At $1,414/mo, rent takes about 40% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,414 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 Starkville changed +3.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 23 Mississippi cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.8%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($42,125) is $1,053 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($970); a 2-bedroom is $1,070.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Starkville. 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
Starkville, MS is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 50.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Starkville, MS has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $42,125 today, compared with $34,391 five years earlier. The population has grown by 4.7% since 2021, moving from about 24,578 residents to roughly 25,721. Renters now make up 66.1% of households, compared with 58.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 50.5% of adults here, versus 47.2% in 2021.
Discussions about Starkville
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Starkville on your salary?
At $1,414/mo, how Starkville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Starkville rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Starkville. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Starkville
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Starkville is $1,414/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $820/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $970/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,410/mo.
At 40% of local median household income ($42,125/yr), Starkville ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Starkville?
Is rent going up or down in Starkville?
How does Starkville rent compare to other cities in Mississippi?
At $1,414/mo, rent takes ~40% of Starkville's median household income ($42,125/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 Starkville.
No discussions yet.