Whatcom County Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Whatcom County WA was $1,134 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Whatcom County was $1,219 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 Whatcom County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Whatcom County rental vacancy rates, Whatcom County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Whatcom County.
Real Gross Rent in Whatcom 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% |
| Whatcom County WA Median Gross Rent | $1,134 | +0.35% | +14.78% |
Whatcom County WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,134, real median gross rent in Whatcom County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,219, real average gross rent in Whatcom County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Whatcom County WA Median, Whatcom County WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Whatcom County
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Whatcom County WA Median |
Whatcom County WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $1,134 | $1,219 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $1,130 | $1,157 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $1,112 | $1,160 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $988 | $1,054 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $987 | $1,025 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $988 | $1,082 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $941 | $994 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $934 | $966 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $957 | $1,035 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $923 | $974 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $891 | $985 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $868 | $918 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $884 | $935 |
Whatcom County Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2018 the rental vacancy rate for Whatcom County Washington was 2.09% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Whatcom County Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Whatcom County WA | — | — | — |
Trends in Whatcom County WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Whatcom County peaked in 2009 at 5.86%. Since then it has fallen by 3.77% to 2.09%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Whatcom County WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Whatcom County
| Date | US | Washington | Whatcom County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | — |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 2.09% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 2.59% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 1.82% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | 1.82% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 4.12% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | 5.00% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 5.47% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 4.57% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 3.91% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 5.86% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 1.35% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | 3.95% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Whatcom County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Whatcom County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.62% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Whatcom 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% |
| Whatcom County WA | 19.62% | -1.78% | -0.47% |
Trends in Whatcom County WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Whatcom County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.39%. Since then it has fallen by 1.78% to 19.62%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Whatcom County WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Whatcom County Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Whatcom County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 19.62% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 21.39% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 21.14% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 20.08% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 20.29% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 20.93% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 21.38% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 20.47% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 20.64% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 19.85% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 20.18% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 19.07% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 19.17% |
Renter Fraction in Whatcom County Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Whatcom 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 Whatcom County as a fraction of total Whatcom County households. In 2019 35.63% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Whatcom 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% |
| Whatcom County WA | 35.63% | -3.01% | -5.06% |
Trends in the Whatcom County WA Renter Fraction
The Whatcom County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 40.69% and is now 5.06% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Whatcom County WA, Washington, US
History of Whatcom County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Whatcom County WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 35.63% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 38.64% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 38.38% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 40.69% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 36.29% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 37.52% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 37.47% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 37.70% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 35.14% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 38.83% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 37.53% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 38.66% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 37.61% |
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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