Athens Georgia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Athens, GA (the Athens-Clarke County metro area) was $847 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Athens was $869 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 Athens median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Athens rental vacancy rates, Athens rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Athens.
Real Gross Rent in Athens Georgia (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Georgia Median Gross Rent | $1,049 | +2.24% | +7.37% |
| Athens, GA Median Gross Rent | $847 | -0.94% | +5.88% |
Athens, GA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Athens peaked in real terms in 2017 at $870 and is now $23 (2.64%) lower. Average gross rent for Athens peaked in real terms in 2017 at $921 and is now $52 (5.65%) lower.
Real Gross Rent in Athens: Athens GA Median, Athens GA Average, Georgia Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Athens
| Date | US Median |
Georgia Median |
Athens, GA Median |
Athens, GA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,049 | $847 | $869 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,026 | $855 | $877 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $988 | $870 | $921 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $977 | $800 | $820 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $964 | $848 | $852 |
| 2014 | $986 | $931 | $860 | $860 |
| 2013 | $953 | $895 | $786 | $849 |
| 2012 | $940 | $890 | $820 | $798 |
| 2011 | $941 | $900 | $775 | $761 |
| 2010 | $955 | $915 | $837 | $858 |
| 2009 | $960 | $912 | $842 | $831 |
| 2007 | $927 | $902 | $813 | $785 |
| 2005 | $910 | $886 | $843 | $870 |
Athens 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 Athens Georgia was 1.17% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Athens Georgia
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Georgia | 7.28% | +0.05% | +1.13% |
| Athens, GA | 1.17% | -1.14% | -0.79% |
Trends in Athens, GA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Athens peaked in 2010 at 19.92%. Since then it has fallen by 18.75% to 1.17%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Athens GA, Georgia, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Athens
| Date | US | Georgia | Athens, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 7.28% | 1.17% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 7.23% | 2.31% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 6.73% | 6.21% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.15% | 1.96% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.47% | 5.48% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 8.17% | 10.75% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 9.26% | 6.50% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 9.53% | 14.16% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 10.72% | 17.22% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 11.72% | 19.92% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 12.32% | 18.71% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.54% | 7.64% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 11.53% | 12.76% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Athens, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Athens, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.94% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Athens Georgia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Georgia | 20.31% | -0.28% | -0.59% |
| Athens, GA | 19.94% | +0.37% | -1.30% |
Trends in Athens, GA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Athens household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 24.81%. Since then it has fallen by 4.87% to 19.94%. From a 2018 low of 19.57%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 0.37%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Athens GA, Georgia, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Athens Georgia
| Date | US | Georgia | Athens, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.31% | 19.94% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.59% | 19.57% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.46% | 21.77% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.90% | 21.24% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 21.29% | 24.81% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 21.46% | 23.42% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 21.33% | 23.42% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 21.28% | 24.33% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 21.73% | 22.28% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 21.17% | 22.25% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 20.17% | 22.74% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.76% | 20.37% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.66% | 23.14% |
Renter Fraction in Athens Georgia
You can calculate the renter fraction in Athens 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 Athens as a fraction of total Athens households. In 2019 48.36% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Athens Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Georgia | 35.87% | -0.33% | -2.59% |
| Athens, GA | 48.36% | +4.79% | -0.78% |
Trends in the Athens, GA Renter Fraction
The Athens household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 49.14% and is now 0.78% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Athens GA, Georgia, US
History of Athens Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Georgia | Athens, GA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 35.87% | 48.36% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 36.20% | 43.57% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.12% | 45.37% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.46% | 49.14% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.16% | 46.54% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 37.77% | 48.58% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 37.34% | 48.48% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 36.35% | 43.88% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 35.42% | 43.41% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 33.83% | 40.88% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 32.96% | 40.56% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 31.46% | 40.23% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 33.19% | 44.93% |
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. ↩
