Department of Numbers

Douglas County Nebraska Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Douglas County NE was $956 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Douglas County was $1,005 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 Douglas County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Douglas County Nebraska (2019 dollars)2

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US Median Gross Rent $1,097 +1.86% +6.82%
Nebraska Median Gross Rent $859 +1.66% +6.71%
Douglas County NE Median Gross Rent $956 +2.14% +4.03%

Douglas County NE Real Gross Rent Trends

At $956, real median gross rent in Douglas County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $1,005, real average gross rent in Douglas County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.

Real Gross Rent: Douglas County NE Median, Douglas County NE Average, Nebraska Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Douglas County

Date US
Median
Nebraska
Median
Douglas County NE
Median
Douglas County NE
Average
2019 $1,097 $859 $956 $1,005
2018 $1,077 $845 $936 $990
2017 $1,043 $826 $933 $959
2016 $1,027 $805 $919 $952
2015 $1,017 $796 $888 $943
2014 $986 $783 $874 $916
2013 $953 $752 $827 $870
2012 $940 $736 $821 $837
2011 $941 $727 $813 $858
2010 $955 $748 $841 $870
2009 $960 $734 $824 $846

more history ...

Douglas 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 Douglas County Nebraska was 8.75% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Douglas County Nebraska

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Nebraska 5.92% +0.17% +0.94%
Douglas County NE 8.75% +1.61% +1.54%

Trends in Douglas County NE Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Douglas County peaked in 2007 at 11.73%. Since then it has fallen by 2.98% to 8.75%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2013 post peak low of 5.07%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 3.68%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Douglas County NE, Nebraska, US

Rental vacancy rate in Nebraska

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Douglas County

Date US Nebraska Douglas County NE
2019 5.97% 5.92% 8.75%
2018 6.15% 5.75% 7.14%
2017 6.18% 6.27% 7.50%
2016 5.89% 4.98% 7.21%
2015 5.85% 5.65% 6.82%
2014 6.32% 5.80% 8.09%
2013 6.49% 5.60% 5.07%
2012 6.77% 5.97% 8.60%
2011 7.40% 6.44% 9.58%
2010 8.17% 6.54% 7.03%
2009 8.43% 7.43% 8.47%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Douglas County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Douglas County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 17.09% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Douglas County Nebraska Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 20.03% -0.47% -0.40%
Nebraska 16.30% -0.42% +0.09%
Douglas County NE 17.09% -0.04% -0.77%

Trends in Douglas County NE Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Douglas County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.92%. Since then it has fallen by 1.84% to 17.09%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Douglas County NE, Nebraska, US

Percent of median household income going towards median monthly gross rent in Douglas County Nebraska

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Douglas County Nebraska

Date US Nebraska Douglas County NE
2019 20.03% 16.30% 17.09%
2018 20.50% 16.72% 17.13%
2017 20.13% 16.03% 17.65%
2016 20.43% 16.21% 17.86%
2015 20.63% 16.36% 17.21%
2014 20.89% 16.90% 18.92%
2013 20.78% 16.66% 18.21%
2012 20.65% 16.37% 18.13%
2011 20.70% 16.06% 17.48%
2010 20.50% 16.58% 18.06%
2009 20.12% 16.32% 17.42%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Douglas County Nebraska

You can calculate the renter fraction in Douglas 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 Douglas County as a fraction of total Douglas County households. In 2019 38.19% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Douglas County Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 35.89% -0.16% -0.99%
Nebraska 33.71% -0.23% -0.97%
Douglas County NE 38.19% -0.07% -0.60%

Trends in the Douglas County NE Renter Fraction

The Douglas County household renter fraction peaked in in 2014 at 39.83% and is now 1.64% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Douglas County NE, Nebraska, US

Fraction of renters in Douglas County

History of Douglas County Renter Fraction

Date US Nebraska Douglas County NE
2019 35.89% 33.71% 38.19%
2018 36.05% 33.94% 38.26%
2017 36.13% 33.72% 39.52%
2016 36.88% 34.68% 38.79%
2015 36.97% 34.10% 38.56%
2014 36.90% 34.06% 39.83%
2013 36.50% 33.96% 39.41%
2012 36.09% 33.66% 38.73%
2011 35.42% 33.09% 37.17%
2010 34.65% 32.62% 37.03%
2009 34.13% 32.76% 36.51%

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.