Nebraska Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Nebraska was $859 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $868 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 Nebraska median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Nebraska rental vacancy rates, Nebraska rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Nebraska.
Real Gross Rent in Nebraska (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Nebraska Median Gross Rent | $859 | +1.66% | +6.71% |
Nebraska Real Gross Rent Trends
At $859, real median gross rent in Nebraska was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $868, real average gross rent in Nebraska was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Nebraska: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Nebraska
| Date | US Median | Nebraska Median | Nebraska Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $859 | $868 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $845 | $855 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $826 | $827 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $805 | $826 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $796 | $815 |
| 2014 | $986 | $783 | $792 |
| 2013 | $953 | $752 | $770 |
| 2012 | $940 | $736 | $741 |
| 2011 | $941 | $727 | $739 |
| 2010 | $955 | $748 | $752 |
| 2009 | $960 | $734 | $726 |
| 2007 | $927 | $721 | $714 |
| 2005 | $910 | $711 | $713 |
Nebraska 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 Nebraska was 5.92% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Nebraska
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Nebraska | 5.92% | +0.17% | +0.94% |
Trends in Nebraska Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Nebraska peaked in 2007 at 8.80%. Since then it has fallen by 2.88% to 5.92%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 4.98%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.94%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Nebraska, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Nebraska
| Date | US | Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.92% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.75% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.27% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.98% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.65% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.80% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.60% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.97% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.44% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.54% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.43% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.80% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 8.14% |
Nebraska Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Nebraska, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Nebraska, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.30% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Nebraska Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Nebraska | 16.30% | -0.42% | +0.09% |
Trends in Nebraska Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Nebraska household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 16.90%. Since then it has fallen by 0.60% to 16.30%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Nebraska, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Nebraska
| Date | US | Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.30% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 16.72% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 16.03% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 16.21% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 16.36% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 16.90% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 16.66% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 16.37% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 16.06% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 16.58% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 16.32% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 15.65% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 15.57% |
Renter Fraction in Nebraska
You can calculate the renter fraction in Nebraska 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 Nebraska as a fraction of total Nebraska households. In 2019 33.71% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Nebraska Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Nebraska | 33.71% | -0.23% | -0.97% |
Trends in the Nebraska Renter Fraction
The Nebraska household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 34.68% and is now 0.97% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Nebraska, US
History of Nebraska Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Nebraska |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.71% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 33.94% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.72% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.68% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.10% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.06% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.96% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.66% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 33.09% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 32.62% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.76% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.24% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 31.76% |
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. ↩
