Department of Numbers

Chatham County Georgia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Chatham County GA was $1,093 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Chatham County was $1,069 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 Chatham County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Chatham County 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%
Chatham County GA Median Gross Rent $1,093 +1.30% +5.20%

Chatham County GA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,093, real median gross rent in Chatham County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,069, real average gross rent in Chatham County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Chatham County GA Median, Chatham County GA Average, Georgia Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Chatham County

Date US
Median
Georgia
Median
Chatham County GA
Median
Chatham County GA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,049 $1,093 $1,069
2018 $1,077 $1,026 $1,079 $1,027
2017 $1,043 $988 $1,048 $1,003
2016 $1,027 $977 $1,039 $1,036
2015 $1,017 $964 $1,060 $1,034
2014 $986 $931 $985 $991
2013 $953 $895 $951 $949
2012 $940 $890 $955 $982
2011 $941 $900 $982 $994
2010 $955 $915 $970 $940
2009 $960 $912 $985 $978

more history ...

Chatham 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 Chatham County Georgia was 10.36% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Chatham County Georgia

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Georgia 7.28% +0.05% +1.13%
Chatham County GA 10.36% -1.97% +4.38%

Trends in Chatham County GA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Chatham County peaked in 2009 at 14.22%. Since then it has fallen by 3.86% to 10.36%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 5.95%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 4.41%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Chatham County GA, Georgia, US

Rental vacancy rate in Georgia

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Chatham County

Date US Georgia Chatham County GA
2019 5.97% 7.28% 10.36%
2018 6.15% 7.23% 12.33%
2017 6.18% 6.73% 7.94%
2016 5.89% 6.15% 5.98%
2015 5.85% 6.47% 5.95%
2014 6.32% 8.17% 9.06%
2013 6.49% 9.26% 10.77%
2012 6.77% 9.53% 7.30%
2011 7.40% 10.72% 9.92%
2010 8.17% 11.72% 9.74%
2009 8.43% 12.32% 14.22%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Chatham County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Chatham County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 22.77% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Chatham County 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%
Chatham County GA 22.77% -0.23% +0.71%

Trends in Chatham County GA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Chatham County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 25.53%. Since then it has fallen by 2.76% to 22.77%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Chatham County GA, Georgia, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Chatham County Georgia

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Chatham County Georgia

Date US Georgia Chatham County GA
2019 20.03% 20.31% 22.77%
2018 20.50% 20.59% 23.00%
2017 20.13% 20.46% 22.03%
2016 20.43% 20.90% 22.06%
2015 20.63% 21.29% 24.34%
2014 20.89% 21.46% 22.08%
2013 20.78% 21.33% 23.94%
2012 20.65% 21.28% 25.42%
2011 20.70% 21.73% 25.53%
2010 20.50% 21.17% 24.36%
2009 20.12% 20.17% 24.47%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Chatham County Georgia

You can calculate the renter fraction in Chatham 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 Chatham County as a fraction of total Chatham County households. In 2019 44.48% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Chatham County 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%
Chatham County GA 44.48% +1.00% -1.75%

Trends in the Chatham County GA Renter Fraction

The Chatham County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 49.43% and is now 4.95% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Chatham County GA, Georgia, US

Fraction of renters in Chatham County

History of Chatham County Renter Fraction

Date US Georgia Chatham County GA
2019 35.89% 35.87% 44.48%
2018 36.05% 36.20% 43.48%
2017 36.13% 37.12% 45.07%
2016 36.88% 38.46% 46.23%
2015 36.97% 38.16% 49.43%
2014 36.90% 37.77% 45.75%
2013 36.50% 37.34% 45.81%
2012 36.09% 36.35% 44.71%
2011 35.42% 35.42% 42.01%
2010 34.65% 33.83% 43.31%
2009 34.13% 32.96% 40.21%

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.