Lackawanna County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Lackawanna County PA was $792 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Lackawanna County was $778 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 Lackawanna County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Lackawanna County rental vacancy rates, Lackawanna County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Lackawanna County.
Real Gross Rent in Lackawanna 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% |
| Lackawanna County PA Median Gross Rent | $792 | -2.34% | +5.04% |
Lackawanna County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Lackawanna County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $811 and is now $19 (2.34%) lower. Average gross rent for Lackawanna County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $799 and is now $21 (2.63%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Lackawanna County PA Median, Lackawanna County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Lackawanna County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Lackawanna County PA Median |
Lackawanna County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $792 | $778 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $811 | $799 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $795 | $742 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $754 | $735 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $807 | $793 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $771 | $753 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $710 | $694 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $701 | $673 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $734 | $673 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $742 | $731 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $713 | $708 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $700 | $663 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $670 | $641 |
Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County Pennsylvania was 3.80% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Lackawanna County PA | 3.80% | -0.60% | -0.46% |
Trends in Lackawanna County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Lackawanna County peaked in 2005 at 7.54%. Since then it has fallen by 3.74% to 3.80%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2010 post peak low of 2.81%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.99%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Lackawanna County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Lackawanna County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Lackawanna County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 3.80% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 4.40% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 4.22% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 4.26% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.46% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 4.55% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 5.67% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 4.69% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 3.31% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 2.81% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 6.72% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 6.07% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 7.54% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Lackawanna County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Lackawanna County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.66% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Lackawanna 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% |
| Lackawanna County PA | 17.66% | -0.29% | -0.54% |
Trends in Lackawanna County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Lackawanna County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.35%. Since then it has fallen by 1.70% to 17.66%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Lackawanna County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Lackawanna County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 17.66% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.94% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 18.82% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.20% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 18.82% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 19.35% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 17.86% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 18.37% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.43% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 18.89% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 16.89% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 17.19% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 17.31% |
Renter Fraction in Lackawanna County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County as a fraction of total Lackawanna County households. In 2019 36.64% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Lackawanna 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% |
| Lackawanna County PA | 36.64% | +0.50% | -0.16% |
Trends in the Lackawanna County PA Renter Fraction
The Lackawanna County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 37.17% and is now 0.53% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Lackawanna County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Lackawanna County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Lackawanna County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 36.64% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 36.14% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 37.17% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 36.80% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 33.21% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 33.72% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 34.24% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 35.38% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 32.94% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 34.51% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 32.94% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 34.58% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 32.42% |
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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