Allegheny County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Allegheny County PA was $911 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Allegheny County was $955 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 Allegheny County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Allegheny County rental vacancy rates, Allegheny County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Allegheny County.
Real Gross Rent in Allegheny County Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
| Allegheny County PA Median Gross Rent | $911 | +1.67% | +6.18% |
Allegheny County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $911, real median gross rent in Allegheny County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $955, real average gross rent in Allegheny County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Allegheny County PA Median, Allegheny County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Allegheny County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Allegheny County PA Median |
Allegheny County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $911 | $955 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $896 | $927 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $889 | $931 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $858 | $888 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $859 | $903 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $832 | $848 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $800 | $850 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $789 | $821 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $781 | $800 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $787 | $809 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $780 | $791 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $759 | $771 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $794 | $810 |
Allegheny 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 Allegheny County Pennsylvania was 3.77% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Allegheny County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Allegheny County PA | 3.77% | -1.42% | -2.01% |
Trends in Allegheny County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Allegheny County peaked in 2005 at 12.16%. Since then it has fallen by 8.39% to 3.77%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2013 post peak low of 3.30%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.47%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Allegheny County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Allegheny County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Allegheny County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 3.77% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 5.19% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 6.03% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 5.78% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.10% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 4.24% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 3.30% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 4.32% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 6.57% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 5.52% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 5.51% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 10.23% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 12.16% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Allegheny County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Allegheny County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.85% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Allegheny County Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
| Allegheny County PA | 16.85% | -0.78% | -0.65% |
Trends in Allegheny County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Allegheny County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2005 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.33%. Since then it has fallen by 1.48% to 16.85%. From a 2007 low of 16.71%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 0.15%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Allegheny County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Allegheny County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Allegheny County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 16.85% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.63% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 17.64% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 17.51% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 17.85% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 18.05% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 17.73% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 17.50% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 17.44% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 17.78% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 17.76% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 16.71% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 18.33% |
Renter Fraction in Allegheny County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Allegheny 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 Allegheny County as a fraction of total Allegheny County households. In 2019 37.23% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Allegheny County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Allegheny County PA | 37.23% | +2.36% | +1.33% |
Trends in the Allegheny County PA Renter Fraction
At 37.23%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Allegheny County was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Allegheny County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Allegheny County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Allegheny County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 37.23% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 34.87% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 35.00% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 35.90% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 36.36% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 35.35% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 34.76% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 35.69% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 35.40% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 33.36% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 34.99% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 32.24% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 31.86% |
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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