Delaware County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Delaware County PA was $1,089 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Delaware County was $1,127 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 Delaware County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Delaware County rental vacancy rates, Delaware County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Delaware County.
Real Gross Rent in Delaware 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% |
| Delaware County PA Median Gross Rent | $1,089 | +4.21% | +1.30% |
Delaware County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $1,089, real median gross rent in Delaware County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. Average gross rent for Delaware County peaked in real terms in 2016 at $1,154 and is now $27 (2.34%) lower.
Real Gross Rent: Delaware County PA Median, Delaware County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Delaware County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Delaware County PA Median |
Delaware County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $1,089 | $1,127 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $1,045 | $1,122 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $1,070 | $1,118 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $1,075 | $1,154 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $1,062 | $1,134 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $1,023 | $1,095 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $1,025 | $1,087 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $989 | $1,051 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $1,022 | $1,092 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $1,039 | $1,070 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $1,022 | $1,086 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $1,012 | $1,007 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $1,008 | $1,046 |
Delaware 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 Delaware County Pennsylvania was 4.62% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Delaware County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Delaware County PA | 4.62% | -1.30% | -2.26% |
Trends in Delaware County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Delaware County peaked in 2009 at 11.59%. Since then it has fallen by 6.97% to 4.62%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Delaware County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Delaware County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Delaware County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 4.62% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 5.92% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 5.61% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 6.88% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.69% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 6.30% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 11.53% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 8.95% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 7.14% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 7.66% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 11.59% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 5.35% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 7.46% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Delaware County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Delaware County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 16.90% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Delaware 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% |
| Delaware County PA | 16.90% | -0.19% | -1.24% |
Trends in Delaware County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Delaware County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 18.89%. Since then it has fallen by 1.99% to 16.90%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Delaware County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Delaware County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Delaware County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 16.90% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.09% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 16.87% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.14% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 17.77% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 18.46% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 18.01% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 18.28% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.89% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 18.88% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 17.25% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 17.15% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 17.39% |
Renter Fraction in Delaware County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Delaware 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 Delaware County as a fraction of total Delaware County households. In 2019 30.79% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Delaware 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% |
| Delaware County PA | 30.79% | -3.10% | -1.92% |
Trends in the Delaware County PA Renter Fraction
The Delaware County household renter fraction peaked in in 2018 at 33.89% and is now 3.10% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Delaware County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Delaware County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Delaware County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 30.79% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 33.89% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 30.33% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 32.71% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 29.81% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 29.87% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 30.82% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 31.36% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 29.58% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 29.59% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 27.51% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 27.87% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 28.19% |
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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