How much does it cost to rent in Clayton, MO?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Clayton, MO is $1,790. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Clayton cheaper than other Missouri cities?

Clayton is one of the pricier cities in Missouri, ranking #11 out of 79 cities tracked at $1,790/mo.

When was Clayton rent data last updated?

Clayton rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Clayton, MO?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Clayton, MO at $1,740 per month, which is 3% below the $1,790 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · MO

Clayton

Name: Average Rent Prices in Clayton, MO
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 17,380·11th most expensive in Missouri·Clayton rents are up 15.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,790/mo

Year-over-Year

+15.5%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$172

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Clayton · $1,790

More affordable than 55% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

35/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 8% above what Clayton's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$1,790/mo

Expected by trend

$1,661/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,360

1 BR

$1,410

2 BR

$1,740

3 BR

$2,250

4 BR+

$2,590

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,740/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,790 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$21,480/yr

At $1,790/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 15.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+15.5% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

17,380

Median income

$123,000

Median age

Renters

45.1%

Age distribution

17.7%

37.7%

21.1%

13.9%

Under 1817.7%

18–3437.7%

35–5421.1%

55–649.6%

65+13.9%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

67.5%

13.3%

White67.5%

Black8.8%

Hispanic3.7%

Asian13.3%

Other6.7%

Education (25+)

84.9%

No HS diploma3%

HS diploma5.4%

Some college6.7%

Bachelor's+84.9%

Housing tenure

54.9%

45.1%

Owner54.9%

Renter45.1%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Clayton, MO has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,469 → $1,790

up 21.9%

Income

$117,593 → $123,000

up 4.6%

Population

16,905 → 17,380

up 2.8%

Renter share

44.5% → 45.1%

+0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

79.4% → 84.9%

+5.5 pts

Median age

29.2 → 30

+0.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Clayton, MO paid around $1,469 a month. That figure now sits near $1,790, up 21.9% 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.

Community

Discussions about Clayton

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View Clayton rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Clayton on your salary?

At $1,790/mo, how Clayton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $86,922/yr · Rent = 24.7% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $61,714/yr · Rent = 34.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $71,088/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $127,061/yr · Rent = 16.9% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $162,352/yr · Rent = 13.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $57,785/yr · Rent = 37.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $52,173/yr · Rent = 41.2% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $64,308/yr · Rent = 33.4% income

stretched

By apartment size

Clayton rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Clayton

About renting in Clayton, MO

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Clayton is $1,790/mo as of August 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 15.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Clayton an affordable city for renters?

Clayton is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,790/mo, rent takes approximately 17% of the local median household income ($123,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Clayton falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Clayton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $72,000/year (~$35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,790/mo in Clayton. The local median household income is $123,000/yr, meaning the typical Clayton household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Clayton?

Rent in Clayton has increased 15.5% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Clayton rent compare to other cities in Missouri?

Clayton is one of the pricier cities in Missouri for rent, ranking #11 out of 79 tracked cities at $1,790/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Clayton?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Clayton ($1,790/mo): Maplewood ($1,272/mo), University City ($1,465/mo), Richmond Heights ($1,627/mo).

What percentage of Clayton residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 45.1% of Clayton households are renters, while 54.9% are owner-occupied. Clayton leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Clayton rent compare to the national average?

Clayton's median rent of $1,790/mo is $172 (9%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Missouri, it ranks #11 out of 79 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

17%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,790/mo, rent takes ~17% of Clayton's median household income ($123,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Clayton 17%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–4.7%

Run the Clayton affordability calculator →

Nearby cities