Department of Numbers

Columbia County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Columbia County PA was $702 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Columbia County was $693 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 County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Real Gross Rent in Columbia 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%
Columbia County PA Median Gross Rent $702 -7.27% -3.84%

Columbia County PA Real Gross Rent Trends

Median gross rent for Columbia County peaked in real terms in 2013 at $786 and is now $84 (10.69%) lower. Average gross rent for Columbia County peaked in real terms in 2013 at $887 and is now $194 (21.87%) lower.

Real Gross Rent: Columbia County PA Median, Columbia County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median

Lower quartile, median and upper quartile real gross rent

Real Gross Rent History for Columbia County

Date US
Median
Pennsylvania
Median
Columbia County PA
Median
Columbia County PA
Average
2019 $1,097 $951 $702 $693
2018 $1,077 $944 $757 $756
2017 $1,043 $921 $779 $838
2016 $1,027 $923 $730 $683
2015 $1,017 $921 $752 $769
2014 $986 $895 $781 $817
2013 $953 $872 $786 $887
2012 $940 $849 $677 $657
2011 $941 $849 $686 $683
2010 $955 $853 $738 $767
2009 $960 $841 $715 $732

more history ...

Columbia 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 Columbia County Pennsylvania was 4.43% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Columbia County Pennsylvania

2019 1 Year Change 3 Year Change
US 5.97% -0.18% +0.08%
Pennsylvania 4.87% -0.42% -0.90%
Columbia County PA 4.43% -3.22%

Trends in Columbia County PA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Columbia County peaked in 2006 at 12.77%. Since then it has fallen by 8.34% to 4.43%. Data records for this series originated in 2006.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Columbia County PA, Pennsylvania, US

Rental vacancy rate in Pennsylvania

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Columbia County

Date US Pennsylvania Columbia County PA
2019 5.97% 4.87% 4.43%
2018 6.15% 5.29%
2017 6.18% 5.84% 4.65%
2016 5.89% 5.77% 7.65%
2015 5.85% 5.77% 10.85%
2014 6.32% 6.40%
2013 6.49% 5.78%
2012 6.77% 5.88%
2011 7.40% 6.13%
2010 8.17% 6.47%
2009 8.43% 6.80%

more history ...

Rent as a Fraction of Income

Using median household income data for Columbia County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Columbia County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 15.44% in 2019 according to the ACS.

Columbia 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%
Columbia County PA 15.44% -2.21% -1.57%

Trends in Columbia County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Columbia County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2015 (relative to the 2006 series origin) at 19.97%. Since then it has fallen by 4.54% to 15.44%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Columbia County PA, Pennsylvania, US

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

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

Date US Pennsylvania Columbia County PA
2019 20.03% 17.98% 15.44%
2018 20.50% 18.26% 17.64%
2017 20.13% 18.10% 17.54%
2016 20.43% 18.58% 17.00%
2015 20.63% 18.70% 19.97%
2014 20.89% 19.12% 18.29%
2013 20.78% 19.11% 19.24%
2012 20.65% 18.69% 16.40%
2011 20.70% 18.78% 19.18%
2010 20.50% 18.58% 18.82%
2009 20.12% 17.88% 17.67%

more history ...

Renter Fraction in Columbia County Pennsylvania

You can calculate the renter fraction in Columbia 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 Columbia County as a fraction of total Columbia County households. In 2019 28.50% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Columbia 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%
Columbia County PA 28.50% -0.33% -4.14%

Trends in the Columbia County PA Renter Fraction

The Columbia County household renter fraction peaked in in 2016 at 32.64% and is now 4.14% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2006.

Fraction of Renting Households: Columbia County PA, Pennsylvania, US

Fraction of renters in Columbia County

History of Columbia County Renter Fraction

Date US Pennsylvania Columbia County PA
2019 35.89% 31.59% 28.50%
2018 36.05% 31.40% 28.83%
2017 36.13% 31.70% 31.11%
2016 36.88% 31.50% 32.64%
2015 36.97% 31.28% 28.38%
2014 36.90% 31.17% 27.98%
2013 36.50% 31.05% 31.01%
2012 36.09% 31.09% 28.35%
2011 35.42% 30.51% 28.96%
2010 34.65% 29.87% 29.08%
2009 34.13% 29.48% 30.86%

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.