Rents are 8% below what Tavares'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 $1,964 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 Tavares is 3.7% below its high of $2,039 in February 2026, at $1,964 as of September 2026.
Rent in Tavares changed -1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 270 Florida cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.8%.
Rent has fallen 7 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,886) is $1,472 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,410); a 1-bedroom is $1,480.
Eustis, 6 miles away, rents for 20% less ($1,574/mo), about $4,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Tavares. 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
Tavares, FL is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 25.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Tavares, FL has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Tavares, FL has climbed by $221 per month, settling near $1,964 after starting the period at $1,743. On the earnings side, the typical household in Tavares, FL now reports about $58,886, up from $49,313 in 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 6.7 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 18,290 to 20,463 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.9% change. About 23.2% of households rent today, against 29% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Tavares, FL reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $1,964/mo, how Tavares rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Tavares rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Tavares. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Tavares
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Tavares is $1,964/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,680/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,480/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,130/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($58,886/yr), Tavares ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Tavares?
How does Tavares rent compare to other cities in Florida?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Tavares?
At $1,964/mo, rent takes ~40% of Tavares's median household income ($58,886/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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