Rents are right about where Oro Valley's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,831 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
Rent in Oro Valley is 0.1% below its high of $1,833 in August 2026, at $1,831 as of September 2026.
Rent in Oro Valley changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 45 Arizona cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.6%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($107,117) is $2,678 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,060); a 3-bedroom is $2,890.
Tortolita, 6 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,509/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oro Valley. 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
Oro Valley, AZ is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 58% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Oro Valley, AZ has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Oro Valley, AZ has climbed from $1,724 to $1,831, a 6.2% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $92,548 in 2021 to $107,117 more recently. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 3.5% since 2021, moving from about 46,515 residents to roughly 48,162. College-educated residents now make up 58% of adults here, versus 56% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Oro Valley, AZ market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Oro Valley on your salary?
At $1,831/mo, how Oro Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Oro Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Oro Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Oro Valley
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Oro Valley is $1,831/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,060/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,580/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,890/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($107,117/yr), Oro Valley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Oro Valley?
Is rent going up or down in Oro Valley?
How does Oro Valley rent compare to other cities in Arizona?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oro Valley?
At $1,831/mo, rent takes ~21% of Oro Valley's median household income ($107,117/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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