Rents are 3% above what Mary Esther's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $2,116 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 Mary Esther is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in Mary Esther changed +5.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($76,890) is $1,922 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,470); a 3-bedroom is $2,040.
Fort Walton Beach, 5 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,828/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Mary Esther. 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
Mary Esther, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 30.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Mary Esther, FL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Mary Esther, FL has climbed by $208 per month, settling near $2,116 after starting the period at $1,908. Household income in the area moved from $73,281 to $76,890 across the same window, up 4.9% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 6.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 3,979 to 4,061 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.1% change. About 30.2% of households rent today, against 25.4% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Mary Esther, FL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Mary Esther on your salary?
At $2,116/mo, how Mary Esther rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Mary Esther rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Mary Esther. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Mary Esther
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Mary Esther is $2,116/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,140/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,470/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,310/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,040/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($76,890/yr), Mary Esther ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Mary Esther?
Is rent going up or down in Mary Esther?
How does Mary Esther rent compare to other cities in Florida?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Mary Esther?
At $2,116/mo, rent takes ~33% of Mary Esther's median household income ($76,890/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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