Department of Numbers

Salinas California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Salinas, CA (the Salinas metro area) was $1,658 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Salinas was $1,707 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 Salinas median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

Data is also available below for Salinas rental vacancy rates, Salinas rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Salinas.

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Salinas California (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
California Median Gross Rent $1,614 +4.33% +12.08%
Salinas, CA Median Gross Rent $1,658 +7.80% +20.49%

Salinas, CA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,658, real median gross rent in Salinas was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,707, real average gross rent in Salinas was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent in Salinas: Salinas CA Median, Salinas CA Average, California Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Salinas

Date US
Median
California
Median
Salinas, CA
Median
Salinas, CA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,614 $1,658 $1,707
2018 $1,077 $1,547 $1,538 $1,541
2017 $1,043 $1,492 $1,513 $1,534
2016 $1,027 $1,440 $1,376 $1,440
2015 $1,017 $1,391 $1,368 $1,420
2014 $986 $1,339 $1,302 $1,366
2013 $953 $1,289 $1,282 $1,378
2012 $940 $1,277 $1,261 $1,379
2011 $941 $1,268 $1,257 $1,321
2010 $955 $1,300 $1,293 $1,368
2009 $960 $1,316 $1,267 $1,355

more history ...

Salinas 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 Salinas California was 5.72% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Salinas California

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
California 4.06% +0.09% +0.75%
Salinas, CA 5.72% +1.95% +2.49%

Trends in Salinas, CA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Salinas peaked in 2017 at 6.18%. Since then it has fallen by 0.46% to 5.72%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Salinas CA, California, US

Rental vacancy rate in California

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Salinas

Date US California Salinas, CA
2019 5.97% 4.06% 5.72%
2018 6.15% 3.97% 3.77%
2017 6.18% 3.49% 6.18%
2016 5.89% 3.31% 3.23%
2015 5.85% 3.33% 3.79%
2014 6.32% 3.90% 6.13%
2013 6.49% 4.22% 5.21%
2012 6.77% 4.51% 3.26%
2011 7.40% 4.94% 3.18%
2010 8.17% 5.86% 4.07%
2009 8.43% 5.76% 4.17%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Salinas, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Salinas, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 25.67% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Salinas California Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
California 24.08% -0.15% -0.28%
Salinas, CA 25.67% +0.01% +0.98%

Trends in Salinas, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Salinas household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 26.27%. Since then it has fallen by 0.60% to 25.67%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Salinas CA, California, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Salinas California

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Salinas California

Date US California Salinas, CA
2019 20.03% 24.08% 25.67%
2018 20.50% 24.23% 25.65%
2017 20.13% 24.18% 24.70%
2016 20.43% 24.36% 24.69%
2015 20.63% 24.39% 25.59%
2014 20.89% 24.57% 25.57%
2013 20.78% 24.40% 25.60%
2012 20.65% 24.69% 24.47%
2011 20.70% 24.59% 26.27%
2010 20.50% 24.18% 25.46%
2009 20.12% 23.52% 22.83%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Salinas California

You can calculate the renter fraction in Salinas 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 Salinas as a fraction of total Salinas households. In 2019 47.17% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Salinas Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
California 45.14% -0.04% -1.22%
Salinas, CA 47.17% -1.53% -3.65%

Trends in the Salinas, CA Renter Fraction

The Salinas household renter fraction peaked in in 2011 at 52.59% and is now 5.42% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Salinas CA, California, US

Fraction of renters in Salinas

History of Salinas Renter Fraction

Date US California Salinas, CA
2019 35.89% 45.14% 47.17%
2018 36.05% 45.18% 48.70%
2017 36.13% 45.21% 48.73%
2016 36.88% 46.36% 50.82%
2015 36.97% 46.41% 50.94%
2014 36.90% 46.27% 49.07%
2013 36.50% 46.21% 50.68%
2012 36.09% 45.97% 51.21%
2011 35.42% 45.12% 52.59%
2010 34.65% 44.36% 49.07%
2009 34.13% 43.43% 49.57%

more history ...

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.