Santa Clara County California Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Santa Clara County CA was $2,392 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Santa Clara County was $2,321 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 Santa Clara County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Santa Clara County rental vacancy rates, Santa Clara County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Santa Clara County.
Real Gross Rent in Santa Clara 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% |
| Santa Clara County CA Median Gross Rent | $2,392 | +1.92% | +10.64% |
Santa Clara County CA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $2,392, real median gross rent in Santa Clara County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $2,321, real average gross rent in Santa Clara County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Santa Clara County CA Median, Santa Clara County CA Average, California Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Santa Clara County
| Date | US Median |
California Median |
Santa Clara County CA Median |
Santa Clara County CA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,614 | $2,392 | $2,321 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,547 | $2,347 | $2,296 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,492 | $2,298 | $2,242 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,440 | $2,162 | $2,124 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,391 | $2,022 | $2,024 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,339 | $1,887 | $1,896 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,289 | $1,741 | $1,769 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,277 | $1,666 | $1,691 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,268 | $1,579 | $1,608 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,300 | $1,585 | $1,627 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,316 | $1,620 | $1,645 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,266 | $1,555 | $1,606 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,216 | $1,511 | $1,573 |
Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County California was 4.99% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Santa Clara County California
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| California | 4.06% | +0.09% | +0.75% |
| Santa Clara County CA | 4.99% | +1.05% | +1.89% |
Trends in Santa Clara County CA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Santa Clara County peaked in 2017 at 5.16%. Since then it has fallen by 0.17% to 4.99%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Santa Clara County CA, California, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Santa Clara County
| Date | US | California | Santa Clara County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.06% | 4.99% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.97% | 3.94% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.49% | 5.16% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.31% | 3.10% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.33% | 2.77% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 3.90% | 2.97% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.22% | 2.90% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.51% | 2.93% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.94% | 2.69% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.86% | 4.12% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.76% | 3.45% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 4.72% | 3.43% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 4.61% | 4.39% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Santa Clara County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Santa Clara County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.57% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Santa Clara 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% |
| Santa Clara County CA | 21.57% | -0.28% | -0.74% |
Trends in Santa Clara County CA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Santa Clara County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2017 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.47%. Since then it has fallen by 0.90% to 21.57%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Santa Clara County CA, California, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Santa Clara County California
| Date | US | California | Santa Clara County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 24.08% | 21.57% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 24.23% | 21.85% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 24.18% | 22.47% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 24.36% | 22.31% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 24.39% | 22.35% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 24.57% | 21.99% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 24.40% | 21.56% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 24.69% | 20.55% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 24.59% | 20.67% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 24.18% | 20.02% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 23.52% | 20.01% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 21.58% | 18.83% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 21.77% | 18.89% |
Renter Fraction in Santa Clara County California
You can calculate the renter fraction in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County as a fraction of total Santa Clara County households. In 2019 45.07% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Santa Clara 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% |
| Santa Clara County CA | 45.07% | +0.62% | +1.52% |
Trends in the Santa Clara County CA Renter Fraction
At 45.07%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Santa Clara County was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Santa Clara County CA, California, US
History of Santa Clara County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | California | Santa Clara County CA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 45.14% | 45.07% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 45.18% | 44.45% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 45.21% | 43.16% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 46.36% | 43.55% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 46.41% | 43.86% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 46.27% | 43.88% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 46.21% | 44.02% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 45.97% | 43.88% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 45.12% | 43.32% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 44.36% | 42.77% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 43.43% | 41.26% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 42.00% | 39.13% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 41.56% | 39.77% |
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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