Pittsfield Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Pittsfield, MA (the Pittsfield metro area) was $864 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Pittsfield was $877 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 Pittsfield median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Pittsfield rental vacancy rates, Pittsfield rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Pittsfield.
Real Gross Rent in Pittsfield Massachusetts (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Massachusetts Median Gross Rent | $1,360 | +3.19% | +10.12% |
| Pittsfield, MA Median Gross Rent | $864 | -5.05% | +0.70% |
Pittsfield, MA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Pittsfield peaked in real terms in 2018 at $910 and is now $46 (5.05%) lower. Average gross rent for Pittsfield peaked in real terms in 2018 at $923 and is now $46 (4.98%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Pittsfield: Pittsfield MA Median, Pittsfield MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Pittsfield
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Pittsfield, MA Median |
Pittsfield, MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $864 | $877 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $910 | $923 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $843 | $851 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $858 | $861 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $871 | $788 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $756 | $744 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $787 | $754 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $796 | $833 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $767 | $753 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $816 | $784 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $819 | $749 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $791 | $775 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $743 | $735 |
Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield Massachusetts was 6.44% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Pittsfield Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 6.44% | +3.05% | -2.92% |
Trends in Pittsfield, MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Pittsfield peaked in 2016 at 9.36%. Since then it has fallen by 2.92% to 6.44%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Pittsfield MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Pittsfield
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Pittsfield, MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 6.44% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 3.39% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 5.84% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 9.36% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 4.67% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 5.69% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 6.22% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 4.22% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 7.37% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 7.80% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 8.96% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 6.22% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 5.85% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Pittsfield, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Pittsfield, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.60% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Pittsfield Massachusetts Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Massachusetts | 19.01% | -0.45% | +0.22% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 17.60% | -0.14% | +0.78% |
Trends in Pittsfield, MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Pittsfield household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.40%. Since then it has fallen by 2.80% to 17.60%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Pittsfield MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Pittsfield Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Pittsfield, MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 17.60% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 17.74% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 17.20% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 16.82% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 19.41% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 17.11% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 17.07% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 19.30% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 19.83% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 19.82% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 20.40% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 17.07% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 14.68% |
Renter Fraction in Pittsfield Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Pittsfield 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 Pittsfield as a fraction of total Pittsfield households. In 2019 30.04% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Pittsfield Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Massachusetts | 37.84% | -0.40% | -0.17% |
| Pittsfield, MA | 30.04% | -1.79% | -1.08% |
Trends in the Pittsfield, MA Renter Fraction
The Pittsfield household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 34.37% and is now 4.33% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Pittsfield MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Pittsfield Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Pittsfield, MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 30.04% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 31.83% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 30.87% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 31.12% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 34.37% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 32.38% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 32.06% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 32.83% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 29.74% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 33.82% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 33.38% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 32.25% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 31.02% |
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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