Department of Numbers

Dubuque County Iowa Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Dubuque County IA was $825 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Dubuque County was $858 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 Dubuque County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Dubuque County Iowa (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Iowa Median Gross Rent $808 +2.15% +4.12%
Dubuque County IA Median Gross Rent $825 +9.71% +2.87%

Dubuque County IA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $825, real median gross rent in Dubuque County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $858, real average gross rent in Dubuque County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Dubuque County IA Median, Dubuque County IA Average, Iowa Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Dubuque County

Date US
Median
Iowa
Median
Dubuque County IA
Median
Dubuque County IA
Average
2019 $1,097 $808 $825 $858
2018 $1,077 $791 $752 $771
2017 $1,043 $784 $790 $825
2016 $1,027 $776 $802 $826
2015 $1,017 $762 $735 $810
2014 $986 $751 $737 $757
2013 $953 $715 $717 $836
2012 $940 $703 $734 $828
2011 $941 $694 $713 $745
2010 $955 $703 $703 $786
2009 $960 $696 $644 $703

more history ...

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Dubuque County

Date US Iowa Dubuque County IA
2019 5.97% 6.21%
2018 6.15% 6.88%
2017 6.18% 7.31% 9.87%
2016 5.89% 6.24%
2015 5.85% 6.41%
2014 6.32% 5.47%
2013 6.49% 6.03%
2012 6.77% 6.77%
2011 7.40% 6.64%
2010 8.17% 6.38%
2009 8.43% 5.97%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Dubuque County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Dubuque County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.92% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Dubuque County Iowa Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Iowa 15.72% +0.17% -0.09%
Dubuque County IA 15.92% +1.20% +0.72%

Trends in Dubuque County IA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Dubuque County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 16.63%. Since then it has fallen by 0.71% to 15.92%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Dubuque County IA, Iowa, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Dubuque County Iowa

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Dubuque County Iowa

Date US Iowa Dubuque County IA
2019 20.03% 15.72% 15.92%
2018 20.50% 15.55% 14.72%
2017 20.13% 15.57% 14.95%
2016 20.43% 15.81% 15.20%
2015 20.63% 15.74% 14.22%
2014 20.89% 15.88% 14.92%
2013 20.78% 15.60% 15.80%
2012 20.65% 15.57% 16.63%
2011 20.70% 15.61% 14.94%
2010 20.50% 15.74% 15.16%
2009 20.12% 15.26% 14.54%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Dubuque County Iowa

You can calculate the renter fraction in Dubuque 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 Dubuque County as a fraction of total Dubuque County households. In 2019 25.48% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Dubuque County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Iowa 29.47% +0.75% +0.10%
Dubuque County IA 25.48% -2.10% -0.38%

Trends in the Dubuque County IA Renter Fraction

The Dubuque County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 29.16% and is now 3.68% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Dubuque County IA, Iowa, US

Fraction of renters in Dubuque County

History of Dubuque County Renter Fraction

Date US Iowa Dubuque County IA
2019 35.89% 29.47% 25.48%
2018 36.05% 28.72% 27.58%
2017 36.13% 28.40% 25.42%
2016 36.88% 29.37% 25.86%
2015 36.97% 29.33% 28.13%
2014 36.90% 29.13% 27.35%
2013 36.50% 29.19% 29.16%
2012 36.09% 28.07% 27.76%
2011 35.42% 27.65% 25.76%
2010 34.65% 27.64% 25.73%
2009 34.13% 27.92% 23.96%

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.