While Census 2000 data released this month shows the average rent in Washington County nearly doubled in the past decade, out-of-towners such as Betsy and Sean Chapman say rent here is relatively cheap, and they are right.
Although the average month’s rent in the county went from $227 in 1990 to $400 in 2000, Washington County rent remains one the lowest in Ohio. Comparing the state’s 88 counties, Washington County’s average rent ranks as the 14th cheapest. The average rent in Ohio is $515 a month. Compare that to Delaware County, north of Columbus, which recorded the highest average rent in the state at $639 a month, and Lake County near Cleveland with an average monthly cost of $623.
Southeast Ohio neighbor Athens County averages $469 a month for rent.
“We have two bedrooms and one bath for $435 a month and we were happy about that,” Chapman, 31, said about her single-floor rental at Channel Lane Apartments in Marietta. She said the same space in her home city of Florence, S.C., would cost $600 to $700 a month.
The Chapmans keep a close eye on rental costs because Sean’s job with Duke Energy transfers him throughout the eastern United States on a yearly basis. This year, Sean, Betsy and their two kids, ages 3 and 4, came to Marietta because of the Duke Energy gas-fired power plant being built near Beverly.
“We have a house in South Carolina, but we just don’t live in it,” Chapman said. “We tried the ‘you go live up here and we stay at home’ — that didn’t work. So, it’s just easier to rent. Half of our furniture is there and half of it is here.”
“People coming into town seem to find the prices fairly competitive,” local landlord Adrian Van Dyk said. Van Dyk rents out about 45 units in Marietta and said his prices average from $375 to $550 a month with utilities not included.
Detailed information on rent costs in the city of Marietta is still unavailable, but the 2000 U.S. Census does show that 2,441, or 40 percent, of Marietta’s housing units are rental units. That percent drops to 22 percent throughout the county where a total of 5,682 units are rented.
The near doubling of average rent during the past decade is not unusual, said Doug Grize, director of Washington County Economic Development. Inflation and higher wages contribute to the increase, he said. In fact, adjusting for inflation, Ohio Department of Development figures show only a 4.4 percent increase in average rent from the $383 inflation adjusted 1990 monthly rent to the $400 rent in 2000. Average household income in Washington County increased 8 percent when adjusting for inflation from $31,740 in 1990 to $34,275 in 2000.
Grize also said that just because rent is cheaper in Washington County, doesn’t mean the total cost of living is cheaper.
“The rent may be cheap, but if you’re living in the city (Marietta) you have to pay a city income tax or higher water and sewer rates,” Grize said.
The 2000 Census says about 600 more rental units are available in Washington County compared to a decade ago. More rental units translates into more vacancies. Census figures show an increase in the rental vacancy rate from 7.1 percent in 1990 to 9.2 percent in 2000.
Local Realtor Steve McCarthy with McCarthy Real Estate said the vacancy trend may continue with signs of a strengthening U.S. housing market, which he also sees in Washington County. The U.S. Commerce Department said this week home construction increased by 11.6 percent in May, pushing the rate to 1.73 million starts a year.
“It’s a strong house (buying) market with the low interest rates,” McCarthy said.
Many may rent for a year just to get a feel for where they want to buy a house, McCarthy said.
Even with plenty of rentals available, Betsy Chapman said finding a good place to live in Marietta was difficult.
“A lot of places we looked at you wouldn’t want to live there,” Chapman said. “They (the landlords) don’t advertise much. A lady at church told us about this place.” She also said that within the past year, four to five people have knocked on her door, asking about available apartments.
“Local people tend to look for the cheapest thing they can get,” Van Dyk said.
Tenants usually stay in an apartment for about two years, he said. Reasons for moving usually are financial, employment related, or family matters.
Census figures also break down how much renters are paying in specific price ranges. Out of the 5,682 renters in Washington County about 55 percent (3,154) pay from $250 to $499 a month.
Census figures also show many local renters are receiving assistance. As many as 1,308 renters pay less than $250 a month for housing in Washington County.
Steve Thomas, assistant housing specialist for Washington-Morgan Community Action, said assistance often comes via subsidized housing payments from the Housing and Urban Development program. From his office, 350 renters receive subsidies from HUD.
Other needy renters obtain subsidies directly through the apartment complex or landlord, Thomas said.
“We have some that we pay all their rent and some that we pay just some of their rent,” Thomas said. The HUD program bases its amount of help on the income and size of the renter’s family, Thomas said.
The 2000 Census shows 551 units in Washington County are rented with no cost to the renter.
Washington County rent costs:
(Year) - (Total Units) - (Less than $250 a month) - ($250-$499) - ($500-$749) - ($750-999) - (More than $1000)
(1999) - (5,093) - (3,091) - (1,958) - (38) - (1) - (5)
(2000) - (5,682) - (1,308) - (3,154) - (986) - (185) - (49)
*Source: 1990 and 2000 U.S. Census and the Ohio Department of Development