At $1,336/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,336 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 Houma is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2022.
Rent in Houma changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 36 Louisiana cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.9%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,194) is $1,455 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,210); a 3-bedroom is $1,460.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Houma. 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
Houma, LA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 23.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Houma, LA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Houma, LA has increased 3.9% since 2023, going from about $1,286 per month to roughly $1,336 today. Median household income grew from $48,688 to $58,194 between 2021 and 2024, a 19.5% shift. Income growth outran rent by about 15.6 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 33,461 to 32,392 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.2% change. About 27.6% of households rent today, against 32.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 19.4% to 23.8%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Houma, LA 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 Houma on your salary?
At $1,336/mo, how Houma rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Houma rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Houma. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Houma
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Houma is $1,336/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $830/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,210/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $985/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,460/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($58,194/yr), Houma ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Houma?
Which Houma neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Houma rent compare to other cities in Louisiana?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Houma?
At $1,336/mo, rent takes ~28% of Houma's median household income ($58,194/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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