Plymouth County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Plymouth County MA was $1,295 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Plymouth County was $1,203 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 Plymouth County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Plymouth County rental vacancy rates, Plymouth County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Plymouth County.
Real Gross Rent in Plymouth 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% |
| Plymouth County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,295 | -1.82% | +5.54% |
Plymouth County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Plymouth County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,319 and is now $24 (1.82%) lower. Average gross rent for Plymouth County peaked in real terms in 2008 at $1,241 and is now $38 (3.06%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Plymouth County MA Median, Plymouth County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Plymouth County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Plymouth County MA Median |
Plymouth County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,295 | $1,203 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,319 | $1,220 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,268 | $1,219 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,227 | $1,166 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,274 | $1,221 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $1,139 | $1,117 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $1,186 | $1,140 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $1,131 | $1,061 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $1,212 | $1,168 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $1,192 | $1,183 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $1,185 | $1,115 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $1,178 | $1,127 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $1,129 | $1,015 |
Plymouth 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 Plymouth County Massachusetts was 2.54% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Plymouth County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Plymouth County MA | 2.54% | +0.60% | -0.07% |
Trends in Plymouth County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Plymouth County peaked in 2013 at 11.13%. Since then it has fallen by 8.59% to 2.54%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 1.94%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.60%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Plymouth County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Plymouth County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Plymouth County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 2.54% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 1.94% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 1.97% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 2.61% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 5.29% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 4.83% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 11.13% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 6.43% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 8.11% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 7.20% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 7.30% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 5.15% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 2.40% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Plymouth County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Plymouth County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.10% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Plymouth 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% |
| Plymouth County MA | 17.10% | -0.09% | -0.03% |
Trends in Plymouth County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Plymouth County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.73%. Since then it has fallen by 2.63% to 17.10%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Plymouth County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Plymouth County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Plymouth County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 17.10% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 17.19% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 16.98% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 17.13% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 19.20% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 17.28% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 17.74% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 17.38% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 19.73% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 17.76% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 17.55% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 16.93% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 16.23% |
Renter Fraction in Plymouth County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Plymouth 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 Plymouth County as a fraction of total Plymouth County households. In 2019 22.55% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Plymouth 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% |
| Plymouth County MA | 22.55% | -0.23% | -2.01% |
Trends in the Plymouth County MA Renter Fraction
The Plymouth County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 25.36% and is now 2.81% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Plymouth County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Plymouth County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Plymouth County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 22.55% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 22.78% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 23.88% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 24.56% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 25.32% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 25.36% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 23.47% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 22.29% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 24.07% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 23.35% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 21.94% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 21.50% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 22.28% |
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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