Cowlitz County Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Cowlitz County WA was $934 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Cowlitz County was $941 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 Cowlitz County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Cowlitz County rental vacancy rates, Cowlitz County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Cowlitz County.
Real Gross Rent in Cowlitz 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% |
| Cowlitz County WA Median Gross Rent | $934 | +14.18% | +19.59% |
Cowlitz County WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $934, real median gross rent in Cowlitz County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $941, real average gross rent in Cowlitz County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Cowlitz County WA Median, Cowlitz County WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Cowlitz County
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Cowlitz County WA Median |
Cowlitz County WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $934 | $941 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $818 | $859 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $837 | $822 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $781 | $851 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $870 | $896 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $779 | $834 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $803 | $789 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $798 | $837 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $741 | $777 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $772 | $789 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $750 | $827 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $755 | $795 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $736 | $751 |
Cowlitz County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2013 the rental vacancy rate for Cowlitz County Washington was 4.15% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Cowlitz County Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Cowlitz County WA | — | — | — |
Trends in Cowlitz County WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Cowlitz County peaked in 2008 at 8.77%. Since then it has fallen by 4.62% to 4.15%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Cowlitz County WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Cowlitz County
| Date | US | Washington | Cowlitz County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% | 4.15% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 8.07% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 5.00% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | — |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 5.38% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | — |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Cowlitz County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Cowlitz County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.20% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Cowlitz 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% |
| Cowlitz County WA | 20.20% | +3.93% | +2.52% |
Trends in Cowlitz County WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Cowlitz County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.97%. Since then it has fallen by 0.78% to 20.20%. From a 2018 low of 16.27%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 3.93%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Cowlitz County WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Cowlitz County Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Cowlitz County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 20.20% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 16.27% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 19.70% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 17.68% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 19.70% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 20.97% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 18.91% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 18.87% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 19.59% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 20.20% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 17.36% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 17.49% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 16.97% |
Renter Fraction in Cowlitz County Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz County as a fraction of total Cowlitz County households. In 2019 35.02% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Cowlitz 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% |
| Cowlitz County WA | 35.02% | +2.96% | +3.09% |
Trends in the Cowlitz County WA Renter Fraction
The Cowlitz County household renter fraction peaked in in 2010 at 38.01% and is now 2.99% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Cowlitz County WA, Washington, US
History of Cowlitz County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Cowlitz County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 35.02% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 32.06% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 34.95% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 31.93% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 33.85% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 36.70% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 32.48% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 36.06% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 33.93% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 38.01% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 33.14% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 33.92% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 33.60% |
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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