Luzerne County Pennsylvania Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Luzerne County PA was $810 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Luzerne County was $757 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 Luzerne County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Luzerne County rental vacancy rates, Luzerne County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Luzerne County.
Real Gross Rent in Luzerne 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% |
| Luzerne County PA Median Gross Rent | $810 | +0.87% | +10.35% |
Luzerne County PA Real Gross Rent Trends
At $810, real median gross rent in Luzerne County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005. At $757, real average gross rent in Luzerne County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Luzerne County PA Median, Luzerne County PA Average, Pennsylvania Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Luzerne County
| Date | US Median |
Pennsylvania Median |
Luzerne County PA Median |
Luzerne County PA Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $951 | $810 | $757 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $944 | $803 | $738 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $921 | $772 | $738 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $923 | $734 | $714 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $921 | $791 | $739 |
| 2014 | $986 | $895 | $763 | $699 |
| 2013 | $953 | $872 | $720 | $700 |
| 2012 | $940 | $849 | $665 | $661 |
| 2011 | $941 | $849 | $705 | $700 |
| 2010 | $955 | $853 | $689 | $662 |
| 2009 | $960 | $841 | $692 | $679 |
| 2007 | $927 | $805 | $680 | $634 |
| 2005 | $910 | $809 | $650 | $625 |
Luzerne 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 Luzerne County Pennsylvania was 2.65% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Luzerne County Pennsylvania
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Pennsylvania | 4.87% | -0.42% | -0.90% |
| Luzerne County PA | 2.65% | -5.74% | -4.26% |
Trends in Luzerne County PA Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Luzerne County peaked in 2014 at 9.38%. Since then it has fallen by 6.73% to 2.65%. Data records for this series originated in 2005.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Luzerne County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Luzerne County
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Luzerne County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 4.87% | 2.65% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 5.29% | 8.39% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 5.84% | 3.49% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 5.77% | 6.91% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 5.77% | 5.89% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 6.40% | 9.38% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 5.78% | 2.92% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 5.88% | 2.85% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 6.13% | 3.38% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 6.47% | 4.25% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 6.80% | 5.16% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 7.34% | 7.64% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 7.94% | 4.86% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Luzerne County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Luzerne County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.01% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Luzerne 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% |
| Luzerne County PA | 18.01% | +0.62% | -0.05% |
Trends in Luzerne County PA Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Luzerne County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2014 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 19.58%. Since then it has fallen by 1.57% to 18.01%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Luzerne County PA, Pennsylvania, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Luzerne County Pennsylvania
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Luzerne County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 17.98% | 18.01% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 18.26% | 17.39% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 18.10% | 17.51% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 18.58% | 18.06% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 18.70% | 17.80% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 19.12% | 19.58% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.11% | 18.16% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 18.69% | 17.70% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 18.78% | 18.29% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 18.58% | 17.67% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 17.88% | 18.24% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 16.92% | 16.62% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 17.43% | 16.76% |
Renter Fraction in Luzerne County Pennsylvania
You can calculate the renter fraction in Luzerne 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 Luzerne County as a fraction of total Luzerne County households. In 2019 32.56% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Luzerne 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% |
| Luzerne County PA | 32.56% | +1.57% | +0.65% |
Trends in the Luzerne County PA Renter Fraction
The Luzerne County household renter fraction peaked in in 2012 at 34.99% and is now 2.43% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Luzerne County PA, Pennsylvania, US
History of Luzerne County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Pennsylvania | Luzerne County PA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 31.59% | 32.56% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 31.40% | 30.99% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 31.70% | 32.94% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 31.50% | 31.91% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 31.28% | 32.83% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 31.17% | 30.89% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 31.05% | 31.45% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 31.09% | 34.99% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 30.51% | 33.64% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 29.87% | 31.50% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 29.48% | 31.90% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 28.36% | 29.98% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 28.52% | 30.08% |
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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