Rockford Illinois Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Rockford, IL (the Rockford metro area) was $836 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Rockford was $834 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 Rockford median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Rockford rental vacancy rates, Rockford rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Rockford.
Real Gross Rent in Rockford Illinois (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Illinois Median Gross Rent | $1,020 | +0.69% | +2.51% |
| Rockford, IL Median Gross Rent | $836 | +3.98% | +7.46% |
Rockford, IL Real Gross Rent Trends
At $836, real median gross rent in Rockford was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $834, real average gross rent in Rockford was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Rockford: Rockford IL Median, Rockford IL Average, Illinois Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Rockford
| Date | US Median |
Illinois Median |
Rockford, IL Median |
Rockford, IL Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,020 | $836 | $834 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,013 | $804 | $819 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,004 | $799 | $816 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $995 | $778 | $794 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $993 | $773 | $782 |
| 2014 | $986 | $955 | $768 | $797 |
| 2013 | $953 | $932 | $766 | $785 |
| 2012 | $940 | $923 | $750 | $765 |
| 2011 | $941 | $928 | $794 | $813 |
| 2010 | $955 | $948 | $772 | $752 |
| 2009 | $960 | $944 | $767 | $793 |
| 2007 | $927 | $920 | $782 | $782 |
| 2005 | $910 | $918 | $733 | $740 |
Rockford 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 Rockford Illinois was 7.18% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Rockford Illinois
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Illinois | 5.65% | -0.67% | -0.36% |
| Rockford, IL | 7.18% | -2.15% | +3.27% |
Trends in Rockford, IL Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Rockford peaked in 2005 at 13.48%. Since then it has fallen by 6.30% to 7.18%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2009 post peak low of 1.63%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 5.55%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Rockford IL, Illinois, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Rockford
| Date | US | Illinois | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.65% | 7.18% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.32% | 9.33% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 7.02% | 5.74% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.01% | 3.91% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.21% | 5.57% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.53% | 5.86% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.16% | 5.79% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.39% | 7.67% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.35% | 8.27% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.66% | 1.94% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.84% | 1.63% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.69% | 5.16% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.45% | 13.48% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Rockford, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Rockford, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.42% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Rockford Illinois Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Illinois | 17.69% | -0.67% | -1.01% |
| Rockford, IL | 16.42% | -0.56% | -1.29% |
Trends in Rockford, IL Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Rockford household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.52%. Since then it has fallen by 3.09% to 16.42%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Rockford IL, Illinois, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Rockford Illinois
| Date | US | Illinois | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.69% | 16.42% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.36% | 16.98% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.55% | 16.76% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 17.72% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.85% | 17.14% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.91% | 18.03% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.89% | 18.16% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.89% | 16.70% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.36% | 19.52% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.21% | 18.24% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.41% | 17.66% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.36% | 16.08% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.52% | 15.69% |
Renter Fraction in Rockford Illinois
You can calculate the renter fraction in Rockford 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 Rockford as a fraction of total Rockford households. In 2019 31.89% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Rockford Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Illinois | 33.99% | -0.02% | -0.75% |
| Rockford, IL | 31.89% | +0.75% | -3.64% |
Trends in the Rockford, IL Renter Fraction
The Rockford household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 35.53% and is now 3.64% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Rockford IL, Illinois, US
History of Rockford Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Illinois | Rockford, IL |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.99% | 31.89% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.01% | 31.14% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.82% | 30.97% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.74% | 35.53% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.72% | 32.24% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.51% | 34.36% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 34.06% | 31.27% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.40% | 32.03% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.65% | 30.22% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 32.27% | 29.24% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.00% | 31.52% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.94% | 26.87% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.13% | 26.39% |
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. ↩
