Department of Numbers

Los Angeles County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Los Angeles County CA was $1,577 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Los Angeles County was $1,627 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 Los Angeles County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Los Angeles County 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%
Los Angeles County CA Median Gross Rent $1,577 +4.71% +13.21%

Los Angeles County CA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,577, real median gross rent in Los Angeles County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,627, real average gross rent in Los Angeles County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Los Angeles County CA Median, Los Angeles County CA Average, California Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Los Angeles County

Date US
Median
California
Median
Los Angeles County CA
Median
Los Angeles County CA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,614 $1,577 $1,627
2018 $1,077 $1,547 $1,506 $1,570
2017 $1,043 $1,492 $1,446 $1,521
2016 $1,027 $1,440 $1,393 $1,471
2015 $1,017 $1,391 $1,357 $1,434
2014 $986 $1,339 $1,308 $1,387
2013 $953 $1,289 $1,269 $1,345
2012 $940 $1,277 $1,250 $1,325
2011 $941 $1,268 $1,254 $1,321
2010 $955 $1,300 $1,282 $1,352
2009 $960 $1,316 $1,295 $1,363

more history ...

Los Angeles County 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 Los Angeles County California was 3.96% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Los Angeles County California

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
California 4.06% +0.09% +0.75%
Los Angeles County CA 3.96% +0.13% +1.07%

Trends in Los Angeles County CA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Los Angeles County peaked in 2010 at 5.35%. Since then it has fallen by 1.39% to 3.96%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2016 post peak low of 2.89%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.07%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Los Angeles County CA, California, US

Rental vacancy rate in California

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Los Angeles County

Date US California Los Angeles County CA
2019 5.97% 4.06% 3.96%
2018 6.15% 3.97% 3.83%
2017 6.18% 3.49% 3.30%
2016 5.89% 3.31% 2.89%
2015 5.85% 3.33% 3.04%
2014 6.32% 3.90% 3.33%
2013 6.49% 4.22% 3.67%
2012 6.77% 4.51% 3.99%
2011 7.40% 4.94% 4.61%
2010 8.17% 5.86% 5.35%
2009 8.43% 5.76% 5.13%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Los Angeles County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Los Angeles County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 26.00% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Los Angeles County 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%
Los Angeles County CA 26.00% -0.07% -0.02%

Trends in Los Angeles County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Los Angeles County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 26.67%. Since then it has fallen by 0.68% to 26.00%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Los Angeles County CA, California, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Los Angeles County California

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Los Angeles County California

Date US California Los Angeles County CA
2019 20.03% 24.08% 26.00%
2018 20.50% 24.23% 26.06%
2017 20.13% 24.18% 25.88%
2016 20.43% 24.36% 26.02%
2015 20.63% 24.39% 25.95%
2014 20.89% 24.57% 26.67%
2013 20.78% 24.40% 26.52%
2012 20.65% 24.69% 26.60%
2011 20.70% 24.59% 26.65%
2010 20.50% 24.18% 26.13%
2009 20.12% 23.52% 25.03%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Los Angeles County California

You can calculate the renter fraction in Los Angeles County 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 Los Angeles County as a fraction of total Los Angeles County households. In 2019 54.58% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Los Angeles County 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%
Los Angeles County CA 54.58% -0.12% -0.84%

Trends in the Los Angeles County CA Renter Fraction

The Los Angeles County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 55.42% and is now 0.84% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Los Angeles County CA, California, US

Fraction of renters in Los Angeles County

History of Los Angeles County Renter Fraction

Date US California Los Angeles County CA
2019 35.89% 45.14% 54.58%
2018 36.05% 45.18% 54.70%
2017 36.13% 45.21% 54.38%
2016 36.88% 46.36% 55.42%
2015 36.97% 46.41% 54.86%
2014 36.90% 46.27% 54.52%
2013 36.50% 46.21% 54.49%
2012 36.09% 45.97% 54.17%
2011 35.42% 45.12% 53.71%
2010 34.65% 44.36% 53.11%
2009 34.13% 43.43% 52.17%

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.