Fresno California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Fresno, CA (the Fresno metro area) was $1,034 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Fresno was $1,056 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 Fresno median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Fresno rental vacancy rates, Fresno rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Fresno.
Real Gross Rent in Fresno 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% |
| Fresno, CA Median Gross Rent | $1,034 | +1.97% | +6.16% |
Fresno, CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,034, real median gross rent in Fresno was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,056, real average gross rent in Fresno was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent in Fresno: Fresno CA Median, Fresno CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Fresno
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Fresno, CA Median |
Fresno, CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $1,034 | $1,056 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $1,014 | $1,028 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $985 | $1,001 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $974 | $1,004 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $952 | $980 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $941 | $968 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $905 | $941 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $913 | $946 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $926 | $940 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $922 | $953 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $946 | $979 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $927 | $947 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $888 | $889 |
Fresno 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 Fresno California was 4.13% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Fresno California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Fresno, CA | 4.13% | +0.53% | +0.76% |
Trends in Fresno, CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Fresno peaked in 2010 at 7.59%. Since then it has fallen by 3.46% to 4.13%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 3.12%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.01%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Fresno CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Fresno
| Date | US | California | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.13% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 3.60% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 3.12% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 3.37% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 3.21% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 5.01% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 5.09% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 7.05% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 6.70% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 7.59% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 6.96% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 4.32% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 5.14% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Fresno, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Fresno, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.57% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Fresno 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% |
| Fresno, CA | 21.57% | -1.14% | -1.34% |
Trends in Fresno, CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Fresno household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.73%. Since then it has fallen by 3.16% to 21.57%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Fresno CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Fresno California
| Date | US | California | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.57% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 22.71% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 22.12% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.91% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 22.93% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 24.62% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 23.47% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 24.73% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 24.02% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 21.89% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 21.81% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 20.02% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 20.33% |
Renter Fraction in Fresno California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Fresno 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 Fresno as a fraction of total Fresno households. In 2019 46.38% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Fresno 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% |
| Fresno, CA | 46.38% | -2.43% | -0.71% |
Trends in the Fresno, CA Renter Fraction
The Fresno household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 48.81% and is now 2.43% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Fresno CA, California, US
History of Fresno Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Fresno, CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 46.38% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 48.81% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 46.61% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 47.09% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 47.92% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 48.76% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 47.95% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 48.56% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 45.64% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 45.81% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 45.70% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 44.02% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 42.44% |
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. ↩
Department of Numbers
The Department of Numbers contextualizes public data so that individuals can form independent opinions on everyday social and economic matters.
Here's where you are
- Home
- / Rent
- / California
- / Fresno
