Bristol County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Bristol County MA was $940 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Bristol County was $979 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 Bristol County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Bristol County rental vacancy rates, Bristol County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Bristol County.
Real Gross Rent in Bristol 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% |
| Bristol County MA Median Gross Rent | $940 | +3.18% | +8.67% |
Bristol County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $940, real median gross rent in Bristol County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $979, real average gross rent in Bristol County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Bristol County MA Median, Bristol County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Bristol County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Bristol County MA Median |
Bristol County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $940 | $979 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $911 | $913 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $895 | $910 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $865 | $889 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $897 | $913 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $839 | $863 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $853 | $851 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $831 | $833 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $856 | $856 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $839 | $839 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $876 | $876 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $892 | $879 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $879 | $841 |
Bristol 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 Bristol County Massachusetts was 3.46% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Bristol County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Bristol County MA | 3.46% | -2.29% | -2.15% |
Trends in Bristol County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Bristol County peaked in 2009 at 8.17%. Since then it has fallen by 4.71% to 3.46%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 3.32%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.14%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Bristol County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Bristol County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Bristol County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 3.46% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 5.75% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 4.80% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 5.61% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 3.32% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 4.21% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 4.87% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 5.38% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 6.27% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 6.48% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 8.17% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 4.88% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 4.01% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Bristol County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Bristol County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.02% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Bristol 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% |
| Bristol County MA | 16.02% | -0.20% | +1.01% |
Trends in Bristol County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Bristol County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.17%. Since then it has fallen by 2.15% to 16.02%. From a 2016 low of 15.01%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.01%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Bristol County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Bristol County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Bristol County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 16.02% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 16.22% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 15.35% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 15.01% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 16.87% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 16.43% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 18.17% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 17.46% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 17.82% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 17.56% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 16.97% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 16.59% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 16.50% |
Renter Fraction in Bristol County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Bristol 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 Bristol County as a fraction of total Bristol County households. In 2019 37.27% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Bristol 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% |
| Bristol County MA | 37.27% | -1.72% | -0.46% |
Trends in the Bristol County MA Renter Fraction
The Bristol County household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 38.99% and is now 1.72% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Bristol County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Bristol County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Bristol County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 37.27% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 38.99% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 36.25% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 37.73% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 38.82% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 38.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 38.93% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 38.11% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 37.26% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 37.72% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 35.08% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 35.97% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 37.20% |
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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