Cleveland Ohio Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Cleveland, OH (the Cleveland-Elyria-Mentor metro area) was $813 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Cleveland was $836 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 Cleveland median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Cleveland rental vacancy rates, Cleveland rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Cleveland.
Real Gross Rent in Cleveland Ohio (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Ohio Median Gross Rent | $813 | +0.25% | +2.26% |
| Cleveland, OH Median Gross Rent | $813 | -0.73% | 0.00% |
Cleveland, OH Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Cleveland peaked in real terms in 2008 at $821 and is now $8 (0.97%) lower. From a recent low of 766.0 in 2012, real median gross rent has now increased by $47 (6.14%). Average gross rent for Cleveland peaked in real terms in 2008 at $841 and is now $5 (0.59%) lower. From a recent low of 769.0 in 2012, real average gross rent has now increased by $67 (8.71%).
Real Gross Rent in Cleveland: Cleveland OH Median, Cleveland OH Average, Ohio Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Cleveland
| Date | US Median |
Ohio Median |
Cleveland, OH Median |
Cleveland, OH Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $813 | $813 | $836 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $811 | $819 | $839 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $796 | $814 | $829 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $795 | $813 | $829 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $791 | $791 | $808 |
| 2014 | $986 | $776 | $794 | $793 |
| 2013 | $953 | $747 | $773 | $796 |
| 2012 | $940 | $745 | $766 | $769 |
| 2011 | $941 | $747 | $769 | $787 |
| 2010 | $955 | $765 | $798 | $818 |
| 2009 | $960 | $764 | $792 | $794 |
| 2007 | $927 | $755 | $797 | $802 |
| 2005 | $910 | $766 | $818 | $820 |
Cleveland 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 Cleveland Ohio was 5.80% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Cleveland Ohio
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Ohio | 4.67% | -0.87% | -0.77% |
| Cleveland, OH | 5.80% | -0.39% | -0.41% |
Trends in Cleveland, OH Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Cleveland peaked in 2005 at 11.59%. Since then it has fallen by 5.79% to 5.80%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Cleveland OH, Ohio, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Cleveland
| Date | US | Ohio | Cleveland, OH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.67% | 5.80% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.54% | 6.19% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.62% | 6.92% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.44% | 6.21% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.56% | 5.98% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.26% | 6.57% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 6.15% | 7.10% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 7.08% | 8.26% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.89% | 7.93% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 9.45% | 9.91% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 9.17% | 9.69% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.00% | 10.93% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.37% | 11.59% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Cleveland, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Cleveland, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.05% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Cleveland Ohio Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Ohio | 16.64% | -0.41% | -0.77% |
| Cleveland, OH | 17.05% | -0.12% | -0.82% |
Trends in Cleveland, OH Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Cleveland household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.60%. Since then it has fallen by 1.55% to 17.05%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Cleveland OH, Ohio, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Cleveland Ohio
| Date | US | Ohio | Cleveland, OH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 16.64% | 17.05% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 17.04% | 17.17% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.15% | 18.04% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 17.40% | 17.86% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 17.53% | 17.54% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 17.89% | 18.09% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 17.70% | 17.85% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 17.94% | 18.40% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.15% | 18.60% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.23% | 18.53% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.71% | 18.37% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.56% | 16.87% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 16.91% | 17.72% |
Renter Fraction in Cleveland Ohio
You can calculate the renter fraction in Cleveland 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 Cleveland as a fraction of total Cleveland households. In 2019 35.81% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Cleveland Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Ohio | 33.96% | -0.17% | -0.68% |
| Cleveland, OH | 35.81% | +0.22% | +0.46% |
Trends in the Cleveland, OH Renter Fraction
At 35.81%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Cleveland was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Cleveland OH, Ohio, US
History of Cleveland Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Ohio | Cleveland, OH |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 33.96% | 35.81% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 34.13% | 35.59% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 34.22% | 35.57% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 34.64% | 35.35% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 34.59% | 35.46% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 34.67% | 35.62% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 33.93% | 35.15% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 33.71% | 34.80% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 33.02% | 34.56% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 31.60% | 32.35% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 31.95% | 33.61% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 30.32% | 31.73% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 30.06% | 31.54% |
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. ↩
