Rents are 4% below what Kirkwood'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 $1,893 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 Kirkwood is 0.8% below its high of $1,908 in February 2026, at $1,893 as of September 2026.
Rent in Kirkwood changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 60 Missouri cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +4.4%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($121,270) is $3,032 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,170).
Valley Park, 5 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,567/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kirkwood. 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
Kirkwood, MO is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 67.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kirkwood, MO has changed in 5 years
Since 2022, the typical rent in Kirkwood, MO has increased from $1,492 to $1,893, a 26.9% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Kirkwood, MO now reports about $121,270, up from $98,637 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 22.8% of households, compared with 24.9% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 67.9% of adults here, versus 64.9% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Kirkwood, MO reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $1,893/mo, how Kirkwood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kirkwood rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kirkwood. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kirkwood
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kirkwood is $1,893/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,140/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,180/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,890/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($121,270/yr), Kirkwood ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Kirkwood?
Is rent going up or down in Kirkwood?
How does Kirkwood rent compare to other cities in Missouri?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kirkwood?
At $1,893/mo, rent takes ~19% of Kirkwood's median household income ($121,270/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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