Rents are right about where Clayton's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,789 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 Clayton is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Clayton changed +7.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($123,000) is $3,075 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,590).
University City, 1 mile away, rents for 15% less ($1,517/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Clayton. 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
Clayton, MO is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 84.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Clayton, MO has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Clayton, MO paid around $1,473 a month. That figure now sits near $1,789, up 21.5% from the 2022 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $123,000 today, compared with $117,593 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Clayton, MO adding about 475 residents over the five-year window, up 2.8% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 79.4% to 84.9% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Clayton on your salary?
At $1,789/mo, how Clayton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Clayton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Clayton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Clayton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Clayton is $1,789/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,360/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,740/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,410/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,250/mo.
At 17% of local median household income ($123,000/yr), Clayton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Clayton?
Is rent going up or down in Clayton?
How does Clayton rent compare to other cities in Missouri?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Clayton?
At $1,789/mo, rent takes ~17% of Clayton's median household income ($123,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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