Department of Numbers

Leon County Florida Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Leon County FL was $1,015 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Leon County was $1,024 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 Leon County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Leon County Florida (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Florida Median Gross Rent $1,238 +2.91% +8.88%
Leon County FL Median Gross Rent $1,015 +2.11% +0.59%

Leon County FL Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Leon County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $1,051 and is now $36 (3.43%) lower. Average gross rent for Leon County peaked in real terms in 2017 at $1,066 and is now $42 (3.94%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Leon County FL Median, Leon County FL Average, Florida Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Leon County

Date US
Median
Florida
Median
Leon County FL
Median
Leon County FL
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,238 $1,015 $1,024
2018 $1,077 $1,203 $994 $1,009
2017 $1,043 $1,163 $1,051 $1,066
2016 $1,027 $1,137 $1,009 $1,027
2015 $1,017 $1,110 $994 $1,029
2014 $986 $1,059 $971 $1,007
2013 $953 $1,024 $920 $977
2012 $940 $1,015 $961 $1,014
2011 $941 $1,025 $994 $1,016
2010 $955 $1,058 $1,014 $993
2009 $960 $1,085 $965 $1,004

more history ...

Leon 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 Leon County Florida was 6.20% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Leon County Florida

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Florida 8.72% +0.20% +0.42%
Leon County FL 6.20% -1.38% +0.65%

Trends in Leon County FL Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Leon County peaked in 2008 at 11.99%. Since then it has fallen by 5.79% to 6.20%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2014 post peak low of 5.13%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.07%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Leon County FL, Florida, US

Rental vacancy rate in Florida

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Leon County

Date US Florida Leon County FL
2019 5.97% 8.72% 6.20%
2018 6.15% 8.52% 7.58%
2017 6.18% 9.16% 7.80%
2016 5.89% 8.30% 5.55%
2015 5.85% 7.79% 6.05%
2014 6.32% 8.66% 5.13%
2013 6.49% 9.22% 6.72%
2012 6.77% 9.37% 8.98%
2011 7.40% 10.91% 7.01%
2010 8.17% 12.17% 11.55%
2009 8.43% 13.16% 8.42%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Leon County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Leon County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 22.17% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Leon County Florida Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Florida 25.08% -0.49% -0.54%
Leon County FL 22.17% -0.93% -0.46%

Trends in Leon County FL Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Leon County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 26.10%. Since then it has fallen by 3.93% to 22.17%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Leon County FL, Florida, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Leon County Florida

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Leon County Florida

Date US Florida Leon County FL
2019 20.03% 25.08% 22.17%
2018 20.50% 25.57% 23.11%
2017 20.13% 25.74% 23.68%
2016 20.43% 25.62% 22.63%
2015 20.63% 25.40% 24.44%
2014 20.89% 25.36% 24.63%
2013 20.78% 25.34% 22.38%
2012 20.65% 25.42% 23.33%
2011 20.70% 25.71% 24.68%
2010 20.50% 25.59% 26.10%
2009 20.12% 25.54% 25.49%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Leon County Florida

You can calculate the renter fraction in Leon 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 Leon County as a fraction of total Leon County households. In 2019 48.15% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Leon County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Florida 33.75% -0.33% -2.12%
Leon County FL 48.15% +2.42% -0.02%

Trends in the Leon County FL Renter Fraction

The Leon County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 50.40% and is now 2.25% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Leon County FL, Florida, US

Fraction of renters in Leon County

History of Leon County Renter Fraction

Date US Florida Leon County FL
2019 35.89% 33.75% 48.15%
2018 36.05% 34.08% 45.73%
2017 36.13% 34.85% 45.07%
2016 36.88% 35.87% 48.17%
2015 36.97% 36.22% 48.04%
2014 36.90% 35.95% 50.40%
2013 36.50% 35.21% 49.18%
2012 36.09% 34.36% 45.97%
2011 35.42% 33.28% 46.63%
2010 34.65% 31.85% 44.59%
2009 34.13% 31.52% 47.34%

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.