Ottawa County Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Ottawa County MI was $953 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Ottawa County was $925 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 Ottawa County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Ottawa County rental vacancy rates, Ottawa County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Ottawa County.
Real Gross Rent in Ottawa 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% |
| Ottawa County MI Median Gross Rent | $953 | +7.44% | +7.56% |
Ottawa County MI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $953, real median gross rent in Ottawa County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Ottawa County peaked in real terms in 2008 at $981 and is now $56 (5.71%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Ottawa County MI Median, Ottawa County MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Ottawa County
| Date | US Median |
Michigan Median |
Ottawa County MI Median |
Ottawa County MI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $888 | $953 | $925 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $877 | $887 | $911 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $861 | $913 | $948 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $857 | $886 | $896 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $852 | $869 | $908 |
| 2014 | $986 | $832 | $859 | $892 |
| 2013 | $953 | $809 | $845 | $930 |
| 2012 | $940 | $796 | $754 | $843 |
| 2011 | $941 | $798 | $807 | $837 |
| 2010 | $955 | $816 | $802 | $815 |
| 2009 | $960 | $816 | $840 | $857 |
| 2007 | $927 | $802 | $814 | $808 |
| 2005 | $910 | $819 | $889 | $861 |
Ottawa County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Ottawa County Michigan was 6.55% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Ottawa County Michigan
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Michigan | 5.56% | +0.74% | +0.15% |
| Ottawa County MI | — | — | — |
Trends in Ottawa County MI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Ottawa County peaked in 2009 at 11.94%. Since then it has fallen by 5.39% to 6.55%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 1.84%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 4.71%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Ottawa County MI, Michigan, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Ottawa County
| Date | US | Michigan | Ottawa County MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.56% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.82% | 6.55% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 1.84% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.41% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.19% | 4.57% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.88% | 4.53% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.04% | 3.13% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.73% | 6.93% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.72% | 4.00% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.60% | 9.05% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.48% | 11.94% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 9.66% | 10.54% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.09% | 11.58% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Ottawa County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Ottawa County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.62% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Ottawa 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% |
| Ottawa County MI | 16.62% | +1.68% | +0.88% |
Trends in Ottawa County MI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Ottawa County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.33%. Since then it has fallen by 0.71% to 16.62%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Ottawa County MI, Michigan, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Ottawa County Michigan
| Date | US | Michigan | Ottawa County MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.88% | 16.62% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.22% | 14.94% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.25% | 15.49% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.70% | 15.74% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.86% | 16.11% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.97% | 16.19% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.09% | 16.73% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.16% | 15.66% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.29% | 16.74% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.29% | 16.24% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.99% | 17.33% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.09% | 15.43% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.07% | 14.97% |
Renter Fraction in Ottawa County Michigan
You can calculate the renter fraction in Ottawa 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 Ottawa County as a fraction of total Ottawa County households. In 2019 24.33% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Ottawa 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% |
| Ottawa County MI | 24.33% | +4.19% | +0.17% |
Trends in the Ottawa County MI Renter Fraction
At 24.33%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Ottawa County was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Ottawa County MI, Michigan, US
History of Ottawa County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Michigan | Ottawa County MI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.43% | 24.33% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.81% | 20.14% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.67% | 20.57% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 29.68% | 24.16% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.58% | 22.52% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 29.76% | 22.24% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.45% | 23.98% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.94% | 21.74% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 28.26% | 23.54% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.25% | 19.97% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.81% | 19.12% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 25.17% | 20.86% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 25.33% | 18.84% |
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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