Richmond Virginia Residential Rent and Rental Statistics

The median monthly gross residential rent in Richmond, VA (the Richmond metro area) was $1,060 in 2017 according to the Census ACS survey.1 Average gross rent in Richmond was $1,059 in 2017. The median rent more accurately depicts rental rates in the middle of the distribution of rents and is thus preferred in the analysis below. 2018 Richmond median and average rent data will be released in September of 2019.

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

Show dollars as: Nominal Real

Nominal Gross Rent in Richmond Virginia 2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US Median Gross Rent $1,012 +3.16% +8.35% Virginia Median Gross Rent $1,179 +1.73% +5.65% Richmond, VA Median Gross Rent $1,060 +3.92% +4.85% Richmond, VA Nominal Gross Rent Trends At $1,060, nominal median gross rent in Richmond was at its highest level in 2017 since the series began in 2005. At $1,059, nominal average gross rent in Richmond was at its highest level in 2017 since the series began in 2005. Nominal Gross Rent in Richmond Virginia: Richmond VA Median , Richmond VA Average , Virginia Median , US Median Nominal Gross Rent History for Richmond Date US

Median Virginia

Median Richmond, VA

Median Richmond, VA

Average 2017 $1,012 $1,179 $1,060 $1,059 2016 $981 $1,159 $1,020 $1,034 2015 $959 $1,144 $1,019 $1,026 2014 $934 $1,116 $1,011 $998 2013 $905 $1,086 $959 $962 2012 $884 $1,068 $939 $931 2011 $871 $1,062 $925 $897 2010 $855 $1,019 $903 $901 2009 $842 $989 $901 $897 2008 $824 $934 $866 $840 2007 $789 $892 $830 $817 2006 $763 $846 $793 $774

Real Gross Rent in Richmond Virginia (2017 dollars)2 2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US Median Gross Rent $1,012 +1.61% +5.86% Virginia Median Gross Rent $1,179 +0.17% +3.15% Richmond, VA Median Gross Rent $1,060 +2.32% +2.42% Richmond, VA Real Gross Rent Trends At $1,060, real median gross rent in Richmond was at its highest level in 2017 since the series began in 2005. At $1,059, real average gross rent in Richmond was at its highest level in 2017 since the series began in 2005. Real Gross Rent in Richmond: Richmond VA Median , Richmond VA Average , Virginia Median , US Median Real Gross Rent History for Richmond Date US

Median Virginia

Median Richmond, VA

Median Richmond, VA

Average 2017 $1,012 $1,179 $1,060 $1,059 2016 $996 $1,177 $1,036 $1,050 2015 $987 $1,177 $1,048 $1,056 2014 $956 $1,143 $1,035 $1,022 2013 $924 $1,109 $979 $982 2012 $912 $1,102 $969 $961 2011 $912 $1,112 $969 $940 2010 $927 $1,104 $979 $976 2009 $931 $1,093 $996 $992 2008 $947 $1,073 $995 $965 2007 $899 $1,016 $946 $931 2006 $909 $1,008 $944 $922

The rental vacancy rate is the fraction of homes for rent that are not occupied.3 In 2017 the rental vacancy rate for Richmond Virginia was 5.50% according to Census ACS data.

Rental Vacancy Rate in Richmond Virginia

2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US 6.18% +0.29% -0.14% Virginia 6.45% +0.86% +0.66% Richmond, VA 5.50% +1.39% -0.81%

Trends in Richmond, VA Rental Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate in Richmond peaked in 2011 at 13.19%. Since then it has fallen by 7.69% to 5.50%. Data records for this series originated in 2005. From a 2015 post peak low of 3.51%, the rental vacancy rate has increased by 1.99%.

Rental Vacancy Rate: Richmond VA , Virginia , US

Historical Rental Vacancy Rate data for Richmond

Date US Virginia Richmond, VA 2017 6.18% 6.45% 5.50% 2016 5.89% 5.59% 4.11% 2015 5.85% 5.13% 3.51% 2014 6.32% 5.79% 6.31% 2013 6.49% 6.38% 6.26% 2012 6.77% 6.18% 10.11% 2011 7.40% 7.54% 13.19% 2010 8.17% 7.02% 12.69% 2009 8.43% 7.29% 7.78% 2008 7.86% 6.82% 9.28% 2007 7.87% 7.11% 8.18% 2006 7.70% 6.88% 8.13%

Using median household income data for Richmond, we can calculate the fraction of income the median household would use to pay rent at the median monthly gross rent rate. For Richmond, median monthly gross rent as a fraction of median household income was 18.81% in 2017 according to the ACS.

Richmond Virginia Median Annual Rent as a Fraction of Median Household Income

2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US 20.13% -0.30% -0.76% Virginia 19.78% -0.64% -0.86% Richmond, VA 18.81% -0.64% -1.10%

Trends in Richmond, VA Rent as a Fraction of Income

The fraction of median Richmond household income required to pay median monthly gross rent peaked in 2011 (relative to the 2005 series origin) at 20.26%. Since then it has fallen by 1.45% to 18.81%.

Fraction of Income towards Rent: Richmond VA , Virginia , US

Historical Data for Annual Rent as a Fraction of Income in Richmond Virginia

Date US Virginia Richmond, VA 2017 20.13% 19.78% 18.81% 2016 20.43% 20.42% 19.45% 2015 20.63% 20.72% 20.14% 2014 20.89% 20.63% 19.91% 2013 20.78% 20.80% 20.09% 2012 20.65% 20.76% 19.85% 2011 20.70% 20.59% 20.26% 2010 20.50% 20.15% 19.59% 2009 20.12% 20.00% 19.44% 2008 19.00% 18.30% 17.72% 2007 18.66% 17.97% 17.55% 2006 18.90% 18.04% 17.81%

You can calculate the renter fraction in Richmond 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 Richmond as a fraction of total Richmond households. In 2017 33.76% of households were renters according to Census ACS data.

Richmond Fraction of Renters by Household Units

2017 1 Year Change 3 Year Change US 36.13% -0.75% -0.77% Virginia 33.43% -1.28% -1.24% Richmond, VA 33.76% -1.10% -1.54%

Trends in the Richmond, VA Renter Fraction

The Richmond household renter fraction peaked in in 2015 at 35.96% and is now 2.20% below that level. The origin year for the series is 2005.

Fraction of Renting Households: Richmond VA , Virginia , US

History of Richmond Renter Fraction