Department of Numbers

Columbia Missouri Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Columbia, MO (the Columbia metro area) was $910 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Columbia was $1,000 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 Columbia median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Columbia Missouri (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Missouri Median Gross Rent $834 -1.30% +3.35%
Columbia, MO Median Gross Rent $910 +1.79% +6.93%

Columbia, MO Real Gross Rent Trends

At $910, real median gross rent in Columbia was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,000, real average gross rent in Columbia was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent in Columbia: Columbia MO Median, Columbia MO Average, Missouri Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Columbia

Date US
Median
Missouri
Median
Columbia, MO
Median
Columbia, MO
Average
2019 $1,097 $834 $910 $1,000
2018 $1,077 $845 $894 $933
2017 $1,043 $825 $896 $917
2016 $1,027 $807 $851 $879
2015 $1,017 $809 $816 $909
2014 $986 $796 $847 $913
2013 $953 $773 $822 $839
2012 $940 $751 $823 $883
2011 $941 $765 $818 $820
2010 $955 $762 $811 $816
2009 $960 $761 $846 $868

more history ...

Columbia Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2015 the rental vacancy rate for Columbia Missouri was 2.90% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Columbia Missouri

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Missouri 5.15% -1.42% -1.66%
Columbia, MO

Trends in Columbia, MO Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Columbia peaked in 2008 at 10.52%. Since then it has fallen by 7.62% to 2.90%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2012 post peak low of 1.92%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 0.98%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Columbia MO, Missouri, US

Rental vacancy rate in Missouri

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Columbia

Date US Missouri Columbia, MO
2019 5.97% 5.15%
2018 6.15% 6.57%
2017 6.18% 6.40%
2016 5.89% 6.81%
2015 5.85% 6.43% 2.90%
2014 6.32% 7.16% 2.26%
2013 6.49% 6.86% 2.92%
2012 6.77% 6.74% 1.92%
2011 7.40% 8.22% 6.32%
2010 8.17% 8.25%
2009 8.43% 8.24% 4.84%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Columbia, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Columbia, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 19.04% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Columbia Missouri Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Missouri 17.43% -0.85% -0.45%
Columbia, MO 19.04% -0.35% +0.54%

Trends in Columbia, MO Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Columbia household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 21.51%. Since then it has fallen by 2.48% to 19.04%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Columbia MO, Missouri, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Columbia Missouri

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Columbia Missouri

Date US Missouri Columbia, MO
2019 20.03% 17.43% 19.04%
2018 20.50% 18.28% 19.38%
2017 20.13% 17.92% 20.31%
2016 20.43% 17.88% 18.49%
2015 20.63% 18.23% 18.27%
2014 20.89% 18.71% 19.22%
2013 20.78% 18.77% 19.14%
2012 20.65% 18.69% 21.51%
2011 20.70% 18.78% 19.45%
2010 20.50% 18.47% 21.33%
2009 20.12% 17.72% 19.18%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Columbia Missouri

You can calculate the renter fraction in Columbia 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 Columbia as a fraction of total Columbia households. In 2019 39.84% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Columbia Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Missouri 32.88% -0.34% -1.04%
Columbia, MO 39.84% -6.00% -8.33%

Trends in the Columbia, MO Renter Fraction

The Columbia household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 48.17% and is now 8.33% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Columbia MO, Missouri, US

Fraction of renters in Columbia

History of Columbia Renter Fraction

Date US Missouri Columbia, MO
2019 35.89% 32.88% 39.84%
2018 36.05% 33.22% 45.84%
2017 36.13% 33.05% 43.73%
2016 36.88% 33.92% 48.17%
2015 36.97% 33.87% 44.21%
2014 36.90% 33.09% 44.50%
2013 36.50% 33.03% 46.84%
2012 36.09% 32.53% 42.98%
2011 35.42% 31.95% 43.69%
2010 34.65% 31.02% 41.48%
2009 34.13% 30.92% 41.56%

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.