Westmoreland County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Westmoreland County PA was $699 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Westmoreland County was $671 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 Westmoreland County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Westmoreland County rental vacancy rates, Westmoreland County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Westmoreland County.
Real Gross Rent in Westmoreland 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% |
| Westmoreland County PA Median Gross Rent | $699 | -8.87% | -3.05% |
Westmoreland County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Westmoreland County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $767 and is now $68 (8.87%) lower. Average gross rent for Westmoreland County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $781 and is now $110 (14.08%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Westmoreland County PA Median, Westmoreland County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Westmoreland County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Westmoreland County PA Median |
Westmoreland County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $699 | $671 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $767 | $781 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $686 | $656 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $721 | $701 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $697 | $681 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $685 | $626 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $670 | $632 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $685 | $635 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $672 | $650 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $670 | $640 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $637 | $614 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $643 | $631 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $621 | $611 |
Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County Pennsylvania was 4.71% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Westmoreland County PA | 4.71% | -2.58% | -3.41% |
Trends in Westmoreland County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Westmoreland County peaked in 2007 at 9.18%. Since then it has fallen by 4.47% to 4.71%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2011 post peak low of 2.59%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.12%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Westmoreland County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Westmoreland County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Westmoreland County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.71% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 7.29% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 6.84% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 8.12% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.91% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 5.46% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 6.23% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 6.58% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 2.59% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 6.12% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 3.07% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 9.18% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 5.50% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Westmoreland County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Westmoreland County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 14.20% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Westmoreland 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% |
| Westmoreland County PA | 14.20% | -1.25% | -0.38% |
Trends in Westmoreland County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Westmoreland County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 16.06%. Since then it has fallen by 1.86% to 14.20%. From a 2017 low of 13.14%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.06%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Westmoreland County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Westmoreland County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 14.20% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 15.45% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 13.14% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 14.58% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 14.73% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 14.46% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 14.81% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 15.54% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 16.06% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 15.53% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 14.15% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 14.25% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 13.77% |
Renter Fraction in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County as a fraction of total Westmoreland County households. In 2019 25.16% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Westmoreland 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% |
| Westmoreland County PA | 25.16% | +1.75% | +3.92% |
Trends in the Westmoreland County PA Renter Fraction
The Westmoreland County household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 25.85% and is now 0.69% below that level. From a recent low of 21.24% in 2016, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 3.92%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Westmoreland County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Westmoreland County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Westmoreland County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 25.16% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 23.41% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 22.40% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 21.24% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 23.24% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 23.39% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 22.71% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 23.38% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 25.55% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 25.85% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 23.41% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 21.96% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 21.46% |
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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