Flathead County Montana Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Flathead County MT was $912 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Flathead County was $941 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 Flathead County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Flathead County rental vacancy rates, Flathead County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Flathead County.
Real Gross Rent in Flathead County Montana (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Montana Median Gross Rent | $831 | +0.61% | +7.09% |
| Flathead County MT Median Gross Rent | $912 | -4.40% | +4.83% |
Flathead County MT Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Flathead County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $954 and is now $42 (4.40%) lower. Average gross rent for Flathead County peaked in real terms in 2012 at $960 and is now $19 (1.98%) lower. From a recent low of 737.0 in 2017, real average gross rent has now increased by $204 (27.68%).
Real Gross Rent: Flathead County MT Median, Flathead County MT Average, Montana Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Flathead County
| Date | US Median |
Montana Median |
Flathead County MT Median |
Flathead County MT Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $831 | $912 | $941 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $826 | $954 | $858 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $783 | $749 | $737 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $776 | $870 | $869 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $809 | $825 | $795 |
| 2014 | $986 | $751 | $830 | $854 |
| 2013 | $953 | $727 | $775 | $777 |
| 2012 | $940 | $724 | $908 | $960 |
| 2011 | $941 | $702 | $798 | $778 |
| 2010 | $955 | $717 | $734 | $742 |
| 2009 | $960 | $715 | $811 | $761 |
| 2007 | $927 | $680 | $739 | $814 |
| 2005 | $910 | $690 | $784 | $780 |
Flathead 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 Flathead County Montana was 8.74% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Flathead County Montana
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Montana | 7.08% | -0.36% | +0.90% |
| Flathead County MT | — | — | — |
Trends in Flathead County MT Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Flathead County peaked in 2009 at 11.55%. Since then it has fallen by 2.81% to 8.74%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Flathead County MT, Montana, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Flathead County
| Date | US | Montana | Flathead County MT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.08% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.44% | 8.74% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.15% | 7.39% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.18% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.44% | 9.41% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.13% | 6.37% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.47% | 7.38% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.78% | 5.56% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.56% | — |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.76% | — |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.58% | 11.55% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.26% | 5.34% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.52% | 1.30% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Flathead County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Flathead County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.49% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Flathead County Montana Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Montana | 17.45% | -0.14% | -0.33% |
| Flathead County MT | 17.49% | -3.65% | -2.40% |
Trends in Flathead County MT Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Flathead County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.07%. Since then it has fallen by 4.58% to 17.49%. From a 2017 low of 14.58%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 2.90%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Flathead County MT, Montana, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Flathead County Montana
| Date | US | Montana | Flathead County MT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.45% | 17.49% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 17.59% | 21.14% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.06% | 14.58% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.77% | 19.89% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.49% | 19.91% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.42% | 19.91% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.63% | 18.48% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.13% | 22.07% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 17.64% | 20.06% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.06% | 18.84% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.78% | 18.40% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.96% | 16.55% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.85% | 18.84% |
Renter Fraction in Flathead County Montana
You can calculate the renter fraction in Flathead 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 Flathead County as a fraction of total Flathead County households. In 2019 22.68% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Flathead County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Montana | 31.12% | -1.42% | -0.87% |
| Flathead County MT | 22.68% | -5.23% | -3.92% |
Trends in the Flathead County MT Renter Fraction
The Flathead County household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 33.50% and is now 10.82% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Flathead County MT, Montana, US
History of Flathead County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Montana | Flathead County MT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.12% | 22.68% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 32.54% | 27.91% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 30.85% | 24.34% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.99% | 26.60% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 33.34% | 30.28% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 33.61% | 30.39% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.12% | 29.70% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 32.95% | 30.47% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.08% | 28.45% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 30.32% | 33.50% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 30.78% | 24.81% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 30.38% | 29.68% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.90% | 28.75% |
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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