Spokane Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Spokane, WA (the Spokane metro area) was $934 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Spokane was $962 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 Spokane median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Spokane rental vacancy rates, Spokane rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Spokane.
Real Gross Rent in Spokane 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% |
| Spokane, WA Median Gross Rent | $934 | +1.08% | +6.26% |
Spokane, WA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $934, real median gross rent in Spokane was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $962, real average gross rent in Spokane was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Spokane: Spokane WA Median, Spokane WA Average, Washington Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Spokane
| Date | US Median |
Washington Median |
Spokane, WA Median |
Spokane, WA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,359 | $934 | $962 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,340 | $924 | $959 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,254 | $878 | $933 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,188 | $879 | $941 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,146 | $828 | $879 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,090 | $851 | $887 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,041 | $810 | $836 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,015 | $802 | $847 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,004 | $779 | $819 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,015 | $802 | $843 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,038 | $841 | $870 |
| 2007 | $927 | $959 | $774 | $801 |
| 2005 | $910 | $926 | $761 | $764 |
Spokane 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 Spokane Washington was 2.83% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Spokane Washington
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Washington | 4.31% | +0.37% | +1.08% |
| Spokane, WA | 2.83% | -0.91% | -1.06% |
Trends in Spokane, WA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Spokane peaked in 2011 at 7.97%. Since then it has fallen by 5.14% to 2.83%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 2.70%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.13%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Spokane WA, Washington, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Spokane
| Date | US | Washington | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.31% | 2.83% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.94% | 3.74% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.68% | 2.70% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.23% | 3.89% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.27% | 3.90% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.23% | 5.60% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.65% | 5.52% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.30% | 7.21% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 5.59% | 7.97% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 4.04% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.98% | 7.39% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.83% | 5.35% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.74% | 5.09% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Spokane, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Spokane, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.79% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Spokane 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% |
| Spokane, WA | 18.79% | +0.18% | -0.22% |
Trends in Spokane, WA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Spokane household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.80%. Since then it has fallen by 1.01% to 18.79%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Spokane WA, Washington, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Spokane Washington
| Date | US | Washington | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.73% | 18.79% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 21.32% | 18.61% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.56% | 19.17% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.30% | 19.01% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.21% | 19.71% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.18% | 19.61% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 20.32% | 19.43% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.88% | 19.00% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.64% | 17.63% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.59% | 18.32% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.33% | 19.80% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.61% | 17.05% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.05% | 17.54% |
Renter Fraction in Spokane Washington
You can calculate the renter fraction in Spokane 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 Spokane as a fraction of total Spokane households. In 2019 37.32% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Spokane 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% |
| Spokane, WA | 37.32% | +2.15% | +1.54% |
Trends in the Spokane, WA Renter Fraction
The Spokane household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 37.95% and is now 0.63% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Spokane WA, Washington, US
History of Spokane Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Washington | Spokane, WA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 36.92% | 37.32% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 37.18% | 35.17% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.21% | 35.58% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 37.53% | 35.78% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 37.58% | 37.95% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.25% | 36.65% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.06% | 36.69% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.67% | 37.03% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.18% | 35.63% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.90% | 36.71% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.70% | 35.04% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 33.93% | 34.16% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.34% | 35.43% |
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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