Department of Numbers

Queens County New York Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Queens County NY was $1,641 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Queens County was $1,574 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 Queens County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Queens County rental vacancy rates, Queens County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Queens County.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Queens County New York (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
New York Median Gross Rent $1,309 +0.93% +4.72%
Queens County NY Median Gross Rent $1,641 +1.48% +7.96%

Queens County NY Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,641, real median gross rent in Queens County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,574, real average gross rent in Queens County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Queens County NY Median, Queens County NY Average, New York Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Queens County

Date US
Median
New York
Median
Queens County NY
Median
Queens County NY
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,309 $1,641 $1,574
2018 $1,077 $1,297 $1,617 $1,539
2017 $1,043 $1,264 $1,547 $1,513
2016 $1,027 $1,250 $1,520 $1,468
2015 $1,017 $1,244 $1,521 $1,454
2014 $986 $1,212 $1,463 $1,422
2013 $953 $1,168 $1,404 $1,367
2012 $940 $1,148 $1,388 $1,345
2011 $941 $1,143 $1,378 $1,341
2010 $955 $1,140 $1,388 $1,357
2009 $960 $1,121 $1,360 $1,351

more history ...

Queens County 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 Queens County New York was 3.13% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Queens County New York

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
New York 4.00% -0.20% -0.42%
Queens County NY 3.13% +0.74% +0.37%

Trends in Queens County NY Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Queens County peaked in 2010 at 3.76%. Since then it has fallen by 0.63% to 3.13%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 2.39%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.74%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Queens County NY, New York, US

Rental vacancy rate in New York

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Queens County

Date US New York Queens County NY
2019 5.97% 4.00% 3.13%
2018 6.15% 4.20% 2.39%
2017 6.18% 4.19% 3.00%
2016 5.89% 4.42% 2.76%
2015 5.85% 4.41% 2.94%
2014 6.32% 4.34% 2.73%
2013 6.49% 4.17% 2.54%
2012 6.77% 4.34% 2.90%
2011 7.40% 4.48% 3.67%
2010 8.17% 5.03% 3.76%
2009 8.43% 4.78% 2.67%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Queens County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Queens County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 26.72% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Queens County New York Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
New York 21.78% -0.75% -0.99%
Queens County NY 26.72% -0.77% -1.29%

Trends in Queens County NY Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Queens County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 29.06%. Since then it has fallen by 2.34% to 26.72%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Queens County NY, New York, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Queens County New York

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Queens County New York

Date US New York Queens County NY
2019 20.03% 21.78% 26.72%
2018 20.50% 22.53% 27.49%
2017 20.13% 22.67% 27.90%
2016 20.43% 22.78% 28.01%
2015 20.63% 23.13% 28.48%
2014 20.89% 23.40% 29.06%
2013 20.78% 23.20% 28.26%
2012 20.65% 22.94% 28.62%
2011 20.70% 22.98% 28.58%
2010 20.50% 22.60% 28.09%
2009 20.12% 21.60% 25.97%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Queens County New York

You can calculate the renter fraction in Queens 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 Queens County as a fraction of total Queens County households. In 2019 55.86% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Queens County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
New York 46.48% +0.15% -0.24%
Queens County NY 55.86% +1.15% -0.04%

Trends in the Queens County NY Renter Fraction

The Queens County household renter fraction peaked in in 2011 at 57.05% and is now 1.19% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Queens County NY, New York, US

Fraction of renters in Queens County

History of Queens County Renter Fraction

Date US New York Queens County NY
2019 35.89% 46.48% 55.86%
2018 36.05% 46.33% 54.71%
2017 36.13% 46.20% 55.73%
2016 36.88% 46.72% 55.90%
2015 36.97% 46.93% 56.78%
2014 36.90% 47.02% 56.93%
2013 36.50% 46.35% 56.11%
2012 36.09% 46.35% 56.43%
2011 35.42% 46.41% 57.05%
2010 34.65% 45.75% 56.16%
2009 34.13% 44.97% 54.73%

more history ...

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.