Rents are 10% below what Ruskin'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 $2,221 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
November. Asking rents in Ruskin usually run 1% below trend in November and 1.1% above it in July, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Ruskin is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Ruskin changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Ruskin rose 54.3% while median household income rose 37% ($57,836 to $79,235). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Ruskin is 58.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,235) is $1,981 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,640); a 3-bedroom is $2,100.
Bradenton, 17 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,768/mo), about $5,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ruskin. 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
Ruskin, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 22.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ruskin, FL has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Ruskin, FL paid around $1,604 a month. That figure now sits near $2,221, up 38.5% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $69,005 to $79,235 across the same window, up 14.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Ruskin, FL adding about 3,298 residents over the five-year window, up 12.4% on net. The renter share has eased from 29.1% to 24.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Ruskin, FL look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Ruskin on your salary?
At $2,221/mo, how Ruskin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ruskin rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ruskin. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ruskin
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ruskin is $2,221/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,300/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,400/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,100/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($79,235/yr), Ruskin ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Ruskin?
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Has rent outpaced income in Ruskin?
How does Ruskin rent compare to other cities in Florida?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ruskin?
At $2,221/mo, rent takes ~34% of Ruskin's median household income ($79,235/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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