Department of Numbers

Cumberland County Maine Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Cumberland County ME was $1,187 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Cumberland County was $1,099 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 Cumberland County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Cumberland County Maine (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Maine Median Gross Rent $870 +1.87% +4.19%
Cumberland County ME Median Gross Rent $1,187 +3.04% +12.94%

Cumberland County ME Real Gross Rent Trends

At $1,187, real median gross rent in Cumberland County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Cumberland County peaked in real terms in 2018 at $1,108 and is now $9 (0.81%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Cumberland County ME Median, Cumberland County ME Average, Maine Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Cumberland County

Date US
Median
Maine
Median
Cumberland County ME
Median
Cumberland County ME
Average
2019 $1,097 $870 $1,187 $1,099
2018 $1,077 $854 $1,152 $1,108
2017 $1,043 $831 $1,123 $1,083
2016 $1,027 $835 $1,051 $1,024
2015 $1,017 $840 $1,064 $1,070
2014 $986 $819 $1,009 $1,003
2013 $953 $800 $964 $960
2012 $940 $791 $989 $957
2011 $941 $807 $1,008 $975
2010 $955 $790 $963 $949
2009 $960 $823 $1,018 $1,004

more history ...

Cumberland 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 Cumberland County Maine was 4.23% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Cumberland County Maine

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Maine 4.95% -0.33% -1.79%
Cumberland County ME 4.23% -1.41% +0.75%

Trends in Cumberland County ME Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Cumberland County peaked in 2006 at 8.27%. Since then it has fallen by 4.04% to 4.23%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2008 post peak low of 2.61%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.62%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Cumberland County ME, Maine, US

Rental vacancy rate in Maine

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Cumberland County

Date US Maine Cumberland County ME
2019 5.97% 4.95% 4.23%
2018 6.15% 5.28% 5.64%
2017 6.18% 8.41% 6.99%
2016 5.89% 6.74% 3.48%
2015 5.85% 5.29% 3.35%
2014 6.32% 7.07% 4.39%
2013 6.49% 7.17% 6.83%
2012 6.77% 6.25% 4.74%
2011 7.40% 7.67% 6.67%
2010 8.17% 8.75% 5.25%
2009 8.43% 7.36% 6.58%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Cumberland County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Cumberland County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.73% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Cumberland County Maine Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Maine 17.72% -0.39% -0.30%
Cumberland County ME 18.73% -0.02% +0.45%

Trends in Cumberland County ME Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Cumberland County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.47%. Since then it has fallen by 1.74% to 18.73%. From a 2010 low of 17.66%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.06%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Cumberland County ME, Maine, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Cumberland County Maine

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Cumberland County Maine

Date US Maine Cumberland County ME
2019 20.03% 17.72% 18.73%
2018 20.50% 18.11% 18.75%
2017 20.13% 17.19% 18.16%
2016 20.43% 18.02% 18.28%
2015 20.63% 18.46% 18.74%
2014 20.89% 18.83% 18.51%
2013 20.78% 19.41% 20.04%
2012 20.65% 19.11% 20.11%
2011 20.70% 19.47% 20.00%
2010 20.50% 18.52% 17.66%
2009 20.12% 18.94% 20.47%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Cumberland County Maine

You can calculate the renter fraction in Cumberland 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 Cumberland County as a fraction of total Cumberland County households. In 2019 29.63% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Cumberland County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Maine 27.81% -0.96% -0.32%
Cumberland County ME 29.63% -1.75% -4.04%

Trends in the Cumberland County ME Renter Fraction

The Cumberland County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 33.67% and is now 4.04% below that level. From a recent low of 28.02% in 2017, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 1.61%. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Cumberland County ME, Maine, US

Fraction of renters in Cumberland County

History of Cumberland County Renter Fraction

Date US Maine Cumberland County ME
2019 35.89% 27.81% 29.63%
2018 36.05% 28.77% 31.38%
2017 36.13% 26.83% 28.02%
2016 36.88% 28.13% 33.67%
2015 36.97% 29.00% 32.92%
2014 36.90% 28.68% 32.33%
2013 36.50% 29.84% 33.50%
2012 36.09% 28.59% 31.86%
2011 35.42% 29.05% 33.34%
2010 34.65% 27.32% 29.61%
2009 34.13% 27.26% 32.04%

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.