Berks County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Berks County PA was $936 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Berks County was $926 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 Berks County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Berks County rental vacancy rates, Berks County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Berks County.
Real Gross Rent in Berks County Pennsylvania (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Pennsylvania Median Gross Rent | $951 | +0.74% | +3.03% |
| Berks County PA Median Gross Rent | $936 | +1.19% | -1.16% |
Berks County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Berks County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $947 and is now $11 (1.16%) lower. Average gross rent for Berks County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $947 and is now $21 (2.22%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Berks County PA Median, Berks County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Berks County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Berks County PA Median |
Berks County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $936 | $926 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $925 | $940 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $891 | $927 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $947 | $947 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $918 | $877 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $912 | $889 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $870 | $850 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $869 | $866 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $881 | $877 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $877 | $843 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $890 | $867 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $822 | $808 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $788 | $769 |
Berks 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 Berks County Pennsylvania was 5.36% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Berks County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Berks County PA | 5.36% | -3.13% | -1.58% |
Trends in Berks County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Berks County peaked in 2018 at 8.49%. Since then it has fallen by 3.13% to 5.36%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Berks County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Berks County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Berks County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 5.36% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 8.49% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 7.20% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 6.94% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 8.04% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 8.35% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 4.57% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 7.40% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 5.60% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 4.13% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 7.55% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 6.56% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 7.56% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Berks County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Berks County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.59% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Berks County Pennsylvania Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Pennsylvania | 17.98% | -0.28% | -0.60% |
| Berks County PA | 16.59% | -0.85% | -1.71% |
Trends in Berks County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Berks County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2012 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.85%. Since then it has fallen by 2.26% to 16.59%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Berks County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Berks County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Berks County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 16.59% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.43% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 16.98% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.30% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 18.50% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 18.49% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 17.69% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 18.85% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.72% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 18.20% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 17.52% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 15.91% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 14.86% |
Renter Fraction in Berks County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Berks 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 Berks County as a fraction of total Berks County households. In 2019 30.37% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Berks County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Pennsylvania | 31.59% | +0.19% | +0.09% |
| Berks County PA | 30.37% | +1.72% | +1.54% |
Trends in the Berks County PA Renter Fraction
At 30.37%, the 2019 household based renter fraction in Berks County was at its highest level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Berks County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Berks County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Berks County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 30.37% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 28.65% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 27.74% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 28.83% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 28.44% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 29.94% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 26.38% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 29.45% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 27.83% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 28.74% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 26.45% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 24.30% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 25.47% |
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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