Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Pittsburgh, PA (the Pittsburgh metro area) was $847 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Pittsburgh was $874 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 Pittsburgh median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Pittsburgh rental vacancy rates, Pittsburgh rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Pittsburgh.
Real Gross Rent in Pittsburgh 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% |
| Pittsburgh, PA Median Gross Rent | $847 | 0.00% | +5.61% |
Pittsburgh, PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Pittsburgh peaked in real terms in 2018 at $847 and is now $0 (0.00%) lower. At $874, real average gross rent in Pittsburgh was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh PA Median, Pittsburgh PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Pittsburgh
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Pittsburgh, PA Median |
Pittsburgh, PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $847 | $874 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $847 | $868 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $819 | $840 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $802 | $825 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $802 | $828 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $784 | $781 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $750 | $779 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $745 | $760 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $737 | $742 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $733 | $743 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $733 | $735 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $714 | $718 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $723 | $730 |
Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh Pennsylvania was 4.72% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 4.72% | -0.33% | -1.96% |
Trends in Pittsburgh, PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Pittsburgh peaked in 2006 at 10.55%. Since then it has fallen by 5.83% to 4.72%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2013 post peak low of 4.38%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.34%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Pittsburgh PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Pittsburgh
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.72% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 5.05% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 6.59% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 6.68% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.13% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 5.01% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 4.38% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 4.39% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 5.50% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 6.04% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 5.61% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 9.96% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 10.45% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Pittsburgh, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Pittsburgh, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.23% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Pittsburgh 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% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 16.23% | -0.49% | -0.17% |
Trends in Pittsburgh, PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Pittsburgh household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 17.05%. Since then it has fallen by 0.82% to 16.23%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Pittsburgh PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 16.23% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 16.72% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 16.28% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 16.40% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 16.78% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 17.05% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 16.66% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 16.64% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 16.75% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 16.86% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 16.65% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 15.99% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 16.63% |
Renter Fraction in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh as a fraction of total Pittsburgh households. In 2019 31.81% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Pittsburgh 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% |
| Pittsburgh, PA | 31.81% | +1.41% | +1.54% |
Trends in the Pittsburgh, PA Renter Fraction
At 31.81%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Pittsburgh was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Pittsburgh PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Pittsburgh Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 31.81% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 30.40% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 30.10% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 30.27% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 30.82% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 30.67% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 30.21% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 30.55% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 30.73% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 29.62% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 29.84% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 28.07% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 27.54% |
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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