Anchorage Alaska Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Anchorage, AK (the Anchorage metro area) was $1,213 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Anchorage was $1,271 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 Anchorage median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Anchorage rental vacancy rates, Anchorage rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Anchorage.
Real Gross Rent in Anchorage Alaska (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Alaska Median Gross Rent | $1,201 | +0.25% | -5.06% |
| Anchorage, AK Median Gross Rent | $1,213 | -1.54% | -7.76% |
Anchorage, AK Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Anchorage peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,315 and is now $102 (7.76%) lower. Average gross rent for Anchorage peaked in real terms in 2014 at $1,358 and is now $87 (6.41%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Anchorage: Anchorage AK Median, Anchorage AK Average, Alaska Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Anchorage
| Date | US Median |
Alaska Median |
Anchorage, AK Median |
Anchorage, AK Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,201 | $1,213 | $1,271 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,198 | $1,232 | $1,267 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,238 | $1,307 | $1,339 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,265 | $1,315 | $1,358 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,234 | $1,284 | $1,305 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,249 | $1,303 | $1,358 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,176 | $1,211 | $1,244 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,191 | $1,238 | $1,289 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,133 | $1,154 | $1,172 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,096 | $1,096 | $1,129 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,148 | $1,210 | $1,248 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,079 | $1,133 | $1,175 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,040 | $1,080 | $1,093 |
Anchorage 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 Anchorage Alaska was 10.27% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Anchorage Alaska
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Alaska | 9.22% | +0.66% | +3.41% |
| Anchorage, AK | 10.27% | -0.15% | +4.82% |
Trends in Anchorage, AK Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Anchorage peaked in 2018 at 10.42%. Since then it has fallen by 0.15% to 10.27%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Anchorage AK, Alaska, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Anchorage
| Date | US | Alaska | Anchorage, AK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 9.22% | 10.27% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.56% | 10.42% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.12% | 7.07% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.81% | 5.45% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.74% | 5.00% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 5.89% | 5.14% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.74% | 4.98% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.62% | 4.14% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.94% | 4.69% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 3.73% | 3.04% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.82% | 5.21% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 5.99% | 5.41% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 6.87% | 5.56% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Anchorage, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Anchorage, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.04% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Anchorage Alaska Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Alaska | 19.10% | +0.10% | +0.13% |
| Anchorage, AK | 18.04% | +0.12% | -0.29% |
Trends in Anchorage, AK Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Anchorage household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.79%. Since then it has fallen by 1.75% to 18.04%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Anchorage AK, Alaska, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Anchorage Alaska
| Date | US | Alaska | Anchorage, AK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.10% | 18.04% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.00% | 17.92% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 19.69% | 19.79% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.96% | 18.34% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.03% | 18.56% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.83% | 19.57% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 18.56% | 17.96% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.85% | 19.54% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.56% | 17.87% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.23% | 16.47% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.05% | 17.53% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.12% | 17.01% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.75% | 17.23% |
Renter Fraction in Anchorage Alaska
You can calculate the renter fraction in Anchorage 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 Anchorage as a fraction of total Anchorage households. In 2019 35.35% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Anchorage Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Alaska | 35.26% | +0.91% | -0.26% |
| Anchorage, AK | 35.35% | +2.82% | -0.16% |
Trends in the Anchorage, AK Renter Fraction
The Anchorage household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 37.64% and is now 2.29% below that level. From a recent low of 32.53% in 2018, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 2.82%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Anchorage AK, Alaska, US
History of Anchorage Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Alaska | Anchorage, AK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 35.26% | 35.35% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.35% | 32.53% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 36.45% | 37.37% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 35.52% | 35.51% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 36.08% | 35.33% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 37.51% | 37.64% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 36.55% | 36.93% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 36.65% | 36.45% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 36.92% | 36.92% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.06% | 34.78% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 34.77% | 34.50% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 36.97% | 35.90% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 36.97% | 35.53% |
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. ↩
