Pierce County Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Pierce County WA was $1,362 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Pierce County was $1,335 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 Pierce County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Pierce County rental vacancy rates, Pierce County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Pierce County.
Real Gross Rent in Pierce 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% |
| Pierce County WA Median Gross Rent | $1,362 | +3.03% | +14.84% |
Pierce County WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,362, real median gross rent in Pierce County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,335, real average gross rent in Pierce County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Pierce County WA Median, Pierce County WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Pierce County
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Pierce County WA Median |
Pierce County WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $1,362 | $1,335 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $1,322 | $1,320 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,234 | $1,221 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $1,186 | $1,202 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $1,127 | $1,141 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $1,092 | $1,140 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $1,046 | $1,099 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $1,049 | $1,096 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $1,034 | $1,078 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $1,077 | $1,127 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $1,054 | $1,110 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $985 | $1,021 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $949 | $975 |
Pierce 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 Pierce County Washington was 5.03% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Pierce County Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Pierce County WA | 5.03% | +1.30% | +3.00% |
Trends in Pierce County WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Pierce County peaked in 2005 at 7.71%. Since then it has fallen by 2.68% to 5.03%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.03%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.00%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Pierce County WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Pierce County
| Date | US | Washington | Pierce County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | 5.03% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 3.73% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 4.70% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 2.03% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | 3.34% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 5.72% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | 5.34% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 5.41% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 6.43% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 6.64% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 5.69% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 6.67% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | 7.71% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Pierce County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Pierce County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.63% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Pierce 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% |
| Pierce County WA | 20.63% | -0.05% | -0.48% |
Trends in Pierce County WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Pierce County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.18%. Since then it has fallen by 0.56% to 20.63%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Pierce County WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Pierce County Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Pierce County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 20.63% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 20.67% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 20.73% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 21.10% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 21.18% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 20.51% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 20.67% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 20.53% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 20.80% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 20.47% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 19.83% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 18.05% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 18.37% |
Renter Fraction in Pierce County Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Pierce 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 Pierce County as a fraction of total Pierce County households. In 2019 37.19% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Pierce 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% |
| Pierce County WA | 37.19% | -0.03% | -2.79% |
Trends in the Pierce County WA Renter Fraction
The Pierce County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 40.05% and is now 2.86% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Pierce County WA, Washington, US
History of Pierce County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Pierce County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 37.19% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 37.22% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 36.78% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 39.98% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 39.76% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 40.05% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 39.52% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 39.27% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 38.46% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 38.61% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 38.42% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 34.46% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 37.92% |
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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