Department of Numbers

Yakima Washington Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Yakima, WA (the Yakima metro area) was $839 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Yakima was $803 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 Yakima median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Yakima 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%
Yakima, WA Median Gross Rent $839 +3.45% +4.09%

Yakima, WA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $839, real median gross rent in Yakima was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Yakima peaked in real terms in 2011 at $840 and is now $37 (4.40%) lower.

Real Gross Rent in Yakima: Yakima WA Median, Yakima WA Average, Washington Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Yakima

Date US
Median
Washington
Median
Yakima, WA
Median
Yakima, WA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,359 $839 $803
2018 $1,077 $1,340 $811 $803
2017 $1,043 $1,254 $795 $810
2016 $1,027 $1,188 $806 $797
2015 $1,017 $1,146 $810 $782
2014 $986 $1,090 $837 $800
2013 $953 $1,041 $813 $780
2012 $940 $1,015 $774 $774
2011 $941 $1,004 $798 $840
2010 $955 $1,015 $802 $813
2009 $960 $1,038 $759 $761

more history ...

Yakima 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 Yakima Washington was 2.51% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Yakima Washington

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Washington 4.31% +0.37% +1.08%
Yakima, WA 2.51% -1.91% +0.31%

Trends in Yakima, WA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Yakima peaked in 2005 at 8.83%. Since then it has fallen by 6.32% to 2.51%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.20%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.31%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Yakima WA, Washington, US

Rental vacancy rate in Washington

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Yakima

Date US Washington Yakima, WA
2019 5.97% 4.31% 2.51%
2018 6.15% 3.94% 4.42%
2017 6.18% 3.68% 2.29%
2016 5.89% 3.23% 2.20%
2015 5.85% 3.27% 3.65%
2014 6.32% 4.23% 5.09%
2013 6.49% 4.65% 4.89%
2012 6.77% 5.30% 4.50%
2011 7.40% 5.59%
2010 8.17% 5.80% 3.08%
2009 8.43% 5.98% 3.43%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Yakima, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Yakima, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.90% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Yakima 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%
Yakima, WA 17.90% -0.65% -0.97%

Trends in Yakima, WA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Yakima household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.10%. Since then it has fallen by 4.20% to 17.90%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Yakima WA, Washington, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Yakima Washington

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Yakima Washington

Date US Washington Yakima, WA
2019 20.03% 20.73% 17.90%
2018 20.50% 21.32% 18.55%
2017 20.13% 20.56% 19.52%
2016 20.43% 20.30% 18.87%
2015 20.63% 20.21% 19.41%
2014 20.89% 20.18% 21.31%
2013 20.78% 20.32% 22.10%
2012 20.65% 19.88% 19.88%
2011 20.70% 19.64% 21.03%
2010 20.50% 19.59% 21.20%
2009 20.12% 19.33% 19.38%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Yakima Washington

You can calculate the renter fraction in Yakima 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 Yakima as a fraction of total Yakima households. In 2019 36.57% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Yakima 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%
Yakima, WA 36.57% +0.11% -0.70%

Trends in the Yakima, WA Renter Fraction

The Yakima household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 39.84% and is now 3.27% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Yakima WA, Washington, US

Fraction of renters in Yakima

History of Yakima Renter Fraction

Date US Washington Yakima, WA
2019 35.89% 36.92% 36.57%
2018 36.05% 37.18% 36.46%
2017 36.13% 37.21% 39.84%
2016 36.88% 37.53% 37.27%
2015 36.97% 37.58% 35.91%
2014 36.90% 38.25% 35.30%
2013 36.50% 38.06% 38.33%
2012 36.09% 37.67% 37.92%
2011 35.42% 37.18% 39.56%
2010 34.65% 36.90% 38.97%
2009 34.13% 35.70% 35.31%

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.