Rents are 5% below what Westland'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 $1,301 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
February. Asking rents in Westland usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in June, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Westland is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2015.
Rent in Westland changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 79 Michigan cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.1%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Westland rose 39.2% while median household income rose 22.4% ($50,710 to $62,076). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Westland is 45.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($62,076) is $1,552 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,345); a 3-bedroom is $1,650.
Wayne, 3 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,166/mo), about $1,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Westland. 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
Westland, MI is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 23% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Westland, MI has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Westland, MI has increased from $982 to $1,301, a 32.5% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $55,640 in 2021 to $62,076 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.6% since 2021, moving from about 84,961 residents to roughly 83,633. Renters now make up 38.7% of households, compared with 40.3% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Westland, MI market of 2021.
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At $1,301/mo, how Westland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Westland rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Westland. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Westland
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Westland is $1,301/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $970/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,345/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,065/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,650/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($62,076/yr), Westland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Westland rent compare to other cities in Michigan?
At $1,301/mo, rent takes ~25% of Westland's median household income ($62,076/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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