Suffolk County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Suffolk County MA was $1,708 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Suffolk County was $1,659 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 Suffolk County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Suffolk County rental vacancy rates, Suffolk County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Suffolk County.
Real Gross Rent in Suffolk 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% |
| Suffolk County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,708 | +3.02% | +12.29% |
Suffolk County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,708, real median gross rent in Suffolk County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,659, real average gross rent in Suffolk County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Suffolk County MA Median, Suffolk County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Suffolk County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Suffolk County MA Median |
Suffolk County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,708 | $1,659 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,658 | $1,605 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,571 | $1,526 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,521 | $1,495 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,471 | $1,478 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $1,390 | $1,374 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $1,318 | $1,333 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $1,283 | $1,289 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $1,314 | $1,289 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $1,367 | $1,335 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $1,341 | $1,318 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $1,278 | $1,241 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $1,324 | $1,299 |
Suffolk 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 Suffolk County Massachusetts was 3.92% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Suffolk County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Suffolk County MA | 3.92% | +0.97% | +0.47% |
Trends in Suffolk County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Suffolk County peaked in 2007 at 7.11%. Since then it has fallen by 3.19% to 3.92%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 2.04%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.88%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Suffolk County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Suffolk County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Suffolk County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 3.92% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 2.95% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 2.50% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 3.45% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 2.04% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 2.68% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 3.24% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 4.21% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 4.03% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 5.33% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 5.70% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 7.11% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 6.18% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Suffolk County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Suffolk County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 26.43% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Suffolk 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% |
| Suffolk County MA | 26.43% | -1.51% | -1.79% |
Trends in Suffolk County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Suffolk County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 29.64%. Since then it has fallen by 3.21% to 26.43%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Suffolk County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Suffolk County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Suffolk County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 26.43% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 27.93% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 27.52% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 28.22% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 29.32% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 28.95% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 27.44% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 28.35% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 29.64% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 29.34% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 25.79% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 26.02% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 29.43% |
Renter Fraction in Suffolk County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Suffolk 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 Suffolk County as a fraction of total Suffolk County households. In 2019 63.65% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Suffolk 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% |
| Suffolk County MA | 63.65% | -1.06% | -0.74% |
Trends in the Suffolk County MA Renter Fraction
The Suffolk County household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 66.15% and is now 2.50% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Suffolk County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Suffolk County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Suffolk County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 63.65% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 64.71% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 63.88% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 64.39% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 64.95% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 64.07% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 64.79% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 64.55% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 65.07% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 66.15% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 61.89% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 60.40% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 62.64% |
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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