Department of Numbers

Fairfield County Connecticut Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Fairfield County CT was $1,521 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Fairfield County was $1,531 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 Fairfield County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Fairfield County Connecticut (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Connecticut Median Gross Rent $1,177 -1.26% +0.77%
Fairfield County CT Median Gross Rent $1,521 +3.82% +2.84%

Fairfield County CT Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,521, real median gross rent in Fairfield County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Fairfield County peaked in real terms in 2015 at $1,556 and is now $25 (1.61%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Fairfield County CT Median, Fairfield County CT Average, Connecticut Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Fairfield County

Date US
Median
Connecticut
Median
Fairfield County CT
Median
Fairfield County CT
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,177 $1,521 $1,531
2018 $1,077 $1,192 $1,465 $1,515
2017 $1,043 $1,160 $1,483 $1,503
2016 $1,027 $1,168 $1,479 $1,526
2015 $1,017 $1,175 $1,515 $1,556
2014 $986 $1,136 $1,459 $1,507
2013 $953 $1,095 $1,401 $1,392
2012 $940 $1,084 $1,347 $1,389
2011 $941 $1,103 $1,314 $1,341
2010 $955 $1,108 $1,378 $1,383
2009 $960 $1,147 $1,402 $1,450

more history ...

Fairfield 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 Fairfield County Connecticut was 8.56% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Fairfield County Connecticut

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Connecticut 6.37% +0.58% +0.81%
Fairfield County CT 8.56% +3.70% +3.62%

Trends in Fairfield County CT Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Fairfield County peaked in 2007 at 9.24%. Since then it has fallen by 0.68% to 8.56%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2014 post peak low of 4.82%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.74%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Fairfield County CT, Connecticut, US

Rental vacancy rate in Connecticut

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Fairfield County

Date US Connecticut Fairfield County CT
2019 5.97% 6.37% 8.56%
2018 6.15% 5.79% 4.86%
2017 6.18% 7.02% 7.46%
2016 5.89% 5.56% 4.94%
2015 5.85% 6.78% 5.24%
2014 6.32% 6.72% 4.82%
2013 6.49% 6.58% 7.34%
2012 6.77% 6.97% 7.26%
2011 7.40% 7.87% 7.01%
2010 8.17% 7.09% 7.73%
2009 8.43% 7.84% 7.50%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Fairfield County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Fairfield County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.81% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Fairfield County Connecticut Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Connecticut 17.92% -0.49% -0.30%
Fairfield County CT 18.81% -0.15% +0.01%

Trends in Fairfield County CT Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Fairfield County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.83%. Since then it has fallen by 1.02% to 18.81%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Fairfield County CT, Connecticut, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Fairfield County Connecticut

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Fairfield County Connecticut

Date US Connecticut Fairfield County CT
2019 20.03% 17.92% 18.81%
2018 20.50% 18.41% 18.96%
2017 20.13% 18.20% 18.92%
2016 20.43% 18.22% 18.80%
2015 20.63% 18.64% 19.83%
2014 20.89% 18.43% 19.30%
2013 20.78% 18.60% 19.44%
2012 20.65% 18.18% 19.03%
2011 20.70% 18.63% 18.90%
2010 20.50% 18.59% 19.77%
2009 20.12% 18.01% 18.67%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Fairfield County Connecticut

You can calculate the renter fraction in Fairfield 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 Fairfield County as a fraction of total Fairfield County households. In 2019 33.92% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Fairfield County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Connecticut 34.97% +0.77% -0.26%
Fairfield County CT 33.92% -0.38% -0.81%

Trends in the Fairfield County CT Renter Fraction

The Fairfield County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 34.73% and is now 0.81% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Fairfield County CT, Connecticut, US

Fraction of renters in Fairfield County

History of Fairfield County Renter Fraction

Date US Connecticut Fairfield County CT
2019 35.89% 34.97% 33.92%
2018 36.05% 34.20% 34.30%
2017 36.13% 33.80% 33.19%
2016 36.88% 35.23% 34.73%
2015 36.97% 33.84% 32.56%
2014 36.90% 33.62% 32.77%
2013 36.50% 33.69% 32.17%
2012 36.09% 33.09% 31.72%
2011 35.42% 32.60% 32.23%
2010 34.65% 32.03% 31.02%
2009 34.13% 31.15% 29.85%

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.