Barnstable County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Barnstable County MA was $1,306 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Barnstable County was $1,187 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 Barnstable County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Barnstable County rental vacancy rates, Barnstable County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Barnstable County.
Real Gross Rent in Barnstable County Massachusetts (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Massachusetts Median Gross Rent | $1,360 | +3.19% | +10.12% |
| Barnstable County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,306 | +4.15% | -3.69% |
Barnstable County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Barnstable County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,356 and is now $50 (3.69%) lower. Average gross rent for Barnstable County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,247 and is now $60 (4.81%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Barnstable County MA Median, Barnstable County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Barnstable County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Barnstable County MA Median |
Barnstable County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,306 | $1,187 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,254 | $1,183 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,327 | $1,226 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,356 | $1,247 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,259 | $1,049 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $1,113 | $1,053 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $1,129 | $1,055 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $1,081 | $972 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $1,222 | $1,040 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $1,234 | $1,120 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $1,197 | $1,070 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $1,218 | $1,123 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $1,296 | $1,188 |
Barnstable 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 Barnstable County Massachusetts was 7.90% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Barnstable County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Barnstable County MA | 7.90% | -1.89% | +1.31% |
Trends in Barnstable County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Barnstable County peaked in 2011 at 10.10%. Since then it has fallen by 2.20% to 7.90%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 3.05%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 4.85%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Barnstable County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Barnstable County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Barnstable County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 7.90% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 9.79% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 8.40% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 6.59% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 3.05% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 8.14% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 9.30% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 9.28% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 10.10% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 8.28% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 3.78% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 5.18% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 9.99% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Barnstable County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Barnstable County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.43% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Barnstable County Massachusetts Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Massachusetts | 19.01% | -0.45% | +0.22% |
| Barnstable County MA | 18.43% | -3.03% | -4.46% |
Trends in Barnstable County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Barnstable County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2010 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.96%. Since then it has fallen by 5.53% to 18.43%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Barnstable County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Barnstable County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Barnstable County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 18.43% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 21.46% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 21.68% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 22.89% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 21.55% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 19.34% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 21.08% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 20.51% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 23.94% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 23.96% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 21.74% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 20.73% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 22.86% |
Renter Fraction in Barnstable County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Barnstable 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 Barnstable County as a fraction of total Barnstable County households. In 2019 20.01% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Barnstable County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Massachusetts | 37.84% | -0.40% | -0.17% |
| Barnstable County MA | 20.01% | +1.92% | -1.31% |
Trends in the Barnstable County MA Renter Fraction
The Barnstable County household renter fraction peaked in in 2011 at 23.34% and is now 3.33% below that level. From a recent low of 18.09% in 2018, the household based renter fraction has now grown by 1.92%. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Barnstable County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Barnstable County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Barnstable County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 20.01% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 18.09% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 20.24% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 21.32% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 22.59% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 20.62% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 22.42% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 18.41% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 23.34% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 22.54% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 19.24% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 19.50% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 20.35% |
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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