Harris County Texas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Harris County TX was $1,114 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Harris County was $1,159 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 Harris County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Harris County rental vacancy rates, Harris County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Harris County.
Real Gross Rent in Harris County 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% |
| Harris County TX Median Gross Rent | $1,114 | +3.05% | +7.01% |
Harris County TX Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,114, real median gross rent in Harris County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,159, real average gross rent in Harris County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Harris County TX Median, Harris County TX Average, Texas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Harris County
| Date | US Median |
Texas Median |
Harris County TX Median |
Harris County TX Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,091 | $1,114 | $1,159 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,065 | $1,081 | $1,132 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,018 | $1,042 | $1,101 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,001 | $1,041 | $1,115 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $989 | $1,016 | $1,095 |
| 2014 | $986 | $946 | $972 | $1,043 |
| 2013 | $953 | $902 | $918 | $979 |
| 2012 | $940 | $884 | $911 | $970 |
| 2011 | $941 | $878 | $908 | $971 |
| 2010 | $955 | $895 | $932 | $990 |
| 2009 | $960 | $898 | $955 | $1,013 |
| 2007 | $927 | $862 | $902 | $952 |
| 2005 | $910 | $839 | $874 | $921 |
Harris 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 Harris County Texas was 8.65% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Harris County Texas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Texas | 8.15% | -0.06% | +0.50% |
| Harris County TX | 8.65% | -0.86% | +1.38% |
Trends in Harris County TX Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Harris County peaked in 2010 at 14.62%. Since then it has fallen by 5.97% to 8.65%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 6.84%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.81%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Harris County TX, Texas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Harris County
| Date | US | Texas | Harris County TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 8.15% | 8.65% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.21% | 9.51% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.49% | 10.00% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.65% | 7.27% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.95% | 6.84% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.30% | 7.04% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.86% | 8.23% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 8.53% | 10.70% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 9.23% | 12.17% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 10.60% | 14.62% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.69% | 13.00% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.61% | 14.40% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.60% | 13.28% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Harris County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Harris County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.69% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Harris County 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% |
| Harris County TX | 21.69% | +0.54% | +0.54% |
Trends in Harris County TX Rent as a Fraction of Income
Harris County renters paid 21.69% 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: Harris County TX, Texas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Harris County Texas
| Date | US | Texas | Harris County TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.45% | 21.69% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.70% | 21.16% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.00% | 20.69% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.28% | 21.16% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.10% | 20.30% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.27% | 20.40% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.89% | 19.94% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.65% | 20.03% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.75% | 19.82% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.77% | 19.85% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.59% | 19.89% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.52% | 18.46% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 19.11% | 19.06% |
Renter Fraction in Harris County Texas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Harris 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 Harris County as a fraction of total Harris County households. In 2019 46.69% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Harris County 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% |
| Harris County TX | 46.69% | +0.79% | +0.38% |
Trends in the Harris County TX Renter Fraction
The Harris County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 47.10% and is now 0.41% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Harris County TX, Texas, US
History of Harris County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Texas | Harris County TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.12% | 46.69% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.28% | 45.90% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 38.03% | 45.00% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.91% | 46.31% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.94% | 47.01% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.84% | 47.10% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.16% | 45.74% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.72% | 44.41% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.08% | 44.13% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.42% | 42.65% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.32% | 42.94% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.82% | 40.97% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.29% | 41.82% |
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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