Berkshire County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Berkshire County MA was $864 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Berkshire County was $877 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 Berkshire County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Berkshire County rental vacancy rates, Berkshire County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Berkshire County.
Real Gross Rent in Berkshire County Massachusetts (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Massachusetts Median Gross Rent | $1,360 | +3.19% | +10.12% |
| Berkshire County MA Median Gross Rent | $864 | -5.05% | +0.70% |
Berkshire County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Berkshire County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $910 and is now $46 (5.05%) lower. Average gross rent for Berkshire County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $923 and is now $46 (4.98%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Berkshire County MA Median, Berkshire County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Berkshire County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Berkshire County MA Median |
Berkshire County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $864 | $877 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $910 | $923 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $843 | $851 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $858 | $861 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $871 | $788 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $756 | $744 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $787 | $754 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $796 | $833 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $767 | $753 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $816 | $784 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $819 | $749 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $791 | $775 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $743 | $735 |
Berkshire County 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 Berkshire County Massachusetts was 6.44% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Berkshire County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Berkshire County MA | 6.44% | +3.05% | -2.92% |
Trends in Berkshire County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Berkshire County peaked in 2016 at 9.36%. Since then it has fallen by 2.92% to 6.44%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Berkshire County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Berkshire County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Berkshire County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 6.44% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 3.39% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 5.84% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 9.36% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 4.67% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 5.69% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 6.22% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 4.22% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 7.37% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 7.80% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 8.96% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 6.22% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 5.85% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Berkshire County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Berkshire County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.60% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Berkshire County Massachusetts Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Massachusetts | 19.01% | -0.45% | +0.22% |
| Berkshire County MA | 17.60% | -0.14% | +0.78% |
Trends in Berkshire County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Berkshire County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.40%. Since then it has fallen by 2.80% to 17.60%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Berkshire County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Berkshire County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Berkshire County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 17.60% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 17.74% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 17.20% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 16.82% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 19.41% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 17.11% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 17.07% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 19.30% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 19.83% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 19.82% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 20.40% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 17.07% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 14.68% |
Renter Fraction in Berkshire County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Berkshire 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 Berkshire County as a fraction of total Berkshire County households. In 2019 30.04% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Berkshire County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Massachusetts | 37.84% | -0.40% | -0.17% |
| Berkshire County MA | 30.04% | -1.79% | -1.08% |
Trends in the Berkshire County MA Renter Fraction
The Berkshire County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 34.37% and is now 4.33% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Berkshire County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Berkshire County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Berkshire County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 30.04% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 31.83% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 30.87% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 31.12% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 34.37% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 32.38% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 32.06% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 32.83% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 29.74% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 33.82% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 33.38% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 32.25% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 31.02% |
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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