Two ways to describe the same rents
The median is the middle figure when you sort all the amounts from lowest to highest. With an even number of amounts, use the average of the two in the middle. For the average of the whole group, add every amount and divide by the number of amounts.
One unusually high rent can push the average up while leaving the middle figure unchanged. That's why we lead with the middle figure. It is less affected by extreme amounts, but it still won't describe everyone's situation.
What the example tells you
For those five rents, €900 sits in the middle. Adding them gives €6,000; divide by five and the average is €1,200. Neither calculation is wrong. The €2,600 rent simply has more influence on the average.
On DimeTrace, you'll also see the range covering the central half of the costs, their dates and how many people contributed. Those details help you decide whether the comparison fits your search.
Check which homes are being compared
Even a middle figure won't help much if the homes are very different from yours. Check:
- Base or total rent and included costs.
- Dwelling size and household.
- City or published district coverage.
- How recent the costs are, how many people shared them and who could get those prices.