At $1,247/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within 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 $1,247 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 Norfolk changed +2.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 11 Nebraska cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.2%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($58,884) is $1,472 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,450).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Norfolk. 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
Norfolk, NE is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 24% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Norfolk, NE has changed in 5 years
Median household income rose from $52,021 to $58,884 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.2% shift. The population has grown by 4.4% since 2021, moving from about 24,964 residents to roughly 26,054.
Discussions about Norfolk
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Can you afford rent in Norfolk on your salary?
At $1,247/mo, how Norfolk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Norfolk rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Norfolk. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Norfolk
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Norfolk is $1,247/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $650/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $960/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,200/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($58,884/yr), Norfolk ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Norfolk?
Is rent going up or down in Norfolk?
How does Norfolk rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Norfolk?
At $1,247/mo, rent takes ~25% of Norfolk's median household income ($58,884/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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