Department of Numbers

Suffolk County New York Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Suffolk County NY was $1,796 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Suffolk County was $1,747 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 Suffolk County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Suffolk 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%
Suffolk County NY Median Gross Rent $1,796 +1.87% +3.64%

Suffolk County NY Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,796, real median gross rent in Suffolk County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,747, real average gross rent in Suffolk County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

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

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Suffolk County

Date US
Median
New York
Median
Suffolk County NY
Median
Suffolk County NY
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,309 $1,796 $1,747
2018 $1,077 $1,297 $1,763 $1,686
2017 $1,043 $1,264 $1,750 $1,608
2016 $1,027 $1,250 $1,733 $1,667
2015 $1,017 $1,244 $1,662 $1,547
2014 $986 $1,212 $1,673 $1,613
2013 $953 $1,168 $1,592 $1,528
2012 $940 $1,148 $1,577 $1,527
2011 $941 $1,143 $1,561 $1,525
2010 $955 $1,140 $1,522 $1,523
2009 $960 $1,121 $1,669 $1,585

more history ...

Suffolk 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 Suffolk County New York was 3.67% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Suffolk 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%
Suffolk County NY 3.67% -0.08% -2.65%

Trends in Suffolk County NY Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Suffolk County peaked in 2009 at 7.31%. Since then it has fallen by 3.64% to 3.67%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2013 post peak low of 2.67%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.00%.

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

Rental vacancy rate in New York

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Suffolk County

Date US New York Suffolk County NY
2019 5.97% 4.00% 3.67%
2018 6.15% 4.20% 3.75%
2017 6.18% 4.19% 6.19%
2016 5.89% 4.42% 6.32%
2015 5.85% 4.41% 6.31%
2014 6.32% 4.34% 4.66%
2013 6.49% 4.17% 2.67%
2012 6.77% 4.34% 4.80%
2011 7.40% 4.48% 4.51%
2010 8.17% 5.03% 6.47%
2009 8.43% 4.78% 7.31%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Suffolk County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Suffolk County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.29% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Suffolk 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%
Suffolk County NY 20.29% -0.40% -1.08%

Trends in Suffolk County NY Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Suffolk County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.05%. Since then it has fallen by 1.76% to 20.29%.

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

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

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

Date US New York Suffolk County NY
2019 20.03% 21.78% 20.29%
2018 20.50% 22.53% 20.69%
2017 20.13% 22.67% 21.49%
2016 20.43% 22.78% 21.37%
2015 20.63% 23.13% 21.29%
2014 20.89% 23.40% 22.05%
2013 20.78% 23.20% 21.24%
2012 20.65% 22.94% 20.60%
2011 20.70% 22.98% 20.62%
2010 20.50% 22.60% 20.04%
2009 20.12% 21.60% 21.01%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Suffolk County New York

You can calculate the renter fraction in Suffolk 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 Suffolk County as a fraction of total Suffolk County households. In 2019 19.13% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Suffolk 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%
Suffolk County NY 19.13% -1.37% -1.88%

Trends in the Suffolk County NY Renter Fraction

The Suffolk County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 21.90% and is now 2.77% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

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

Fraction of renters in Suffolk County

History of Suffolk County Renter Fraction

Date US New York Suffolk County NY
2019 35.89% 46.48% 19.13%
2018 36.05% 46.33% 20.50%
2017 36.13% 46.20% 19.13%
2016 36.88% 46.72% 21.01%
2015 36.97% 46.93% 20.34%
2014 36.90% 47.02% 21.90%
2013 36.50% 46.35% 19.97%
2012 36.09% 46.35% 20.97%
2011 35.42% 46.41% 21.56%
2010 34.65% 45.75% 20.66%
2009 34.13% 44.97% 18.38%

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.