Washington County Maryland Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington County MD was $881 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Washington County was $899 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 County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Washington County rental vacancy rates, Washington County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Washington County.
Real Gross Rent in Washington County Maryland (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Maryland Median Gross Rent | $1,401 | +0.36% | +1.82% |
| Washington County MD Median Gross Rent | $881 | -8.80% | -1.12% |
Washington County MD Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Washington County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $966 and is now $85 (8.80%) lower. Average gross rent for Washington County peaked in real terms in 2008 at $972 and is now $73 (7.51%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Washington County MD Median, Washington County MD Average, Maryland Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Washington County
| Date | US Median |
Maryland Median |
Washington County MD Median |
Washington County MD Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,401 | $881 | $899 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,396 | $966 | $865 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,379 | $894 | $899 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,376 | $891 | $863 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,356 | $945 | $952 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,311 | $823 | $852 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,274 | $936 | $894 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,245 | $904 | $954 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,245 | $891 | $903 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,264 | $851 | $888 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,263 | $860 | $865 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,175 | $879 | $842 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,114 | $811 | $768 |
Washington County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Washington County Maryland was 6.13% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington County Maryland
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Maryland | 6.29% | -0.27% | +0.75% |
| Washington County MD | — | — | — |
Trends in Washington County MD Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Washington County peaked in 2007 at 10.10%. Since then it has fallen by 3.97% to 6.13%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 1.32%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 4.81%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington County MD, Maryland, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington County
| Date | US | Maryland | Washington County MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 6.29% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.56% | 6.13% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.94% | 4.76% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.54% | 1.32% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.65% | 3.45% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.83% | 5.60% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.96% | 5.22% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.99% | 7.25% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.10% | 5.52% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.53% | 7.24% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.09% | — |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.78% | 10.10% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.14% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Washington County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Washington County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.88% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Washington County Maryland Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Maryland | 19.38% | -0.38% | -0.59% |
| Washington County MD | 17.88% | -0.16% | -0.95% |
Trends in Washington County MD Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Washington County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.18%. Since then it has fallen by 1.31% to 17.88%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington County MD, Maryland, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington County Maryland
| Date | US | Maryland | Washington County MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.38% | 17.88% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.76% | 18.04% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.86% | 17.23% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 19.97% | 18.82% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.22% | 19.10% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.15% | 16.87% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.03% | 18.52% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.74% | 19.18% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.76% | 18.80% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.71% | 17.30% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.19% | 18.66% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.63% | 17.84% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.36% | 16.30% |
Renter Fraction in Washington County Maryland
You can calculate the renter fraction in Washington County 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 County as a fraction of total Washington County households. In 2019 36.64% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Washington County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Maryland | 33.17% | +0.08% | -0.94% |
| Washington County MD | 36.64% | +2.12% | +4.10% |
Trends in the Washington County MD Renter Fraction
The Washington County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 39.33% and is now 2.69% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Washington County MD, Maryland, US
History of Washington County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Maryland | Washington County MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.17% | 36.64% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.09% | 34.52% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.29% | 35.88% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.11% | 32.54% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.06% | 34.38% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.11% | 37.08% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.53% | 39.33% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.54% | 35.23% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.66% | 33.72% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 32.96% | 33.65% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 31.44% | 35.40% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 30.08% | 33.67% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 31.02% | 31.97% |
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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