Dallas Texas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Dallas, TX (the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metro area) was $1,202 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Dallas was $1,259 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 Dallas median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Dallas rental vacancy rates, Dallas rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Dallas.
Real Gross Rent in Dallas 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% |
| Dallas, TX Median Gross Rent | $1,202 | +2.47% | +12.34% |
Dallas, TX Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,202, real median gross rent in Dallas was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,259, real average gross rent in Dallas was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Dallas: Dallas TX Median, Dallas TX Average, Texas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Dallas
| Date | US Median |
Texas Median |
Dallas, TX Median |
Dallas, TX Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,091 | $1,202 | $1,259 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,065 | $1,173 | $1,218 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,018 | $1,119 | $1,170 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,001 | $1,070 | $1,125 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $989 | $1,052 | $1,117 |
| 2014 | $986 | $946 | $1,002 | $1,056 |
| 2013 | $953 | $902 | $956 | $1,018 |
| 2012 | $940 | $884 | $933 | $999 |
| 2011 | $941 | $878 | $932 | $994 |
| 2010 | $955 | $895 | $955 | $1,000 |
| 2009 | $960 | $898 | $964 | $1,009 |
| 2007 | $927 | $862 | $938 | $986 |
| 2005 | $910 | $839 | $924 | $964 |
Dallas 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 Dallas Texas was 8.76% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Dallas Texas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Texas | 8.15% | -0.06% | +0.50% |
| Dallas, TX | 8.76% | +0.78% | +1.72% |
Trends in Dallas, TX Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Dallas peaked in 2009 at 12.12%. Since then it has fallen by 3.36% to 8.76%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 6.92%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.84%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Dallas TX, Texas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Dallas
| Date | US | Texas | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 8.15% | 8.76% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.21% | 7.98% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.49% | 7.16% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.65% | 7.04% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.95% | 6.92% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.30% | 6.99% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.86% | 7.18% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 8.53% | 8.67% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 9.23% | 9.71% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 10.60% | 11.22% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.69% | 12.12% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.61% | 11.39% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.60% | 11.34% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Dallas, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Dallas, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.96% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Dallas 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% |
| Dallas, TX | 19.96% | +0.05% | +0.74% |
Trends in Dallas, TX Rent as a Fraction of Income
Dallas renters paid 19.96% of median household income towards the median monthly gross rent in 2019. This is the highest fraction of median household income going to rent since the series originated in 2005.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Dallas TX, Texas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Dallas Texas
| Date | US | Texas | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.45% | 19.96% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.70% | 19.91% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.00% | 19.32% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.28% | 19.22% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.10% | 19.31% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.27% | 19.13% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.89% | 18.98% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.65% | 18.48% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.75% | 18.64% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.77% | 18.84% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.59% | 18.61% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.52% | 17.50% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 19.11% | 17.83% |
Renter Fraction in Dallas Texas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Dallas 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 Dallas as a fraction of total Dallas households. In 2019 40.46% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Dallas 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% |
| Dallas, TX | 40.46% | -0.39% | -0.46% |
Trends in the Dallas, TX Renter Fraction
The Dallas household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 40.92% and is now 0.46% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Dallas TX, Texas, US
History of Dallas Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Texas | Dallas, TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.12% | 40.46% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.28% | 40.85% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 38.03% | 40.34% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.91% | 40.92% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.94% | 40.73% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.84% | 40.81% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.16% | 40.50% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.72% | 40.46% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.08% | 38.93% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.42% | 38.34% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.32% | 37.79% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.82% | 36.36% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.29% | 37.55% |
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. ↩
