Kent County Rhode Island Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Kent County RI was $1,094 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Kent County was $1,048 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 Kent County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Kent County rental vacancy rates, Kent County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Kent County.
Real Gross Rent in Kent County Rhode Island (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Rhode Island Median Gross Rent | $1,043 | +2.66% | +5.04% |
| Kent County RI Median Gross Rent | $1,094 | -2.67% | +2.72% |
Kent County RI Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Kent County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,124 and is now $30 (2.67%) lower. Average gross rent for Kent County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,077 and is now $29 (2.69%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Kent County RI Median, Kent County RI Average, Rhode Island Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Kent County
| Date | US Median |
Rhode Island Median |
Kent County RI Median |
Kent County RI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,043 | $1,094 | $1,048 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,016 | $1,124 | $1,033 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $970 | $999 | $1,004 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $993 | $1,065 | $1,077 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $995 | $1,048 | $999 |
| 2014 | $986 | $986 | $1,018 | $992 |
| 2013 | $953 | $967 | $1,013 | $1,009 |
| 2012 | $940 | $934 | $1,023 | $1,047 |
| 2011 | $941 | $945 | $1,019 | $1,030 |
| 2010 | $955 | $970 | $1,030 | $1,030 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,014 | $1,077 | $1,006 |
| 2007 | $927 | $975 | $979 | $963 |
| 2005 | $910 | $969 | $999 | $1,000 |
Kent 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 Kent County Rhode Island was 3.22% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Kent County Rhode Island
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Rhode Island | 6.98% | +0.65% | +2.41% |
| Kent County RI | 3.22% | -0.31% | -0.04% |
Trends in Kent County RI Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Kent County peaked in 2011 at 8.25%. Since then it has fallen by 5.03% to 3.22%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2012 post peak low of 1.64%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.58%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Kent County RI, Rhode Island, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Kent County
| Date | US | Rhode Island | Kent County RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 6.98% | 3.22% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.33% | 3.53% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 3.03% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.57% | 3.26% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.43% | 2.14% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.18% | 5.34% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.98% | 6.05% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.52% | 1.64% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.80% | 8.25% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.47% | — |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | — |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.77% | 5.10% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.82% | 3.29% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Kent County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Kent County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.63% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Kent County Rhode Island Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Rhode Island | 17.59% | -1.03% | -1.19% |
| Kent County RI | 17.63% | -1.57% | -1.71% |
Trends in Kent County RI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Kent County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.51%. Since then it has fallen by 2.88% to 17.63%. From a 2017 low of 15.47%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 2.15%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Kent County RI, Rhode Island, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Kent County Rhode Island
| Date | US | Rhode Island | Kent County RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.59% | 17.63% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.61% | 19.20% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.68% | 15.47% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.77% | 19.34% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.38% | 17.98% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.42% | 18.58% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.71% | 17.59% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.31% | 19.20% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.58% | 18.73% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.93% | 20.51% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.73% | 19.25% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.59% | 17.18% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.07% | 16.77% |
Renter Fraction in Kent County Rhode Island
You can calculate the renter fraction in Kent 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 Kent County as a fraction of total Kent County households. In 2019 31.22% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Kent County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Rhode Island | 38.32% | +0.14% | -3.65% |
| Kent County RI | 31.22% | +1.71% | -3.59% |
Trends in the Kent County RI Renter Fraction
The Kent County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 34.81% and is now 3.59% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Kent County RI, Rhode Island, US
History of Kent County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Rhode Island | Kent County RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.32% | 31.22% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.18% | 29.51% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 39.15% | 28.51% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 41.97% | 34.81% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 40.95% | 29.39% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 41.20% | 31.62% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 39.61% | 27.50% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 40.01% | 30.99% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 39.42% | 29.99% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 39.22% | 30.15% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.59% | 25.58% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 36.40% | 24.55% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 37.29% | 25.81% |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / Rhode Island
- / Kent County
