Rents are 3% below what Grain Valley'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 $1,688 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 Grain Valley is 0.4% below its high of $1,694 in July 2026, at $1,688 as of September 2026.
Rent in Grain Valley changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($89,649) is $2,241 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,900); a 4-bedroom is $2,250.
Independence, 11 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,395/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Grain Valley. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Grain Valley, MO is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 27.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Grain Valley, MO has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Grain Valley, MO paid around $1,439 a month. That figure now sits near $1,688, up 17.3% from the 2023 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Grain Valley, MO now reports about $89,649, up from $81,429 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Grain Valley, MO adding about 836 residents over the five-year window, up 5.4% on net. The renter share has risen from 30.5% to 35%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Grain Valley, MO reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Grain Valley
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Grain Valley on your salary?
At $1,688/mo, how Grain Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Grain Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Grain Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Grain Valley
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Grain Valley is $1,688/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,170/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,280/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,900/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($89,649/yr), Grain Valley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Grain Valley?
Is rent going up or down in Grain Valley?
How does Grain Valley rent compare to other cities in Missouri?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Grain Valley?
At $1,688/mo, rent takes ~23% of Grain Valley's median household income ($89,649/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Grain Valley.
No discussions yet.