Duluth Minnesota Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Duluth, MN (the Duluth metro area) was $768 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Duluth was $790 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 Duluth median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Duluth rental vacancy rates, Duluth rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Duluth.
Real Gross Rent in Duluth Minnesota (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Minnesota Median Gross Rent | $1,016 | +2.94% | +6.39% |
| Duluth, MN Median Gross Rent | $768 | -1.16% | -0.26% |
Duluth, MN Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Duluth peaked in real terms in 2018 at $777 and is now $9 (1.16%) lower. Average gross rent for Duluth peaked in real terms in 2017 at $792 and is now $2 (0.25%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Duluth: Duluth MN Median, Duluth MN Average, Minnesota Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Duluth
| Date | US Median |
Minnesota Median |
Duluth, MN Median |
Duluth, MN Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,016 | $768 | $790 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $987 | $777 | $791 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $968 | $776 | $792 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $955 | $770 | $779 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $942 | $728 | $748 |
| 2014 | $986 | $907 | $764 | $753 |
| 2013 | $953 | $876 | $692 | $736 |
| 2012 | $940 | $865 | $714 | $711 |
| 2011 | $941 | $850 | $690 | $715 |
| 2010 | $955 | $854 | $704 | $735 |
| 2009 | $960 | $863 | $732 | $765 |
| 2007 | $927 | $835 | $697 | $704 |
| 2005 | $910 | $865 | $680 | $670 |
Duluth 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 Duluth Minnesota was 6.92% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Duluth Minnesota
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Minnesota | 4.76% | +0.21% | +0.75% |
| Duluth, MN | 6.92% | +2.54% | +0.83% |
Trends in Duluth, MN Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Duluth peaked in 2006 at 7.99%. Since then it has fallen by 1.07% to 6.92%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2008 post peak low of 3.11%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.81%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Duluth MN, Minnesota, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Duluth
| Date | US | Minnesota | Duluth, MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.76% | 6.92% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 4.55% | 4.38% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.31% | 6.48% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.01% | 6.09% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 4.35% | 5.09% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.53% | 4.19% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 3.94% | 4.67% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.10% | 4.97% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.37% | 4.35% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.96% | 3.86% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.97% | 3.84% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.07% | 4.69% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 8.20% | 7.76% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Duluth, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Duluth, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.28% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Duluth Minnesota Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Minnesota | 16.34% | -0.19% | -0.34% |
| Duluth, MN | 15.28% | -1.75% | -1.92% |
Trends in Duluth, MN Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Duluth household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.96%. Since then it has fallen by 2.68% to 15.28%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Duluth MN, Minnesota, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Duluth Minnesota
| Date | US | Minnesota | Duluth, MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.34% | 15.28% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 16.54% | 17.03% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 16.48% | 16.68% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 16.68% | 17.19% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 16.78% | 16.28% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 16.77% | 17.28% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 16.45% | 17.00% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 16.56% | 17.19% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 16.58% | 16.63% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 16.53% | 17.96% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.33% | 17.27% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.29% | 16.70% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 15.96% | 16.06% |
Renter Fraction in Duluth Minnesota
You can calculate the renter fraction in Duluth 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 Duluth as a fraction of total Duluth households. In 2019 26.95% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Duluth Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Minnesota | 28.08% | -0.47% | -0.62% |
| Duluth, MN | 26.95% | -2.64% | -2.56% |
Trends in the Duluth, MN Renter Fraction
The Duluth household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 29.59% and is now 2.64% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Duluth MN, Minnesota, US
History of Duluth Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Minnesota | Duluth, MN |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 28.08% | 26.95% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.55% | 29.59% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 28.43% | 29.24% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 28.70% | 29.51% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.06% | 27.89% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 28.31% | 28.29% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 28.45% | 28.80% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.56% | 29.32% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 27.24% | 27.92% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 26.98% | 28.78% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 26.29% | 29.21% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 24.76% | 27.13% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 24.23% | 24.53% |
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. ↩
