Fairfax County Virginia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Fairfax County VA was $1,900 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Fairfax County was $1,923 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 Fairfax County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Fairfax County rental vacancy rates, Fairfax County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Fairfax County.
Real Gross Rent in Fairfax County Virginia (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Virginia Median Gross Rent | $1,254 | +1.37% | +3.29% |
| Fairfax County VA Median Gross Rent | $1,900 | +0.85% | +2.26% |
Fairfax County VA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,900, real median gross rent in Fairfax County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,923, real average gross rent in Fairfax County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Fairfax County VA Median, Fairfax County VA Average, Virginia Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Fairfax County
| Date | US Median |
Virginia Median |
Fairfax County VA Median |
Fairfax County VA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,254 | $1,900 | $1,923 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,237 | $1,884 | $1,893 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,216 | $1,863 | $1,855 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,214 | $1,858 | $1,857 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,214 | $1,871 | $1,865 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,178 | $1,854 | $1,841 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,144 | $1,858 | $1,893 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,136 | $1,762 | $1,778 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,147 | $1,719 | $1,728 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,139 | $1,681 | $1,742 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,127 | $1,760 | $1,787 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,048 | $1,680 | $1,720 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,015 | $1,546 | $1,624 |
Fairfax 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 Fairfax County Virginia was 2.61% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Fairfax County Virginia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Virginia | 5.53% | +0.36% | -0.06% |
| Fairfax County VA | 2.61% | -1.77% | -0.99% |
Trends in Fairfax County VA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Fairfax County peaked in 2006 at 7.61%. Since then it has fallen by 5.00% to 2.61%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Fairfax County VA, Virginia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Fairfax County
| Date | US | Virginia | Fairfax County VA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 5.53% | 2.61% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.17% | 4.38% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.45% | 4.78% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.59% | 3.60% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.13% | 3.73% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.79% | 2.84% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.38% | 4.18% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.18% | 2.99% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.54% | 3.39% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 7.02% | 3.62% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.29% | 6.62% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.11% | 6.57% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.20% | 7.13% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Fairfax County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Fairfax County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.76% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Fairfax County Virginia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Virginia | 19.68% | -0.41% | -0.74% |
| Fairfax County VA | 17.76% | -0.41% | -0.64% |
Trends in Fairfax County VA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Fairfax County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.06%. Since then it has fallen by 1.30% to 17.76%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Fairfax County VA, Virginia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Fairfax County Virginia
| Date | US | Virginia | Fairfax County VA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.68% | 17.76% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.09% | 18.17% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.78% | 18.33% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.42% | 18.40% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.72% | 18.70% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.63% | 19.04% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.80% | 19.06% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 20.76% | 18.56% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 20.59% | 18.06% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 20.15% | 17.52% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.00% | 18.08% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.97% | 16.31% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.96% | 15.69% |
Renter Fraction in Fairfax County Virginia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Fairfax 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 Fairfax County as a fraction of total Fairfax County households. In 2019 32.61% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Fairfax County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Virginia | 33.87% | -0.21% | -0.84% |
| Fairfax County VA | 32.61% | +1.53% | -0.01% |
Trends in the Fairfax County VA Renter Fraction
The Fairfax County household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 33.25% and is now 0.64% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Fairfax County VA, Virginia, US
History of Fairfax County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Virginia | Fairfax County VA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.87% | 32.61% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.08% | 31.08% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 33.43% | 32.98% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.71% | 32.62% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.99% | 33.02% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.67% | 32.68% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 34.38% | 32.72% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.84% | 33.25% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 32.67% | 32.10% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 32.33% | 30.09% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 31.87% | 28.25% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 30.49% | 25.40% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.36% | 25.91% |
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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