Kent County Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Kent County MI was $958 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Kent County was $969 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 Kent County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Kent County rental vacancy rates, Kent County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Kent County.
Real Gross Rent in Kent County 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% |
| Kent County MI Median Gross Rent | $958 | +5.39% | +12.05% |
Kent County MI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $958, real median gross rent in Kent County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $969, real average gross rent in Kent County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Kent County MI Median, Kent County MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Kent County
| Date | US Median |
Michigan Median |
Kent County MI Median |
Kent County MI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $888 | $958 | $969 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $909 | $938 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $861 | $908 | $932 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $857 | $855 | $885 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $852 | $842 | $882 |
| 2014 | $986 | $832 | $832 | $846 |
| 2013 | $953 | $809 | $794 | $821 |
| 2012 | $940 | $796 | $783 | $822 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $777 | $802 |
| 2010 | $955 | $816 | $792 | $820 |
| 2009 | $960 | $816 | $790 | $825 |
| 2007 | $927 | $802 | $771 | $814 |
| 2005 | $910 | $819 | $774 | $808 |
Kent 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 Kent County Michigan was 4.48% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Kent County Michigan
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Michigan | 5.56% | +0.74% | +0.15% |
| Kent County MI | 4.48% | +1.29% | +1.70% |
Trends in Kent County MI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Kent County peaked in 2010 at 9.53%. Since then it has fallen by 5.05% to 4.48%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.78%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.70%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Kent County MI, Michigan, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Kent County
| Date | US | Michigan | Kent County MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.56% | 4.48% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.82% | 3.19% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 3.68% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.41% | 2.78% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.19% | 4.61% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.88% | 3.83% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.04% | 4.62% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.73% | 4.38% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.72% | 4.37% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.60% | 9.53% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.48% | 8.62% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.66% | 7.18% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.09% | 7.76% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Kent County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Kent County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.28% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Kent County 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% |
| Kent County MI | 17.28% | -0.14% | +0.85% |
Trends in Kent County MI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Kent County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.81%. Since then it has fallen by 0.53% to 17.28%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Kent County MI, Michigan, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Kent County Michigan
| Date | US | Michigan | Kent County MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.88% | 17.28% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.22% | 17.41% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.25% | 17.30% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 16.43% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.86% | 17.53% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.97% | 17.74% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.09% | 17.40% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.16% | 17.44% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.29% | 17.01% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.29% | 17.81% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.99% | 17.51% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.09% | 15.95% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.07% | 15.99% |
Renter Fraction in Kent County Michigan
You can calculate the renter fraction in Kent 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 Kent County as a fraction of total Kent County households. In 2019 30.29% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Kent County 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% |
| Kent County MI | 30.29% | +0.29% | +0.07% |
Trends in the Kent County MI Renter Fraction
The Kent County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 33.41% and is now 3.12% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Kent County MI, Michigan, US
History of Kent County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Michigan | Kent County MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.43% | 30.29% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.81% | 30.00% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.67% | 30.60% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 29.68% | 30.22% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.58% | 31.55% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.76% | 33.41% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.45% | 30.74% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.94% | 31.91% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.26% | 30.37% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.25% | 29.27% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.81% | 27.99% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.17% | 27.97% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 25.33% | 27.83% |
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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