Ann Arbor Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Ann Arbor, MI (the Ann Arbor metro area) was $1,139 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Ann Arbor was $1,223 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 Ann Arbor median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Ann Arbor rental vacancy rates, Ann Arbor rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Ann Arbor.
Real Gross Rent in Ann Arbor Michigan (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Michigan Median Gross Rent | $888 | +1.25% | +3.62% |
| Ann Arbor, MI Median Gross Rent | $1,139 | +0.26% | +9.10% |
Ann Arbor, MI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,139, real median gross rent in Ann Arbor was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Ann Arbor peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,225 and is now $2 (0.16%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Ann Arbor: Ann Arbor MI Median, Ann Arbor MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Ann Arbor
| Date | US Median |
Michigan Median |
Ann Arbor, MI Median |
Ann Arbor, MI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $888 | $1,139 | $1,223 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $1,136 | $1,225 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $861 | $1,095 | $1,182 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $857 | $1,044 | $1,144 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $852 | $1,037 | $1,101 |
| 2014 | $986 | $832 | $1,036 | $1,097 |
| 2013 | $953 | $809 | $979 | $1,047 |
| 2012 | $940 | $796 | $980 | $1,057 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $932 | $1,017 |
| 2010 | $955 | $816 | $938 | $1,037 |
| 2009 | $960 | $816 | $959 | $1,052 |
| 2007 | $927 | $802 | $972 | $1,036 |
| 2005 | $910 | $819 | $996 | $1,053 |
Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor Michigan was 3.61% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Ann Arbor Michigan
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Michigan | 5.56% | +0.74% | +0.15% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 3.61% | +0.15% | +0.98% |
Trends in Ann Arbor, MI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Ann Arbor peaked in 2005 at 12.93%. Since then it has fallen by 9.32% to 3.61%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 1.88%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.73%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Ann Arbor MI, Michigan, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Ann Arbor
| Date | US | Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.56% | 3.61% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.82% | 3.46% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 5.12% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.41% | 2.63% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.19% | 1.88% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.88% | 4.63% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.04% | 3.03% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.73% | 2.83% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.72% | 4.15% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.60% | 7.95% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.48% | 7.53% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.66% | 9.67% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.09% | 12.93% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Ann Arbor, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Ann Arbor, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.85% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Ann Arbor Michigan Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Michigan | 17.88% | -0.34% | -0.82% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 17.85% | -0.79% | -0.39% |
Trends in Ann Arbor, MI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Ann Arbor household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.62%. Since then it has fallen by 1.77% to 17.85%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Ann Arbor MI, Michigan, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Ann Arbor Michigan
| Date | US | Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.88% | 17.85% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.22% | 18.64% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.25% | 18.13% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 18.24% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.86% | 18.94% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.97% | 18.73% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.09% | 18.71% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.16% | 19.62% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.29% | 18.29% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.29% | 18.02% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.99% | 18.48% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.09% | 16.26% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.07% | 17.88% |
Renter Fraction in Ann Arbor Michigan
You can calculate the renter fraction in Ann Arbor 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 Ann Arbor as a fraction of total Ann Arbor households. In 2019 37.51% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Ann Arbor Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Michigan | 28.43% | -0.38% | -1.25% |
| Ann Arbor, MI | 37.51% | -1.52% | -3.28% |
Trends in the Ann Arbor, MI Renter Fraction
The Ann Arbor household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 41.36% and is now 3.85% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Ann Arbor MI, Michigan, US
History of Ann Arbor Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Michigan | Ann Arbor, MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.43% | 37.51% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.81% | 39.03% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.67% | 38.25% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 29.68% | 40.79% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.58% | 41.32% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.76% | 39.83% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.45% | 40.59% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.94% | 41.36% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.26% | 40.07% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.25% | 37.60% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.81% | 38.31% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.17% | 34.55% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 25.33% | 36.74% |
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. ↩
