Department of Numbers

Bristol County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Bristol County MA was $940 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Bristol County was $979 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 Bristol County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Bristol 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%
Bristol County MA Median Gross Rent $940 +3.18% +8.67%

Bristol County MA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $940, real median gross rent in Bristol County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $979, real average gross rent in Bristol County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Bristol County MA Median, Bristol County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Bristol County

Date US
Median
Massachusetts
Median
Bristol County MA
Median
Bristol County MA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,360 $940 $979
2018 $1,077 $1,318 $911 $913
2017 $1,043 $1,246 $895 $910
2016 $1,027 $1,235 $865 $889
2015 $1,017 $1,235 $897 $913
2014 $986 $1,169 $839 $863
2013 $953 $1,134 $853 $851
2012 $940 $1,102 $831 $833
2011 $941 $1,117 $856 $856
2010 $955 $1,127 $839 $839
2009 $960 $1,126 $876 $876

more history ...

Bristol 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 Bristol County Massachusetts was 3.46% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Bristol County Massachusetts

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Massachusetts 3.06% -0.53% -0.92%
Bristol County MA 3.46% -2.29% -2.15%

Trends in Bristol County MA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Bristol County peaked in 2009 at 8.17%. Since then it has fallen by 4.71% to 3.46%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 3.32%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.14%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Bristol County MA, Massachusetts, US

Rental vacancy rate in Massachusetts

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Bristol County

Date US Massachusetts Bristol County MA
2019 5.97% 3.06% 3.46%
2018 6.15% 3.59% 5.75%
2017 6.18% 3.87% 4.80%
2016 5.89% 3.98% 5.61%
2015 5.85% 3.48% 3.32%
2014 6.32% 4.04% 4.21%
2013 6.49% 4.61% 4.87%
2012 6.77% 4.46% 5.38%
2011 7.40% 4.76% 6.27%
2010 8.17% 5.80% 6.48%
2009 8.43% 5.83% 8.17%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Bristol County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Bristol County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.02% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Bristol 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%
Bristol County MA 16.02% -0.20% +1.01%

Trends in Bristol County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Bristol County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2013 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.17%. Since then it has fallen by 2.15% to 16.02%. From a 2016 low of 15.01%, the fraction of income going to rent has increased by 1.01%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Bristol County MA, Massachusetts, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Bristol County Massachusetts

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Bristol County Massachusetts

Date US Massachusetts Bristol County MA
2019 20.03% 19.01% 16.02%
2018 20.50% 19.47% 16.22%
2017 20.13% 18.73% 15.35%
2016 20.43% 18.79% 15.01%
2015 20.63% 19.78% 16.87%
2014 20.89% 19.21% 16.43%
2013 20.78% 19.36% 18.17%
2012 20.65% 19.03% 17.46%
2011 20.70% 19.74% 17.82%
2010 20.50% 19.51% 17.56%
2009 20.12% 18.50% 16.97%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Bristol County Massachusetts

You can calculate the renter fraction in Bristol 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 Bristol County as a fraction of total Bristol County households. In 2019 37.27% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Bristol 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%
Bristol County MA 37.27% -1.72% -0.46%

Trends in the Bristol County MA Renter Fraction

The Bristol County household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 38.99% and is now 1.72% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Bristol County MA, Massachusetts, US

Fraction of renters in Bristol County

History of Bristol County Renter Fraction

Date US Massachusetts Bristol County MA
2019 35.89% 37.84% 37.27%
2018 36.05% 38.24% 38.99%
2017 36.13% 37.68% 36.25%
2016 36.88% 38.01% 37.73%
2015 36.97% 38.28% 38.82%
2014 36.90% 38.40% 38.83%
2013 36.50% 38.46% 38.93%
2012 36.09% 37.76% 38.11%
2011 35.42% 37.87% 37.26%
2010 34.65% 37.77% 37.72%
2009 34.13% 35.79% 35.08%

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.