Kennebec County Maine Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Kennebec County ME was $786 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Kennebec County was $712 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 Kennebec County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Kennebec County rental vacancy rates, Kennebec County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Kennebec County.
Real Gross Rent in Kennebec 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% |
| Kennebec County ME Median Gross Rent | $786 | +6.07% | +3.42% |
Kennebec County ME Real Gross Rent Trends
At $786, real median gross rent in Kennebec County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Kennebec County peaked in real terms in 2011 at $750 and is now $38 (5.07%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Kennebec County ME Median, Kennebec County ME Average, Maine Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Kennebec County
| Date | US Median |
Maine Median |
Kennebec County ME Median |
Kennebec County ME Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $870 | $786 | $712 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $854 | $741 | $716 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $831 | $754 | $711 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $835 | $760 | $725 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $840 | $716 | $664 |
| 2014 | $986 | $819 | $765 | $714 |
| 2013 | $953 | $800 | $716 | $661 |
| 2012 | $940 | $791 | $688 | $663 |
| 2011 | $941 | $807 | $742 | $750 |
| 2010 | $955 | $790 | $761 | $702 |
| 2009 | $960 | $823 | $674 | $674 |
| 2007 | $927 | $764 | $678 | $651 |
| 2005 | $910 | $779 | $671 | $636 |
Kennebec 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 Kennebec County Maine was 2.87% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Kennebec County Maine
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Maine | 4.95% | -0.33% | -1.79% |
| Kennebec County ME | 2.87% | -0.52% | -5.81% |
Trends in Kennebec County ME Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Kennebec County peaked in 2011 at 8.92%. Since then it has fallen by 6.05% to 2.87%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Kennebec County ME, Maine, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Kennebec County
| Date | US | Maine | Kennebec County ME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.95% | 2.87% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.28% | 3.39% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.41% | 8.78% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 6.74% | 8.68% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.29% | 4.72% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.07% | 4.93% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.17% | 3.20% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 6.25% | 4.32% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 7.67% | 8.92% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 8.75% | 5.78% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 7.36% | — |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 8.13% | 5.87% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.41% | — |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Kennebec County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Kennebec County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.03% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Kennebec 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% |
| Kennebec County ME | 17.03% | +0.12% | +0.14% |
Trends in Kennebec County ME Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Kennebec County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.49%. Since then it has fallen by 2.46% to 17.03%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Kennebec County ME, Maine, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Kennebec County Maine
| Date | US | Maine | Kennebec County ME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.72% | 17.03% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.11% | 16.91% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 17.19% | 16.53% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.02% | 16.89% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.46% | 15.78% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 18.83% | 19.49% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.41% | 18.25% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.11% | 16.87% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.47% | 18.63% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.52% | 18.17% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.94% | 15.76% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 17.00% | 15.70% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.47% | 14.59% |
Renter Fraction in Kennebec County Maine
You can calculate the renter fraction in Kennebec 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 Kennebec County as a fraction of total Kennebec County households. In 2019 31.23% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Kennebec 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% |
| Kennebec County ME | 31.23% | +2.84% | +1.72% |
Trends in the Kennebec County ME Renter Fraction
The Kennebec County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 31.57% and is now 0.34% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Kennebec County ME, Maine, US
History of Kennebec County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Maine | Kennebec County ME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 27.81% | 31.23% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 28.77% | 28.39% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 26.83% | 31.57% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 28.13% | 29.51% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 29.00% | 29.92% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 28.68% | 28.61% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 29.84% | 30.23% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 28.59% | 29.98% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 29.05% | 29.44% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 27.32% | 28.72% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 27.26% | 28.22% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 26.05% | 26.52% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.21% | 27.78% |
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. ↩
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