Abilene Texas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Abilene, TX (the Abilene metro area) was $887 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Abilene was $899 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 Abilene median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Abilene rental vacancy rates, Abilene rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Abilene.
Real Gross Rent in Abilene Texas (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Texas Median Gross Rent | $1,091 | +2.44% | +8.99% |
| Abilene, TX Median Gross Rent | $887 | -7.22% | -3.17% |
Abilene, TX Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Abilene peaked in real terms in 2018 at $956 and is now $69 (7.22%) lower. Average gross rent for Abilene peaked in real terms in 2016 at $920 and is now $21 (2.28%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Abilene: Abilene TX Median, Abilene TX Average, Texas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Abilene
| Date | US Median |
Texas Median |
Abilene, TX Median |
Abilene, TX Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,091 | $887 | $899 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,065 | $956 | $915 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,018 | $828 | $810 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,001 | $916 | $920 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $989 | $844 | $837 |
| 2014 | $986 | $946 | $859 | $808 |
| 2013 | $953 | $902 | $754 | $740 |
| 2012 | $940 | $884 | $796 | $768 |
| 2011 | $941 | $878 | $759 | $736 |
| 2010 | $955 | $895 | $839 | $803 |
| 2009 | $960 | $898 | $811 | $782 |
| 2007 | $927 | $862 | $785 | $731 |
| 2005 | $910 | $839 | $764 | $729 |
Abilene 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 Abilene Texas was 5.87% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Abilene Texas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Texas | 8.15% | -0.06% | +0.50% |
| Abilene, TX | 5.87% | +0.40% | -6.17% |
Trends in Abilene, TX Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Abilene peaked in 2009 at 12.29%. Since then it has fallen by 6.42% to 5.87%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 4.94%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.93%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Abilene TX, Texas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Abilene
| Date | US | Texas | Abilene, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 8.15% | 5.87% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.21% | 5.47% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.49% | 6.92% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.65% | 12.04% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.95% | 4.94% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.30% | 6.31% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.86% | 9.92% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 8.53% | 8.58% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 9.23% | 8.38% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 10.60% | 10.25% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.69% | 12.29% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.61% | 8.02% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.60% | 9.42% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Abilene, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Abilene, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.42% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Abilene Texas Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Texas | 20.45% | -0.26% | +0.16% |
| Abilene, TX | 19.42% | -4.04% | -2.45% |
Trends in Abilene, TX Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Abilene household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.46%. Since then it has fallen by 4.04% to 19.42%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Abilene TX, Texas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Abilene Texas
| Date | US | Texas | Abilene, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.45% | 19.42% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.70% | 23.46% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.00% | 18.85% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.28% | 21.87% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.10% | 20.14% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.27% | 22.05% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.89% | 19.46% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.65% | 20.68% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.75% | 20.75% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.77% | 22.18% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.59% | 19.90% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.52% | 20.36% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 19.11% | 20.63% |
Renter Fraction in Abilene Texas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Abilene 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 Abilene as a fraction of total Abilene households. In 2019 39.37% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Abilene Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Texas | 38.12% | -0.16% | -0.79% |
| Abilene, TX | 39.37% | +1.91% | -0.36% |
Trends in the Abilene, TX Renter Fraction
The Abilene household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 40.12% and is now 0.75% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Abilene TX, Texas, US
History of Abilene Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Texas | Abilene, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.12% | 39.37% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.28% | 37.46% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 38.03% | 34.95% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.91% | 39.73% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.94% | 39.29% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.84% | 38.48% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.16% | 35.48% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.72% | 40.12% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.08% | 32.79% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.42% | 37.35% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.32% | 35.20% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.82% | 33.76% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.29% | 35.35% |
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. ↩
