Benton County Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Benton County WA was $1,019 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Benton County was $1,092 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 Benton County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Benton County rental vacancy rates, Benton County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Benton County.
Real Gross Rent in Benton County 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% |
| Benton County WA Median Gross Rent | $1,019 | +3.98% | +7.94% |
Benton County WA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Benton County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $1,047 and is now $28 (2.67%) lower. At $1,092, real average gross rent in Benton County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Benton County WA Median, Benton County WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Benton County
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Benton County WA Median |
Benton County WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $1,019 | $1,092 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $980 | $982 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,047 | $1,062 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $944 | $947 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $874 | $875 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $891 | $947 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $884 | $892 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $828 | $843 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $858 | $961 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $811 | $828 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $850 | $890 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $800 | $821 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $911 | $854 |
Benton 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 Benton County Washington was 6.49% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Benton County Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Benton County WA | 6.49% | +2.42% | +2.32% |
Trends in Benton County WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Benton County peaked in 2007 at 13.48%. Since then it has fallen by 6.99% to 6.49%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 4.07%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.42%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Benton County WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Benton County
| Date | US | Washington | Benton County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | 6.49% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 4.07% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 5.91% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 4.17% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | — |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 7.65% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | — |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 9.94% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 7.35% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 6.94% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 8.57% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 13.48% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Benton County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Benton County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.96% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Benton County 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% |
| Benton County WA | 16.96% | -0.00% | -0.35% |
Trends in Benton County WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Benton County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.23%. Since then it has fallen by 2.26% to 16.96%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Benton County WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Benton County Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Benton County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 16.96% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 16.97% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 19.23% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 17.32% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 15.82% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 17.43% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 17.07% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 16.16% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 15.44% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 14.58% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 15.58% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 15.88% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 16.88% |
Renter Fraction in Benton County Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Benton 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 Benton County as a fraction of total Benton County households. In 2019 31.94% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Benton County 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% |
| Benton County WA | 31.94% | -0.40% | +1.42% |
Trends in the Benton County WA Renter Fraction
The Benton County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 34.07% and is now 2.13% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Benton County WA, Washington, US
History of Benton County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Benton County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 31.94% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 32.34% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 33.83% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 30.52% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 32.08% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 34.07% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 31.35% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 30.94% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 31.98% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 31.02% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 31.41% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 29.76% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 26.20% |
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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