City Report · OK

El Reno

Pop. 18,557·19th most expensive in Oklahoma·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,319/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.5%
Month-over-Month
-1.1%
vs US Median
-$613
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
El Reno · $1,319
More affordable than 87% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
28% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,319/mo, rent takes about 28% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$53,000/yr
Local median income
$56,219/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using El Reno's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$750
1 BR
$810
2 BR
$990
3 BR
$1,320
4 BR+
$1,450
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$990/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,319 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Oklahoma

Rent in El Reno changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 31 Oklahoma cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.8%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($56,219) is $1,405 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,320); a 4-bedroom is $1,450.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for El Reno. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$15,828/yr
At $1,319/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.5% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

El Reno, OK is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 16.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
18,557
Median income
$56,219
Median age
34.8
Renters
39.8%
Age distribution
23.1%
27.3%
27.1%
13.6%
Under 1823.1%
18–3427.3%
35–5427.1%
55–649%
65+13.6%
Gender
53%
47%
Male53%
Female47%
Race & ethnicity
63.3%
22.2%
White63.3%
Black6.8%
Hispanic22.2%
Asian0.6%
Other7%
Education (25+)
14.9%
36.3%
32.5%
16.3%
No HS diploma14.9%
HS diploma36.3%
Some college32.5%
Bachelor's+16.3%
Housing tenure
60.2%
39.8%
Owner60.2%
Renter39.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How El Reno, OK has changed in 5 years

Income
$49,147 → $56,219
up 14.4%
Population
17,164 → 18,557
up 8.1%
Renter share
42.8% → 39.8%
-3.0 pts
Bachelor's+
17.3% → 16.3%
-1.0 pts
Median age
36.3 → 34.8
-1.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in El Reno, OK now reports about $56,219, up from $49,147 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 17,164 to 18,557 between 2021 and 2024, a 8.1% change. About 39.8% of households rent today, against 42.8% in 2021.

Community

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View El Reno rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in El Reno on your salary?

At $1,319/mo, how El Reno rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

El Reno rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in El Reno. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in El Reno

About renting in El Reno, OK

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in El Reno is $1,319/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $990/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,320/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($56,219/yr), El Reno ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in El Reno?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $53,000/year (about $25/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,319/mo in El Reno. The local median household income is $56,219/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in El Reno?

Rent in El Reno has risen 1.5% over the past year.

How does El Reno rent compare to other cities in Oklahoma?

El Reno is in the middle among Oklahoma cities for rent, ranking #19 of 38 tracked cities at $1,319/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in El Reno changed +1.5%, against a typical +2.8% across the 31 Oklahoma cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than El Reno?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than El Reno ($1,319/mo) include Bethany ($1,266/mo).
Income Affordability
28%
AFFORDABLE

At $1,319/mo, rent takes ~28% of El Reno's median household income ($56,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

El Reno 28%Benchmark 30%
State income tax0.25–4.75%
Run the El Reno affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in El Reno
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near El Reno, OK

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