Essex County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Essex County MA was $1,348 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Essex County was $1,263 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 Essex County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Essex County rental vacancy rates, Essex County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Essex County.
Real Gross Rent in Essex 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% |
| Essex County MA Median Gross Rent | $1,348 | +3.61% | +14.72% |
Essex County MA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,348, real median gross rent in Essex County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,263, real average gross rent in Essex County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Essex County MA Median, Essex County MA Average, Massachusetts Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Essex County
| Date | US Median |
Massachusetts Median |
Essex County MA Median |
Essex County MA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,360 | $1,348 | $1,263 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,318 | $1,301 | $1,239 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,246 | $1,195 | $1,174 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,235 | $1,175 | $1,126 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $1,235 | $1,203 | $1,153 |
| 2014 | $986 | $1,169 | $1,142 | $1,102 |
| 2013 | $953 | $1,134 | $1,107 | $1,063 |
| 2012 | $940 | $1,102 | $1,106 | $1,065 |
| 2011 | $941 | $1,117 | $1,062 | $1,041 |
| 2010 | $955 | $1,127 | $1,084 | $1,054 |
| 2009 | $960 | $1,126 | $1,098 | $1,057 |
| 2007 | $927 | $1,111 | $1,102 | $1,043 |
| 2005 | $910 | $1,128 | $1,154 | $1,100 |
Essex 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 Essex County Massachusetts was 2.83% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Essex County Massachusetts
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Massachusetts | 3.06% | -0.53% | -0.92% |
| Essex County MA | 2.83% | +0.08% | -1.07% |
Trends in Essex County MA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Essex County peaked in 2009 at 7.56%. Since then it has fallen by 4.73% to 2.83%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2017 post peak low of 1.86%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.97%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Essex County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Essex County
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Essex County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 3.06% | 2.83% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 3.59% | 2.75% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 3.87% | 1.86% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 3.98% | 3.90% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 3.48% | 3.64% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 4.04% | 3.64% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 4.61% | 3.53% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 4.46% | 4.01% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 4.76% | 2.64% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 5.80% | 5.16% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 5.83% | 7.56% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 6.20% | 6.18% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 5.58% | 5.87% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Essex County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Essex County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.30% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Essex 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% |
| Essex County MA | 19.30% | -0.72% | +1.08% |
Trends in Essex County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Essex County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2018 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.02%. Since then it has fallen by 0.72% to 19.30%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Essex County MA, Massachusetts, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Essex County Massachusetts
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Essex County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 19.01% | 19.30% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 19.47% | 20.02% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.73% | 18.43% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.79% | 18.22% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 19.78% | 19.88% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.21% | 18.45% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.36% | 18.68% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.03% | 18.38% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.74% | 18.18% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.51% | 18.84% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 18.50% | 18.35% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.20% | 18.31% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 18.93% | 19.38% |
Renter Fraction in Essex County Massachusetts
You can calculate the renter fraction in Essex 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 Essex County as a fraction of total Essex County households. In 2019 36.94% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Essex 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% |
| Essex County MA | 36.94% | -0.24% | +1.43% |
Trends in the Essex County MA Renter Fraction
The Essex County household renter fraction peaked in in 2013 at 38.48% and is now 1.54% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Essex County MA, Massachusetts, US
History of Essex County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Massachusetts | Essex County MA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 37.84% | 36.94% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.24% | 37.18% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 37.68% | 35.82% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.01% | 35.51% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.28% | 36.41% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.40% | 36.90% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.46% | 38.48% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.76% | 37.91% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.87% | 36.41% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 37.77% | 35.96% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 35.79% | 35.03% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.91% | 33.54% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.95% | 33.91% |
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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