Hampshire County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Hampshire County MA was $1,094 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Hampshire County was $1,156 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 Hampshire County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Hampshire County rental vacancy rates, Hampshire County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Hampshire County.
Real Gross Rent in Hampshire 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% |
| Hampshire County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,094 | -2.58% | +4.79% |
Hampshire County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Hampshire County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $1,140 and is now $46 (4.04%) lower. At $1,156, real average gross rent in Hampshire County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Hampshire County MA Median, Hampshire County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Hampshire County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Hampshire County MA Median |
Hampshire County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,094 | $1,156 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,123 | $1,135 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,140 | $1,129 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,044 | $1,090 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,079 | $1,057 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $997 | $1,002 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $1,054 | $1,074 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $917 | $948 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $946 | $957 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $955 | $973 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $976 | $1,010 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $919 | $941 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $1,011 | $1,015 |
Hampshire 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 Hampshire County Massachusetts was 10.43% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Hampshire County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Hampshire County MA | — | — | — |
Trends in Hampshire County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
At 10.43%, Hampshire County residential rental vacancy rate in 2018 is at the highest point since 2005, the beginning of our reporting for this series.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Hampshire County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Hampshire County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Hampshire County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 10.43% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 5.27% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 3.78% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 2.02% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | — |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | — |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 6.53% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 0.54% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 3.15% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 4.29% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 6.55% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 4.41% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Hampshire County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Hampshire County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.56% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Hampshire 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% |
| Hampshire County MA | 17.56% | +0.36% | -1.03% |
Trends in Hampshire County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Hampshire County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.20%. Since then it has fallen by 2.64% to 17.56%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Hampshire County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Hampshire County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Hampshire County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 17.56% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 17.20% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 19.52% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 18.59% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 20.14% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 20.20% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 18.43% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 17.51% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 19.40% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 17.55% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 18.13% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 16.87% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 20.06% |
Renter Fraction in Hampshire County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Hampshire 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 Hampshire County as a fraction of total Hampshire County households. In 2019 30.72% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Hampshire 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% |
| Hampshire County MA | 30.72% | -3.14% | -4.18% |
Trends in the Hampshire County MA Renter Fraction
The Hampshire County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 37.60% and is now 6.88% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Hampshire County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Hampshire County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Hampshire County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 30.72% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 33.86% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 31.95% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 34.90% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 34.93% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 37.60% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 32.27% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 32.31% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 35.55% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 32.88% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 32.74% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 32.81% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 36.55% |
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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