Washington County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington County PA was $819 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Washington County was $831 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.
Real Gross Rent in Washington 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% |
| Washington County PA Median Gross Rent | $819 | +1.36% | +14.71% |
Washington County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $819, real median gross rent in Washington County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Washington County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $842 and is now $11 (1.31%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Washington County PA Median, Washington County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Washington County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Washington County PA Median |
Washington County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $819 | $831 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $808 | $842 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $742 | $736 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $714 | $691 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $762 | $736 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $741 | $722 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $708 | $760 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $668 | $685 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $673 | $648 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $621 | $606 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $752 | $713 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $623 | $626 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $616 | $589 |
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 Pennsylvania was 5.84% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Washington County PA | 5.84% | +2.33% | -1.30% |
Trends in Washington County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Washington County peaked in 2005 at 12.43%. Since then it has fallen by 6.59% to 5.84%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 2.17%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.67%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Washington County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 5.84% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 3.51% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 9.23% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 7.14% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 2.17% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 6.79% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 6.76% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 3.16% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 6.98% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 5.73% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 6.08% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 10.16% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 12.43% |
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 15.02% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Washington 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% |
| Washington County PA | 15.02% | -0.04% | +0.91% |
Trends in Washington County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Washington County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 16.48%. Since then it has fallen by 1.46% to 15.02%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Washington County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 15.02% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 15.06% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 14.27% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 14.11% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 14.83% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 15.03% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 14.63% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 13.94% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 14.16% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 14.01% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 16.48% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 13.45% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 13.16% |
Renter Fraction in Washington County Pennsylvania
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 23.81% 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% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Washington County PA | 23.81% | -1.98% | -1.78% |
Trends in the Washington County PA Renter Fraction
The Washington County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 26.41% and is now 2.60% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Washington County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Washington County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Washington County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 23.81% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 25.79% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 23.96% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 25.59% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 24.43% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 23.82% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 26.41% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 24.77% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 23.43% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 22.52% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 24.04% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 22.72% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 20.82% |
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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