Department of Numbers

Wayne County Michigan Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Wayne County MI was $901 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Wayne County was $889 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 Wayne County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Wayne County Michigan (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Michigan Median Gross Rent $888 +1.25% +3.62%
Wayne County MI Median Gross Rent $901 +1.35% +4.52%

Wayne County MI Real Gross Rent Trends

At $901, real median gross rent in Wayne County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $889, real average gross rent in Wayne County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Wayne County MI Median, Wayne County MI Average, Michigan Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Wayne County

Date US
Median
Michigan
Median
Wayne County MI
Median
Wayne County MI
Average
2019 $1,097 $888 $901 $889
2018 $1,077 $877 $889 $864
2017 $1,043 $861 $857 $841
2016 $1,027 $857 $862 $841
2015 $1,017 $852 $858 $840
2014 $986 $832 $832 $813
2013 $953 $809 $825 $827
2012 $940 $796 $821 $811
2011 $941 $798 $817 $808
2010 $955 $816 $847 $836
2009 $960 $816 $856 $854

more history ...

Wayne 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 Wayne County Michigan was 4.89% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Wayne County Michigan

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Michigan 5.56% +0.74% +0.15%
Wayne County MI 4.89% +1.45% -1.42%

Trends in Wayne County MI Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Wayne County peaked in 2007 at 12.06%. Since then it has fallen by 7.17% to 4.89%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 3.44%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.45%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Wayne County MI, Michigan, US

Rental vacancy rate in Michigan

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Wayne County

Date US Michigan Wayne County MI
2019 5.97% 5.56% 4.89%
2018 6.15% 4.82% 3.44%
2017 6.18% 4.87% 5.32%
2016 5.89% 5.41% 6.31%
2015 5.85% 5.19% 5.18%
2014 6.32% 5.88% 6.68%
2013 6.49% 6.04% 7.97%
2012 6.77% 6.73% 8.90%
2011 7.40% 7.72% 10.22%
2010 8.17% 9.60% 11.21%
2009 8.43% 9.48% 11.74%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Wayne County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Wayne County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 21.30% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Wayne County Michigan Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Michigan 17.88% -0.34% -0.82%
Wayne County MI 21.30% -1.28% -1.42%

Trends in Wayne County MI Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Wayne County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2009 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 23.60%. Since then it has fallen by 2.29% to 21.30%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Wayne County MI, Michigan, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Wayne County Michigan

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Wayne County Michigan

Date US Michigan Wayne County MI
2019 20.03% 17.88% 21.30%
2018 20.50% 18.22% 22.58%
2017 20.13% 18.25% 22.09%
2016 20.43% 18.70% 22.72%
2015 20.63% 18.86% 23.36%
2014 20.89% 18.97% 22.82%
2013 20.78% 19.09% 23.21%
2012 20.65% 19.16% 23.46%
2011 20.70% 19.29% 23.58%
2010 20.50% 19.29% 23.08%
2009 20.12% 18.99% 23.60%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Wayne County Michigan

You can calculate the renter fraction in Wayne 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 Wayne County as a fraction of total Wayne County households. In 2019 37.48% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Wayne County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Michigan 28.43% -0.38% -1.25%
Wayne County MI 37.48% -0.50% -2.16%

Trends in the Wayne County MI Renter Fraction

The Wayne County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 39.64% and is now 2.16% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Wayne County MI, Michigan, US

Fraction of renters in Wayne County

History of Wayne County Renter Fraction

Date US Michigan Wayne County MI
2019 35.89% 28.43% 37.48%
2018 36.05% 28.81% 37.98%
2017 36.13% 28.67% 38.43%
2016 36.88% 29.68% 39.64%
2015 36.97% 29.58% 38.69%
2014 36.90% 29.76% 38.52%
2013 36.50% 29.45% 37.35%
2012 36.09% 28.94% 37.08%
2011 35.42% 28.26% 35.28%
2010 34.65% 27.25% 34.63%
2009 34.13% 26.81% 33.76%

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.