Columbia Missouri Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Columbia, MO (the Columbia metro area) was $910 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Columbia was $1,000 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 Columbia median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Columbia rental vacancy rates, Columbia rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Columbia.
Real Gross Rent in Columbia Missouri (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Missouri Median Gross Rent | $834 | -1.30% | +3.35% |
| Columbia, MO Median Gross Rent | $910 | +1.79% | +6.93% |
Columbia, MO Real Gross Rent Trends
At $910, real median gross rent in Columbia was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,000, real average gross rent in Columbia was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Columbia: Columbia MO Median, Columbia MO Average, Missouri Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Columbia
| Date | US Median |
Missouri Median |
Columbia, MO Median |
Columbia, MO Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $834 | $910 | $1,000 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $845 | $894 | $933 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $825 | $896 | $917 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $807 | $851 | $879 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $809 | $816 | $909 |
| 2014 | $986 | $796 | $847 | $913 |
| 2013 | $953 | $773 | $822 | $839 |
| 2012 | $940 | $751 | $823 | $883 |
| 2011 | $941 | $765 | $818 | $820 |
| 2010 | $955 | $762 | $811 | $816 |
| 2009 | $960 | $761 | $846 | $868 |
| 2007 | $927 | $726 | $797 | $786 |
| 2005 | $910 | $741 | $778 | $761 |
Columbia Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2015 the rental vacancy rate for Columbia Missouri was 2.90% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Columbia Missouri
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Missouri | 5.15% | -1.42% | -1.66% |
| Columbia, MO | — | — | — |
Trends in Columbia, MO Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Columbia peaked in 2008 at 10.52%. Since then it has fallen by 7.62% to 2.90%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2012 post peak low of 1.92%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.98%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Columbia MO, Missouri, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Columbia
| Date | US | Missouri | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.15% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.57% | — |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.40% | — |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.81% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.43% | 2.90% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.16% | 2.26% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.86% | 2.92% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.74% | 1.92% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 8.22% | 6.32% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.25% | — |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 8.24% | 4.84% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.36% | 8.16% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 9.28% | 6.05% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Columbia, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Columbia, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.04% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Columbia Missouri Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Missouri | 17.43% | -0.85% | -0.45% |
| Columbia, MO | 19.04% | -0.35% | +0.54% |
Trends in Columbia, MO Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Columbia household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.51%. Since then it has fallen by 2.48% to 19.04%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Columbia MO, Missouri, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Columbia Missouri
| Date | US | Missouri | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.43% | 19.04% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.28% | 19.38% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.92% | 20.31% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.88% | 18.49% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.23% | 18.27% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.71% | 19.22% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.77% | 19.14% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 21.51% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 19.45% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.47% | 21.33% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.72% | 19.18% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.44% | 18.15% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.95% | 19.09% |
Renter Fraction in Columbia Missouri
You can calculate the renter fraction in Columbia 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 Columbia as a fraction of total Columbia households. In 2019 39.84% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Columbia Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Missouri | 32.88% | -0.34% | -1.04% |
| Columbia, MO | 39.84% | -6.00% | -8.33% |
Trends in the Columbia, MO Renter Fraction
The Columbia household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 48.17% and is now 8.33% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Columbia MO, Missouri, US
History of Columbia Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Missouri | Columbia, MO |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 32.88% | 39.84% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.22% | 45.84% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.05% | 43.73% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 33.92% | 48.17% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.87% | 44.21% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.09% | 44.50% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.03% | 46.84% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 32.53% | 42.98% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 31.95% | 43.69% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.02% | 41.48% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.92% | 41.56% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 29.34% | 40.60% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 29.36% | 40.01% |
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. ↩
