Department of Numbers

Washington County Oregon Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington County OR was $1,434 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Washington County was $1,466 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 Washington County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Washington County Oregon (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Oregon Median Gross Rent $1,185 +3.04% +11.48%
Washington County OR Median Gross Rent $1,434 +1.63% +9.55%

Washington County OR Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,434, real median gross rent in Washington County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,466, real average gross rent in Washington County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Washington County OR Median, Washington County OR Average, Oregon Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Washington County

Date US
Median
Oregon
Median
Washington County OR
Median
Washington County OR
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,185 $1,434 $1,466
2018 $1,077 $1,150 $1,411 $1,418
2017 $1,043 $1,113 $1,414 $1,414
2016 $1,027 $1,063 $1,309 $1,335
2015 $1,017 $1,000 $1,202 $1,218
2014 $986 $976 $1,151 $1,191
2013 $953 $934 $1,050 $1,113
2012 $940 $917 $1,057 $1,128
2011 $941 $907 $1,019 $1,054
2010 $955 $912 $1,009 $1,070
2009 $960 $933 $1,020 $1,075

more history ...

Washington 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 Washington County Oregon was 4.06% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington County Oregon

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Oregon 4.00% -0.35% +0.83%
Washington County OR 4.06% +1.28% +1.52%

Trends in Washington County OR Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Washington County peaked in 2005 at 8.65%. Since then it has fallen by 4.59% to 4.06%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2014 post peak low of 2.29%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.77%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington County OR, Oregon, US

Rental vacancy rate in Oregon

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington County

Date US Oregon Washington County OR
2019 5.97% 4.00% 4.06%
2018 6.15% 4.35% 2.78%
2017 6.18% 3.80% 2.74%
2016 5.89% 3.17% 2.54%
2015 5.85% 3.64% 2.54%
2014 6.32% 3.57% 2.29%
2013 6.49% 4.45% 2.81%
2012 6.77% 4.75% 5.16%
2011 7.40% 5.06% 5.40%
2010 8.17% 5.60% 5.12%
2009 8.43% 6.30% 4.13%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Washington County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Washington County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.07% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Washington County Oregon Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Oregon 21.21% -0.17% +0.03%
Washington County OR 20.07% +0.05% +0.24%

Trends in Washington County OR Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Washington County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.32%. Since then it has fallen by 0.25% to 20.07%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington County OR, Oregon, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Washington County Oregon

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington County Oregon

Date US Oregon Washington County OR
2019 20.03% 21.21% 20.07%
2018 20.50% 21.38% 20.02%
2017 20.13% 21.50% 20.32%
2016 20.43% 21.17% 19.83%
2015 20.63% 20.90% 19.30%
2014 20.89% 21.71% 19.78%
2013 20.78% 21.18% 18.92%
2012 20.65% 21.04% 18.78%
2011 20.70% 21.53% 18.11%
2010 20.50% 21.03% 17.91%
2009 20.12% 20.28% 17.62%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Washington County Oregon

You can calculate the renter fraction in Washington 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 Washington County as a fraction of total Washington County households. In 2019 39.08% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Washington County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Oregon 37.12% -0.39% -1.19%
Washington County OR 39.08% +1.35% +0.05%

Trends in the Washington County OR Renter Fraction

The Washington County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 40.82% and is now 1.74% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Washington County OR, Oregon, US

Fraction of renters in Washington County

History of Washington County Renter Fraction

Date US Oregon Washington County OR
2019 35.89% 37.12% 39.08%
2018 36.05% 37.51% 37.73%
2017 36.13% 37.20% 37.20%
2016 36.88% 38.31% 39.03%
2015 36.97% 38.91% 40.19%
2014 36.90% 39.28% 40.75%
2013 36.50% 39.17% 40.82%
2012 36.09% 38.44% 40.62%
2011 35.42% 39.22% 38.16%
2010 34.65% 37.45% 38.17%
2009 34.13% 36.95% 37.78%

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.