City Report · AZ

Bullhead City

Pop. 42,496·47th most expensive in Arizona·Rental market data updated monthly for Bullhead City, AZ
Median rent (all units)
$1,432/mo
Year-over-Year
+2.8%
Month-over-Month
+0.8%
vs US Median
-$500
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Bullhead City · $1,432
More affordable than 80% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
53/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Bullhead City's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent
$1,432/mo
Expected by trend
$1,455/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Bullhead City's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,010
1 BR
$1,010
2 BR
$1,305
3 BR
$1,815
4 BR+
$2,010
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,305/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,432 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in Bullhead City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Arizona

Rent in Bullhead City changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($50,556) is $1,264 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,010); a 2-bedroom is $1,305.

Cheaper nearby

Laughlin, NV, 8 miles away, rents for 26% less ($1,065/mo), about $4,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Bullhead City. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$17,184/yr
At $1,432/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Bullhead City, AZ is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 15.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
42,496
Median income
$50,556
Median age
56
Renters
30.1%
Age distribution
14.5%
17.2%
17.8%
16.2%
34.3%
Under 1814.5%
18–3417.2%
35–5417.8%
55–6416.2%
65+34.3%
Gender
50.8%
49.2%
Male50.8%
Female49.2%
Race & ethnicity
74.4%
22.8%
White74.4%
Black1.8%
Hispanic22.8%
Asian1.6%
Education (25+)
13.5%
35.4%
35.8%
15.2%
No HS diploma13.5%
HS diploma35.4%
Some college35.8%
Bachelor's+15.2%
Housing tenure
69.9%
30.1%
Owner69.9%
Renter30.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Bullhead City, AZ has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,355 → $1,432
up 5.7%
Income
$43,368 → $50,556
up 16.6%
Population
41,064 → 42,496
up 3.5%
Renter share
37.4% → 30.1%
-7.3 pts
Bachelor's+
11.9% → 15.2%
+3.3 pts
Median age
51.5 → 56
+4.5 yrs

Rent in Bullhead City, AZ has increased 5.7% since 2023, going from about $1,355 per month to roughly $1,432 today. Median household income grew from $43,368 to $50,556 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.6% shift. Income growth outran rent by about 10.9 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 41,064 to 42,496 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.5% change. About 30.1% of households rent today, against 37.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 11.9% to 15.2%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Bullhead City, AZ reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

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View Bullhead City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Bullhead City on your salary?

At $1,432/mo, how Bullhead City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Bullhead City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Bullhead City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Bullhead City

About renting in Bullhead City, AZ

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Bullhead City is $1,432/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,305/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,010/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,815/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($50,556/yr), Bullhead City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Bullhead City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $57,000/year (about $27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,432/mo in Bullhead City. The local median household income is $50,556/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Bullhead City?

Rent in Bullhead City has risen 2.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.

Which Bullhead City neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Bullhead City are 86442 ($1,449/mo), and 86429 ($1,452/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $1,432/mo.

How does Bullhead City rent compare to other cities in Arizona?

Bullhead City is one of the more affordable among Arizona cities for rent, ranking #47 of 53 tracked cities at $1,432/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Bullhead City changed +2.8%, against a typical +1.6% across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Bullhead City?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Bullhead City ($1,432/mo) include Laughlin ($1,065/mo).
Income Affordability
34%
MODERATE

At $1,432/mo, rent takes ~34% of Bullhead City's median household income ($50,556/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Bullhead City 34%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2.5%
Run the Bullhead City affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Bullhead City
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Bullhead City, AZ

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