Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Washington was $1,359 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent was $1,378 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 median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Washington rental vacancy rates, Washington rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Washington.
Real Gross Rent in Washington (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Washington Median Gross Rent | $1,359 | +1.42% | +14.39% |
Washington Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,359, real median gross rent in Washington was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,378, real average gross rent in Washington was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Washington: Median, Average, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Washington
| Date | US Median | Washington Median | Washington Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $1,378 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $1,363 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,285 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $1,240 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $1,184 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $1,141 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $1,092 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $1,070 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $1,058 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $1,068 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $1,085 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $1,004 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $954 |
Washington 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 Washington was 4.31% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
Trends in Washington Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Washington peaked in 2006 at 6.14%. Since then it has fallen by 1.83% to 4.31%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 3.23%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.08%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Washington
| Date | US | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% |
Washington Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Washington, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Washington, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.73% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Washington Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Washington | 20.73% | -0.59% | +0.43% |
Trends in Washington Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Washington household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.32%. Since then it has fallen by 0.59% to 20.73%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Washington
| Date | US | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% |
Renter Fraction in Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Washington 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 as a fraction of total Washington households. In 2019 36.92% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Washington Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Washington | 36.92% | -0.26% | -0.61% |
Trends in the Washington Renter Fraction
The Washington household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 38.25% and is now 1.33% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Washington, US
History of Washington Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% |
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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