Rents are 6% below what Papillion'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 $1,659 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
November. Asking rents in Papillion usually run 0.8% below trend in November and 1.4% above it in July, about $36 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Papillion is 0.9% below its high of $1,674 in October 2025, at $1,659 as of September 2026.
Rent in Papillion changed -0.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 11 Nebraska cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.2%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($111,679) is $2,792 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,185).
La Vista, 5 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,378/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Papillion. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Papillion, NE is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 47.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Papillion, NE has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Papillion, NE stood at $1,247 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,659, reflecting a 33.0% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $95,293 in 2021 to $111,679 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 5.7% since 2021, moving from about 23,875 residents to roughly 25,244. College-educated residents now make up 47.9% of adults here, versus 45.4% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Papillion, NE market of 2021.
Discussions about Papillion
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Papillion on your salary?
At $1,659/mo, how Papillion rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Papillion rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Papillion. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Papillion
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Papillion is $1,659/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,160/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,480/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,230/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,970/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($111,679/yr), Papillion ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Papillion?
Is rent going up or down in Papillion?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Papillion?
Which Papillion neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Papillion rent compare to other cities in Nebraska?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Papillion?
At $1,659/mo, rent takes ~18% of Papillion's median household income ($111,679/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 Papillion.
No discussions yet.