Spokane County Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Spokane County WA was $943 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Spokane County was $974 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 Spokane County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Spokane County rental vacancy rates, Spokane County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Spokane County.
Real Gross Rent in Spokane 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% |
| Spokane County WA Median Gross Rent | $943 | +0.53% | +5.96% |
Spokane County WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $943, real median gross rent in Spokane County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Spokane County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $978 and is now $4 (0.41%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Spokane County WA Median, Spokane County WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Spokane County
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Spokane County WA Median |
Spokane County WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $943 | $974 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $938 | $978 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $890 | $949 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $890 | $955 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $843 | $902 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $856 | $901 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $815 | $850 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $802 | $847 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $779 | $819 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $802 | $843 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $841 | $870 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $774 | $801 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $761 | $764 |
Spokane 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 Spokane County Washington was 2.97% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Spokane County Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Spokane County WA | 2.97% | -0.72% | -0.73% |
Trends in Spokane County WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Spokane County peaked in 2011 at 7.97%. Since then it has fallen by 5.00% to 2.97%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 2.43%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.54%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Spokane County WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Spokane County
| Date | US | Washington | Spokane County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | 2.97% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 3.69% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 2.43% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 3.70% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | 3.69% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 5.51% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | 5.44% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 7.21% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 7.97% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 4.04% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 7.39% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 5.35% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | 5.09% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Spokane County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Spokane County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.87% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Spokane 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% |
| Spokane County WA | 18.87% | +0.38% | -0.36% |
Trends in Spokane County WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Spokane County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.80%. Since then it has fallen by 0.94% to 18.87%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Spokane County WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Spokane County Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Spokane County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 18.87% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 18.49% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 19.41% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 19.23% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 19.66% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 19.37% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 19.52% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 19.00% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 17.63% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 18.32% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 19.80% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 17.05% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 17.54% |
Renter Fraction in Spokane County Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Spokane 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 Spokane County as a fraction of total Spokane County households. In 2019 38.56% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Spokane 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% |
| Spokane County WA | 38.56% | +1.93% | +0.82% |
Trends in the Spokane County WA Renter Fraction
The Spokane County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 39.48% and is now 0.92% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Spokane County WA, Washington, US
History of Spokane County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Spokane County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 38.56% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 36.63% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 37.32% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 37.74% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 39.48% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 37.90% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 38.09% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 37.03% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 35.63% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 36.71% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 35.04% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 34.16% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 35.43% |
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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