Average Rent and Rental Vacancy Statistics: 2026 Report
Last updated . All data pieces · Methodology
Signing a lease, raising a tenant's rent, or comparing a local asking price to the rest of the country usually starts with one search: what is the average rent in the US. The answer depends on whether you mean median gross rent for occupied units (contract rent plus utilities), the asking rent on vacant units, a Fair Market Rent used for voucher programs, or a private listing index. A single national figure also mixes coastal and inland markets, so the state split and the vacancy rate matter as much as the headline dollar amount.
We compiled these figures from four public Census and BLS sources covering 2014 through September 2026, as of October 30, 2026 (America/Bogota). They are the Census American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Table B25064 median gross rent for 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 (national, with 2025 and 2024 also by state); the Census Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey (CPS/HVS) through third quarter 2026, including Historical Table 3 rental vacancy rates by units in structure; and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index rent of primary residence through September 2026.
ACS 2025 puts U.S. median gross rent at $1,557 a month, up from $1,487 in 2024 in current dollars. By our calculation that increase is statistically significant at the 90% confidence level. HVS puts the median asking rent for vacant for-rent units at $1,541 in third quarter 2026. Those are different universes and should not be averaged. Zillow, Apartment List, and RealPage indexes were checked against their terms and are not republished here.
Median Gross Rent in the United States: 2025 to Third Quarter 2026
This table answers the main keyword question: what rent levels look like at the national level, with each row's definition and period stated so the figures are not mixed.
| Metric | Figure | Period and scope | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,557 | Calendar 2025; renter-occupied units paying cash rent; contract rent plus estimated utilities and fuels | Census ACS 1-year, Table B25064 |
| Median asking rent for vacant for-rent units | $1,541 | Third quarter 2026; vacant units listed for rent | Census CPS/HVS |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2025 1-year Table B25064 (Median Gross Rent), table-based summary file (released October 29, 2026); U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership, Third Quarter 2026 (press release October 28, 2026). Gross rent includes utilities estimated by the ACS. Asking rent covers vacant units only. The ACS margin of error on the 2025 U.S. median is ±$4 at the 90% confidence level.
ACS median gross rent is the Census figure most often cited as "average rent" for occupied rentals. HVS asking rent updates more often but only for units that are vacant and for rent. For related landlord cost context, see average property management fees.
Median Gross Rent by State: 2025
State medians answer a different question from the national figure: how far local cash rents plus utilities sit above or below the U.S. ACS median. The chart below uses only the 10 highest and 10 lowest ACS 2025 medians; the full state table follows.
- California$2,160
- District of Columbia$2,075
- Hawaii$2,009
- Massachusetts$1,962
- New Jersey$1,885
- Washington$1,873
- Florida$1,866
- Colorado$1,839
- Maryland$1,822
- New Hampshire$1,742
- Oklahoma$1,107
- Louisiana$1,105
- South Dakota$1,089
- Wyoming$1,087
- Kentucky$1,072
- North Dakota$1,071
- Arkansas$1,055
- Mississippi$1,033
- Iowa$1,026
- West Virginia$921
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year Table B25064. Subset of the full state table; District of Columbia included. Values as shown in the table below the chart.
| State or District | Median gross rent (ACS 2025 1-year) | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|
| California | $2,160 | ±$9 |
| District of Columbia | $2,075 | ±$51 |
| Hawaii | $2,009 | ±$69 |
| Massachusetts | $1,962 | ±$25 |
| New Jersey | $1,885 | ±$19 |
| Washington | $1,873 | ±$16 |
| Florida | $1,866 | ±$11 |
| Colorado | $1,839 | ±$16 |
| Maryland | $1,822 | ±$22 |
| New Hampshire | $1,742 | ±$39 |
| Oklahoma | $1,107 | ±$11 |
| Louisiana | $1,105 | ±$15 |
| South Dakota | $1,089 | ±$33 |
| Wyoming | $1,087 | ±$57 |
| Kentucky | $1,072 | ±$16 |
| North Dakota | $1,071 | ±$32 |
| Arkansas | $1,055 | ±$20 |
| Mississippi | $1,033 | ±$26 |
| Iowa | $1,026 | ±$18 |
| West Virginia | $921 | ±$22 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2025 1-year Table B25064, table-based summary file. Rows copied unchanged from the full state table below: the 10 highest and 10 lowest of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, sorted by median gross rent. Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level.
| State or District | Median gross rent (ACS 2025 1-year) | Margin of error |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1,121 | ±$15 |
| Alaska | $1,500 | ±$44 |
| Arizona | $1,698 | ±$17 |
| Arkansas | $1,055 | ±$20 |
| California | $2,160 | ±$9 |
| Colorado | $1,839 | ±$16 |
| Connecticut | $1,679 | ±$26 |
| Delaware | $1,614 | ±$53 |
| District of Columbia | $2,075 | ±$51 |
| Florida | $1,866 | ±$11 |
| Georgia | $1,575 | ±$15 |
| Hawaii | $2,009 | ±$69 |
| Idaho | $1,462 | ±$31 |
| Illinois | $1,419 | ±$17 |
| Indiana | $1,187 | ±$12 |
| Iowa | $1,026 | ±$18 |
| Kansas | $1,134 | ±$15 |
| Kentucky | $1,072 | ±$16 |
| Louisiana | $1,105 | ±$15 |
| Maine | $1,329 | ±$43 |
| Maryland | $1,822 | ±$22 |
| Massachusetts | $1,962 | ±$25 |
| Michigan | $1,220 | ±$11 |
| Minnesota | $1,357 | ±$17 |
| Mississippi | $1,033 | ±$26 |
| Missouri | $1,142 | ±$15 |
| Montana | $1,208 | ±$43 |
| Nebraska | $1,194 | ±$20 |
| Nevada | $1,692 | ±$21 |
| New Hampshire | $1,742 | ±$39 |
| New Jersey | $1,885 | ±$19 |
| New Mexico | $1,145 | ±$30 |
| New York | $1,704 | ±$14 |
| North Carolina | $1,412 | ±$15 |
| North Dakota | $1,071 | ±$32 |
| Ohio | $1,155 | ±$9 |
| Oklahoma | $1,107 | ±$11 |
| Oregon | $1,629 | ±$18 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,329 | ±$13 |
| Rhode Island | $1,531 | ±$63 |
| South Carolina | $1,395 | ±$25 |
| South Dakota | $1,089 | ±$33 |
| Tennessee | $1,356 | ±$17 |
| Texas | $1,515 | ±$11 |
| Utah | $1,646 | ±$22 |
| Vermont | $1,338 | ±$57 |
| Virginia | $1,734 | ±$20 |
| Washington | $1,873 | ±$16 |
| West Virginia | $921 | ±$22 |
| Wisconsin | $1,219 | ±$12 |
| Wyoming | $1,087 | ±$57 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2025 1-year Table B25064, table-based summary file (released October 29, 2026). Universe: renter-occupied housing units paying cash rent. The Census Bureau publishes ACS margins of error at the 90% confidence level.
The highest medians are mostly on the coasts, plus Colorado, while the lowest are mostly in the Plains, the South and Appalachia. We compared each state's 2025 median with its ACS 2024 median, in current dollars, using the Census Bureau's test for the difference between two estimates at the 90% confidence level. The median rose by a statistically significant amount in 44 of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. In the other 7 (Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Vermont) the change was not significant, and no state showed a significant decline. Sale-side timing that renters sometimes watch before buying is covered in how long it takes to sell a house.
Rent Trend: American Community Survey Medians and Consumer Price Index Rent Index
The ACS series tracks occupied-unit median gross rent across multi-year gaps. The BLS rent of primary residence index tracks month-to-month change in what urban renters pay for primary residences, including many leases that renew in place.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CUSR0000SEHA (seasonally adjusted). Year-over-year change calculated from September index levels. Axis starts at zero; values as shown in the table below the chart.
| September of year | Index (1982-84=100, seasonally adjusted) | Year-over-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 342.986 | 2.7 |
| 2021 | 351.306 | 2.4 |
| 2022 | 376.628 | 7.2 |
| 2023 | 404.538 | 7.4 |
| 2024 | 423.858 | 4.8 |
| 2025 | 438.237 | 3.4 |
| 2026 | 450.429 | 2.8 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U Rent of Primary Residence, series CUSR0000SEHA. Index levels from the BLS public API. Year-over-year change = (September index ÷ prior September index − 1) × 100, rounded to one decimal; the September 2019 index (333.920) is the base for the 2020 change. September 2026 unadjusted index in the CPI news release Table 1 was 450.402 (+2.8% from September 2025).
| ACS 1-year estimate year | U.S. median gross rent |
|---|---|
| 2014 | $934 |
| 2019 | $1,097 |
| 2022 | $1,300 |
| 2023 | $1,406 |
| 2024 | $1,487 |
| 2025 | $1,557 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 1-year Table B25064 via the data.census.gov access API for table IDs ACSDT1Y2014.B25064, ACSDT1Y2019.B25064, ACSDT1Y2022.B25064, ACSDT1Y2023.B25064, and ACSDT1Y2024.B25064, and the ACS 2025 table-based summary file for 2025 (United States). Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation. Calculated change from 2019 to 2025: ($1,557 ÷ $1,097 − 1) × 100 = 41.9%. Calculated change from 2014 to 2025: ($1,557 ÷ $934 − 1) × 100 = 66.7%.
ACS medians rose sharply between 2019 and 2025. The CPI rent index shows the same broad direction with a slower year-over-year pace by September 2026 than in 2022 and 2023. Appraisal-side pricing that owners use when they exit rentals is covered separately in home appraisal cost.
Rental Vacancy Rate: Third Quarter 2020 to Third Quarter 2026
The Housing Vacancy Survey rental vacancy rate is the share of the rental inventory that is vacant and for rent. It is the standard government measure for "rental vacancy rate" searches. The trend below compares third quarters only, because HVS rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Third Quarter 2026 press release. Axis starts at zero; values as shown in the table below the chart.
| Third quarter of year | Rental vacancy rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 6.4 |
| 2021 | 5.8 |
| 2022 | 6.0 |
| 2023 | 6.6 |
| 2024 | 6.9 |
| 2025 | 7.1 |
| 2026 | 7.6 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership, Third Quarter 2026 (Release Number CB26-161, October 28, 2026), Table 1. The Census Bureau reported the third quarter 2026 rate as higher than the third quarter 2025 rate and higher than the second quarter 2026 rate (7.3%). Fourth quarter 2025 estimates used only November and December data because of a federal funding lapse. The release lists the next HVS release for February 2, 2027.
| Area or region | Rental vacancy rate, Q3 2025 (%) | Rental vacancy rate, Q3 2026 (%) | Margin of error, Q3 2026 rate (±) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 7.1 | 7.6 | 0.3 |
| Inside metropolitan statistical areas | 7.1 | 7.8 | 0.3 |
| In principal cities | 7.3 | 8.8 | 0.4 |
| Suburbs (not in principal cities) | 6.9 | 6.5 | 0.4 |
| Outside metropolitan statistical areas | 6.6 | 6.4 | 0.8 |
| Northeast | 5.0 | 6.2 | 0.6 |
| Midwest | 6.4 | 7.1 | 0.7 |
| South | 9.1 | 9.2 | 0.4 |
| West | 6.0 | 6.7 | 0.5 |
Source: Census CPS/HVS Third Quarter 2026 press release, Table 2. Margins of error are at the 90% confidence level. MSA (metropolitan statistical area) boundaries in third quarter 2026 differ from those in third quarter 2025, and the Census Bureau advises caution when comparing those rows year over year.
The Census Bureau reported that the South had the highest regional rate in third quarter 2026 and that the rate in principal cities was higher than in the suburbs and outside metropolitan areas. The Northeast and West rates were higher than in third quarter 2025; the Midwest and South rates were not statistically different from a year earlier.
Rental Vacancy Rate in Buildings with 5 or More Units: Third Quarter 2020 to 2026
Searches for apartment vacancy rate usually want a multifamily figure. Census Housing Vacancy Survey Historical Table 3 breaks out the rental vacancy rate by units in structure, including buildings with 5 or more units, which is the survey's apartment proxy.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey/Housing Vacancy Survey, Historical Table 3. Axis starts at zero; values as shown in the table below the chart.
| Third quarter of year | Rental vacancy rate, 1 unit (%) | Rental vacancy rate, 2 or more units (%) | Rental vacancy rate, 5 or more units (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 4.7 | 7.7 | 8.7 |
| 2021 | 5.0 | 6.3 | 6.8 |
| 2022 | 5.8 | 6.2 | 6.8 |
| 2023 | 5.6 | 7.4 | 7.9 |
| 2024 | 6.0 | 7.6 | 8.0 |
| 2025 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 8.4 |
| 2026 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 8.9 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, CPS/HVS Historical Table 3, Rental Vacancy Rates by Units in Structure (file updated with the Third Quarter 2026 release, October 28, 2026). Columns are 1 unit, 2 or more units, and 5 or more units as labeled in that table. The 5-or-more-units rate is the apartment proxy. Distributions of units in structure used in these rates draw on American Housing Survey occupied-unit estimates, which Census updates in odd years (footnotes in the historical table). Historical Table 3 does not publish margins of error, so year-to-year differences in this table are not tested here. This is a stock vacancy rate for the rental inventory in those structures, not an absorption rate for newly completed apartments.
What to Watch Next
The ACS 2025 1-year figures and the CPS/HVS third quarter 2026 figures on this page are the latest public benchmarks for occupied-unit rent and rental vacancy. The next HVS release, noted under the vacancy trend table, will add fourth quarter 2026 readings, and the September CPI comparison will move forward with each monthly BLS release.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 1-year Estimates, Table B25064 (Median Gross Rent). 2025 national and state figures and 2024 state figures and margins of error from the table-based summary files, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2025/table-based-SF/data/1YRData/acsdt1y2025-b25064.dat (released October 29, 2026) and https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/1YRData/acsdt1y2024-b25064.dat; 2014, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024 national figures via data.census.gov access API (table IDs ACSDT1Y2014.B25064 through ACSDT1Y2024.B25064), https://data.census.gov/table?q=B25064.
- U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Residential Vacancies and Homeownership, Third Quarter 2026 (Release Number CB26-161), October 28, 2026, https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/current/ and https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/files/currenthvspress.pdf.
- U.S. Census Bureau, CPS/HVS Historical Table 3, Rental Vacancy Rates by Units in Structure: 1968 to Present, https://www.census.gov/housing/hvs/data/histtab3.xlsx (updated with Third Quarter 2026, October 28, 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index, Rent of Primary Residence (series CUSR0000SEHA / CUUR0000SEHA), September 2026, https://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CUSR0000SEHA and https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.t01.htm.
Figures are shown as published by the sources named under each table. How we source and correct: editorial and corrections policy. Spotted an error? Contact us.
Release dates for these sources: Data release calendar.