Rents are 16% below what Ocala'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 $1,578 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Ocala, FL is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 31.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ocala, FL has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Ocala, FL paid around $1,220 a month. That figure now sits near $1,578, up 29.3% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $46,841 to $56,376 between 2021 and 2024, a 20.4% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Ocala, FL adding about 4,233 residents over the five-year window, up 6.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 51.4% to 47.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 28% to 31.2% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Ocala, FL 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.
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Can you afford rent in Ocala on your salary?
At $1,578/mo, how Ocala rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ocala rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ocala. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ocala
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Ocala is $1,578/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,045/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,365/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,129/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,745/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($56,376/yr), Ocala ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ocala an affordable city for renters?
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What percentage of Ocala residents rent vs. own?
How does Ocala rent compare to the national average?
At $1,578/mo, rent takes ~34% of Ocala's median household income ($56,376/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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