Rents are 13% below what Riverdale'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 $1,585 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
January. Asking rents in Riverdale usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in September, about $24 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Riverdale is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Riverdale changed +2.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 115 Georgia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Riverdale rose 58.1% while median household income rose 26.5% ($50,145 to $63,455). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Riverdale is 59% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($63,455) is $1,586 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,490); a 2-bedroom is $1,650.
Forest Park, 5 miles away, rents for 23% less ($1,226/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Riverdale. 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
Riverdale, GA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 17.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Riverdale, GA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Riverdale, GA paid around $1,166 a month. That figure now sits near $1,585, up 35.9% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $57,920 in 2021 to $63,455 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Riverdale, GA losing about 221 residents over the five-year window, down 1.5% on net. The renter share has risen from 47.1% to 49.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Riverdale, GA market of 2021.
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At $1,585/mo, how Riverdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Riverdale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Riverdale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Riverdale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Riverdale is $1,585/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,435/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,650/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,490/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,990/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($63,455/yr), Riverdale ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Riverdale?
At $1,585/mo, rent takes ~30% of Riverdale's median household income ($63,455/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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