How much does it cost to rent in Southfield, MI?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Southfield, MI is $1,533. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Southfield cheaper than other Michigan cities?

Southfield falls in the middle range for Michigan, ranking #46 out of 95 cities at $1,533/mo.

When was Southfield rent data last updated?

Southfield rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MI

Southfield

Name: Average Rent Prices in Southfield, MI
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 76,236·46th most expensive in Michigan·Rental market data updated monthly for Southfield, MI

Median rent (all units)

$1,533/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$432

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Southfield · $1,533

More affordable than 73% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

68/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 9% below what Southfield's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,533/mo

Expected by trend

$1,680/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Southfield's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,120

1 BR

$1,233

2 BR

$1,557

3 BR

$1,910

4 BR+

$2,063

Research median

$1,557/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$18,396/yr

At $1,533/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.8% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Southfield, MI is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, 40.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

76,236

Median income

$68,166

Median age

42.3

Renters

46.6%

Age distribution

18.4%

23.4%

22.5%

13.2%

22.6%

Under 1818.4%

18–3423.4%

35–5422.5%

55–6413.2%

65+22.6%

Gender

46.1%

53.9%

Male46.1%

Female53.9%

Race & ethnicity

24.6%

65%

White24.6%

Black65%

Hispanic1.7%

Asian2%

Other6.6%

Education (25+)

18.5%

35.5%

40.7%

No HS diploma5.3%

HS diploma18.5%

Some college35.5%

Bachelor's+40.7%

Housing tenure

53.4%

46.6%

Owner53.4%

Renter46.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Southfield, MI has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,232 → $1,533

up 24.4%

Income

$60,006 → $68,166

up 13.6%

Population

76,196 → 76,236

up 0.1%

Renter share

50.6% → 46.6%

-4.0 pts

Bachelor's+

38.8% → 40.7%

+1.9 pts

Median age

41.5 → 42.3

+0.8 yrs

Rent in Southfield, MI has increased 24.4% since 2021, going from about $1,232 per month to roughly $1,533 today. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $60,006 in 2021 to $68,166 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 10.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 46.6% of households rent today, against 50.6% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Southfield, MI market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Southfield

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View Southfield rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Southfield on your salary?

At $1,533/mo, how Southfield rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $90,701/yr · Rent = 20.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $64,397/yr · Rent = 28.6% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $74,179/yr · Rent = 24.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $132,586/yr · Rent = 13.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $169,411/yr · Rent = 10.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $60,298/yr · Rent = 30.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $54,442/yr · Rent = 33.8% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $67,104/yr · Rent = 27.4% income

affordable

By apartment size

Southfield rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Southfield. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Southfield

About renting in Southfield, MI

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Southfield is $1,533/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,120/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,557/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,233/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,910/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($68,166/yr), Southfield ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Southfield an affordable city for renters?

Southfield is considered affordable for renters. At $1,533/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($68,166/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Southfield falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Southfield?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (~$29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,533/mo in Southfield. The local median household income is $68,166/yr, meaning the typical Southfield household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Southfield?

Rent in Southfield has increased 2.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Southfield neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Southfield are 48034 ($1,383/mo), 48033 ($1,511/mo), and 48075 ($1,684/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Southfield is $1,533/mo.

How does Southfield rent compare to other cities in Michigan?

Southfield is middle-of-the-pack for Michigan for rent, ranking #46 out of 95 tracked cities at $1,533/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Southfield?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Southfield ($1,533/mo): Farmington Hills ($1,435/mo), Oak Park ($1,445/mo).

What percentage of Southfield residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 46.6% of Southfield households are renters, while 53.4% are owner-occupied. Southfield leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Southfield rent compare to the national average?

Southfield's median rent of $1,533/mo is $432 (22%) below the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Michigan, it ranks #46 out of 95 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $1,533/mo, rent takes ~27% of Southfield's median household income ($68,166/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Southfield 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax4.25%

Run the Southfield affordability calculator →

Nearby cities