43.70% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 36.20% | 44.31% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.12% | 45.65% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.46% | 46.71% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.16% | 47.79% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 37.77% | 47.44% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 37.34% | 46.26% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 36.35% | 42.57% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 35.42% | 42.75% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 33.83% | 41.67% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.96% | 40.38% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.46% | 37.58% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 33.19% | 42.35% |
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. ↩
