Bell County Texas Residential Rent and Rental Statistics
The median monthly gross residential rent in Bell County TX was $924 in 2019 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Bell County was $979 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 Bell County median and average rent data will be released in September of 2021.
Data is also available below for Bell County rental vacancy rates, Bell County rent as a percent of median income and the fraction of renters in Bell County.
Real Gross Rent in Bell County Texas (2019 dollars)2
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Median Gross Rent | $1,097 | +1.86% | +6.82% |
| Texas Median Gross Rent | $1,091 | +2.44% | +8.99% |
| Bell County TX Median Gross Rent | $924 | -0.43% | +1.20% |
Bell County TX Real Gross Rent Trends
Median gross rent for Bell County peaked in real terms in 2008 at $971 and is now $47 (4.84%) lower. From a recent low of 861.0 in 2013, real median gross rent has now increased by $63 (7.32%). At $979, real average gross rent in Bell County was at its highest level in 2019 since the series began in 2005.
Real Gross Rent: Bell County TX Median, Bell County TX Average, Texas Median, US Median
Real Gross Rent History for Bell County
| Date | US Median |
Texas Median |
Bell County TX Median |
Bell County TX Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $1,097 | $1,091 | $924 | $979 |
| 2018 | $1,077 | $1,065 | $928 | $953 |
| 2017 | $1,043 | $1,018 | $930 | $943 |
| 2016 | $1,027 | $1,001 | $913 | $894 |
| 2015 | $1,017 | $989 | $907 | $949 |
| 2014 | $986 | $946 | $912 | $935 |
| 2013 | $953 | $902 | $861 | $875 |
| 2012 | $940 | $884 | $879 | $882 |
| 2011 | $941 | $878 | $916 | $864 |
| 2010 | $955 | $895 | $901 | $907 |
| 2009 | $960 | $898 | $946 | $906 |
| 2007 | $927 | $862 | $907 | $874 |
| 2005 | $910 | $839 | $875 | $866 |
Bell 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 Bell County Texas was 9.40% according to Census ACS data.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Bell County Texas
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 5.97% | -0.18% | +0.08% |
| Texas | 8.15% | -0.06% | +0.50% |
| Bell County TX | 9.40% | +2.41% | -1.37% |
Trends in Bell County TX Rental Vacancy Rate
The rental vacancy rate in Bell County peaked in 2013 at 24.04%. Since then it has fallen by 14.64% to 9.40%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2018 post peak low of 6.99%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 2.41%.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Bell County TX, Texas, US
Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Bell County
| Date | US | Texas | Bell County TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5.97% | 8.15% | 9.40% |
| 2018 | 6.15% | 8.21% | 6.99% |
| 2017 | 6.18% | 8.49% | 9.24% |
| 2016 | 5.89% | 7.65% | 10.77% |
| 2015 | 5.85% | 6.95% | 10.05% |
| 2014 | 6.32% | 7.30% | 13.78% |
| 2013 | 6.49% | 7.86% | 24.04% |
| 2012 | 6.77% | 8.53% | 20.65% |
| 2011 | 7.40% | 9.23% | 21.48% |
| 2010 | 8.17% | 10.60% | 19.19% |
| 2009 | 8.43% | 10.69% | 14.43% |
| 2007 | 7.87% | 10.61% | 18.83% |
| 2005 | 7.74% | 10.60% | 10.88% |
Rent as a Fraction of Income
Using median household income data for Bell County, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Bell County, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 20.32% in 2019 according to the ACS.
Bell County Texas Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 20.03% | -0.47% | -0.40% |
| Texas | 20.45% | -0.26% | +0.16% |
| Bell County TX | 20.32% | +0.24% | +0.31% |
Trends in Bell County TX Rent as a Fraction of Income
The fraction of median Bell County household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 22.46%. Since then it has fallen by 2.14% to 20.32%.
Fraction of Income towards Rent: Bell County TX, Texas, US
Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Bell County Texas
| Date | US | Texas | Bell County TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 20.03% | 20.45% | 20.32% |
| 2018 | 20.50% | 20.70% | 20.08% |
| 2017 | 20.13% | 20.00% | 20.63% |
| 2016 | 20.43% | 20.28% | 20.02% |
| 2015 | 20.63% | 20.10% | 20.98% |
| 2014 | 20.89% | 20.27% | 20.24% |
| 2013 | 20.78% | 19.89% | 19.38% |
| 2012 | 20.65% | 19.65% | 20.19% |
| 2011 | 20.70% | 19.75% | 22.46% |
| 2010 | 20.50% | 19.77% | 19.28% |
| 2009 | 20.12% | 19.59% | 21.67% |
| 2007 | 18.66% | 18.52% | 19.27% |
| 2005 | 18.89% | 19.11% | 19.99% |
Renter Fraction in Bell County Texas
You can calculate the renter fraction in Bell 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 Bell County as a fraction of total Bell County households. In 2019 46.14% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.
Bell County Fraction of Renters by Household Units
| 2019 | 1 Year Change | 3 Year Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | 35.89% | -0.16% | -0.99% |
| Texas | 38.12% | -0.16% | -0.79% |
| Bell County TX | 46.14% | +0.43% | -0.50% |
Trends in the Bell County TX Renter Fraction
The Bell County household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 47.40% and is now 1.26% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.
Fraction of Renting Households: Bell County TX, Texas, US
History of Bell County Renter Fraction
| Date | US | Texas | Bell County TX |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 35.89% | 38.12% | 46.14% |
| 2018 | 36.05% | 38.28% | 45.71% |
| 2017 | 36.13% | 38.03% | 45.76% |
| 2016 | 36.88% | 38.91% | 46.64% |
| 2015 | 36.97% | 38.94% | 47.40% |
| 2014 | 36.90% | 38.84% | 47.21% |
| 2013 | 36.50% | 38.16% | 42.91% |
| 2012 | 36.09% | 37.72% | 43.09% |
| 2011 | 35.42% | 37.08% | 46.17% |
| 2010 | 34.65% | 36.42% | 42.93% |
| 2009 | 34.13% | 36.32% | 43.28% |
| 2007 | 32.80% | 34.82% | 36.48% |
| 2005 | 33.10% | 35.29% | 42.23% |
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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