Rents are 21% below what El Mirage's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,897 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 →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in El Mirage usually run 1% below trend in December and 1.1% above it in July, about $40 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in El Mirage is 3.9% below its high of $1,975 in December 2025, at $1,897 as of September 2026.
Rent in El Mirage changed -2.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in El Mirage rose 54.7% while median household income rose 34.1% ($58,216 to $78,050). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in El Mirage is 47.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,050) is $1,951 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,880); a 3-bedroom is $2,530.
Youngtown, 1 mile away, rents for 25% less ($1,429/mo), about $5,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for El Mirage. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
El Mirage, AZ is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 15.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How El Mirage, AZ has changed in 5 years
The median rent in El Mirage, AZ stood at $1,561 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,897, reflecting a 21.5% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $65,072 to $78,050 across the same window, up 19.9% versus 2021. The population has grown by 1.9% since 2021, moving from about 35,410 residents to roughly 36,088. Renters now make up 30.3% of households, compared with 33.3% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in El Mirage, AZ look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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At $1,897/mo, how El Mirage rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
El Mirage rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in El Mirage. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in El Mirage
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in El Mirage is $1,897/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,480/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,880/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,620/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,530/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($78,050/yr), El Mirage ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does El Mirage rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
At $1,897/mo, rent takes ~29% of El Mirage's median household income ($78,050/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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