Washington County Rhode Island Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington County RI was $1,254 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Washington County was $1,073 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 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% |
| Washington County RI Median Gross Rent | $1,254 | +8.85% | +8.29% |
Washington County RI Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,254, 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 2015 at $1,166 and is now $93 (7.98%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Washington County RI Median, Washington County RI Average, Rhode Island Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Washington County
| Date | US Median |
Rhode Island Median |
Washington County RI Median |
Washington County RI Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,073 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,016 | $1,152 | $1,166 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $970 | $1,052 | $1,001 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $993 | $1,158 | $1,114 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $995 | $1,150 | $1,166 |
| 2014 | $986 | $986 | $1,082 | $1,049 |
| 2013 | $953 | $967 | $1,124 | $1,106 |
| 2012 | $940 | $934 | $1,032 | $989 |
| 2011 | $941 | $945 | $1,095 | $1,135 |
| 2010 | $955 | $970 | $1,057 | $1,025 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,014 | $1,021 | $1,014 |
| 2007 | $927 | $975 | $1,006 | $994 |
| 2005 | $910 | $969 | $1,038 | $1,046 |
Washington County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Washington County Rhode Island was 15.24% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington 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% |
| Washington County RI | — | — | — |
Trends in Washington County RI Rental Vacancy Rate
At 15.24%, Washington County residential rental vacancy rate in 2018 is at the highest point since 2005, the beginning of our reporting for this series.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington County RI, Rhode Island, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington County
| Date | US | Rhode Island | Washington County RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 6.98% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 6.33% | 15.24% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 4.87% | 3.94% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 4.57% | — |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.43% | 5.02% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.18% | 3.58% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.98% | — |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.52% | 3.54% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.80% | — |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.47% | 4.41% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 14.15% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.77% | 5.41% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.82% | — |
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 16.72% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Washington 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% |
| Washington County RI | 16.72% | +1.60% | -0.34% |
Trends in Washington County RI Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Washington County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.18%. Since then it has fallen by 1.46% to 16.72%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington County RI, Rhode Island, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington County Rhode Island
| Date | US | Rhode Island | Washington County RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.59% | 16.72% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.61% | 15.12% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.68% | 15.42% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.77% | 17.06% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.38% | 17.95% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.42% | 17.27% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.71% | 18.18% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.31% | 16.48% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.58% | 17.50% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.93% | 16.18% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.73% | 15.56% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.59% | 15.16% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.07% | 15.93% |
Renter Fraction in Washington County Rhode Island
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 23.72% 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% |
| Rhode Island | 38.32% | +0.14% | -3.65% |
| Washington County RI | 23.72% | +2.50% | -2.31% |
Trends in the Washington County RI Renter Fraction
The Washington County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 29.94% and is now 6.22% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Washington County RI, Rhode Island, US
History of Washington County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Rhode Island | Washington County RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.32% | 23.72% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.18% | 21.22% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 39.15% | 26.48% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 41.97% | 26.03% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 40.95% | 29.94% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 41.20% | 24.42% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 39.61% | 29.39% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 40.01% | 28.15% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 39.42% | 23.89% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 39.22% | 25.01% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.59% | 20.16% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 36.40% | 22.50% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 37.29% | 27.33% |
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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