Norfolk County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Norfolk County MA was $1,678 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Norfolk County was $1,623 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 Norfolk County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Norfolk County rental vacancy rates, Norfolk County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Norfolk County.
Real Gross Rent in Norfolk 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% |
| Norfolk County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,678 | +5.93% | +9.89% |
Norfolk County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,678, real median gross rent in Norfolk County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,623, real average gross rent in Norfolk County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Norfolk County MA Median, Norfolk County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Norfolk County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Norfolk County MA Median |
Norfolk County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,678 | $1,623 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,584 | $1,551 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,520 | $1,523 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,527 | $1,543 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,481 | $1,477 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $1,476 | $1,446 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $1,371 | $1,369 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $1,303 | $1,282 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $1,344 | $1,362 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $1,338 | $1,317 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $1,371 | $1,344 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $1,359 | $1,336 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $1,380 | $1,358 |
Norfolk 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 Norfolk County Massachusetts was 2.39% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Norfolk County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Norfolk County MA | 2.39% | -0.70% | -0.68% |
Trends in Norfolk County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Norfolk County peaked in 2010 at 6.64%. Since then it has fallen by 4.25% to 2.39%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Norfolk County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Norfolk County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Norfolk County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 2.39% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 3.09% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 4.83% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 3.07% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 3.78% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 2.99% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 4.22% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 3.77% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 5.91% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 6.64% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 3.54% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 4.92% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 5.12% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Norfolk County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Norfolk County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.76% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Norfolk 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% |
| Norfolk County MA | 18.76% | +0.15% | -0.12% |
Trends in Norfolk County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Norfolk County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2006 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.00%. Since then it has fallen by 0.24% to 18.76%. From a 2007 low of 17.53%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.23%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Norfolk County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Norfolk County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Norfolk County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 18.76% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 18.61% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 17.54% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 18.87% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 17.81% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 18.54% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 18.53% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 18.32% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 18.23% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 17.86% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 18.07% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 17.53% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 18.51% |
Renter Fraction in Norfolk County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Norfolk 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 Norfolk County as a fraction of total Norfolk County households. In 2019 31.61% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Norfolk 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% |
| Norfolk County MA | 31.61% | -0.66% | +0.22% |
Trends in the Norfolk County MA Renter Fraction
The Norfolk County household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 32.27% and is now 0.66% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Norfolk County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Norfolk County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Norfolk County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 31.61% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 32.27% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 29.43% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 31.39% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 31.42% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 30.87% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 32.18% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 31.86% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 30.65% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 30.39% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 29.71% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 27.94% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 28.10% |
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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