Department of Numbers

Hampden County Massachusetts Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Hampden County MA was $924 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Hampden County was $883 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 Hampden County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Hampden 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%
Hampden County MA Median Gross Rent $924 +2.55% +5.84%

Hampden County MA Real Gross Rent Trends

At $924, real median gross rent in Hampden County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Hampden County peaked in real terms in 2015 at $896 and is now $13 (1.45%) lower.

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

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Hampden County

Date US
Median
Massachusetts
Median
Hampden County MA
Median
Hampden County MA
Average
2019 $1,097 $1,360 $924 $883
2018 $1,077 $1,318 $901 $866
2017 $1,043 $1,246 $902 $866
2016 $1,027 $1,235 $873 $876
2015 $1,017 $1,235 $921 $896
2014 $986 $1,169 $889 $865
2013 $953 $1,134 $864 $878
2012 $940 $1,102 $828 $787
2011 $941 $1,117 $813 $801
2010 $955 $1,127 $837 $822
2009 $960 $1,126 $819 $804

more history ...

Hampden 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 Hampden County Massachusetts was 2.97% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Hampden County Massachusetts

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Massachusetts 3.06% -0.53% -0.92%
Hampden County MA 2.97% -0.11% -0.62%

Trends in Hampden County MA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Hampden County peaked in 2006 at 6.99%. Since then it has fallen by 4.02% to 2.97%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Hampden County MA, Massachusetts, US

Rental vacancy rate in Massachusetts

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Hampden County

Date US Massachusetts Hampden County MA
2019 5.97% 3.06% 2.97%
2018 6.15% 3.59% 3.08%
2017 6.18% 3.87% 4.65%
2016 5.89% 3.98% 3.59%
2015 5.85% 3.48% 4.96%
2014 6.32% 4.04% 4.64%
2013 6.49% 4.61% 4.67%
2012 6.77% 4.46% 3.96%
2011 7.40% 4.76% 4.49%
2010 8.17% 5.80% 5.10%
2009 8.43% 5.83% 4.45%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Hampden County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Hampden County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.43% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Hampden 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%
Hampden County MA 18.43% -1.85% -0.99%

Trends in Hampden County MA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Hampden County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.53%. Since then it has fallen by 2.10% to 18.43%.

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

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

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

Date US Massachusetts Hampden County MA
2019 20.03% 19.01% 18.43%
2018 20.50% 19.47% 20.28%
2017 20.13% 18.73% 20.30%
2016 20.43% 18.79% 19.42%
2015 20.63% 19.78% 20.22%
2014 20.89% 19.21% 20.53%
2013 20.78% 19.36% 20.15%
2012 20.65% 19.03% 19.11%
2011 20.70% 19.74% 18.87%
2010 20.50% 19.51% 19.35%
2009 20.12% 18.50% 18.43%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Hampden County Massachusetts

You can calculate the renter fraction in Hampden 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 Hampden County as a fraction of total Hampden County households. In 2019 39.48% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Hampden 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%
Hampden County MA 39.48% -0.60% +1.73%

Trends in the Hampden County MA Renter Fraction

The Hampden County household renter fraction peaked in in 2017 at 41.46% and is now 1.98% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

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

Fraction of renters in Hampden County

History of Hampden County Renter Fraction

Date US Massachusetts Hampden County MA
2019 35.89% 37.84% 39.48%
2018 36.05% 38.24% 40.08%
2017 36.13% 37.68% 41.46%
2016 36.88% 38.01% 37.75%
2015 36.97% 38.28% 38.37%
2014 36.90% 38.40% 40.68%
2013 36.50% 38.46% 39.02%
2012 36.09% 37.76% 37.69%
2011 35.42% 37.87% 37.56%
2010 34.65% 37.77% 38.76%
2009 34.13% 35.79% 37.66%

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.