At $1,746/mo, rent takes about 23% 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 $1,746 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 Molalla changed -1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 Oregon cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.9%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($89,318) is $2,233 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,830); a 3-bedroom is $2,530.
Raleigh Hills, 29 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,524/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Molalla. 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
Molalla, OR is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 18.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Molalla, OR has changed in 5 years
Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $74,718 in 2021 to $89,318 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 10,060 to 10,186 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. About 45.2% of households rent today, against 34.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 16.1% to 18.8%.
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Can you afford rent in Molalla on your salary?
At $1,746/mo, how Molalla rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Molalla rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Molalla. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Molalla
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Molalla is $1,746/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,490/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,830/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,530/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($89,318/yr), Molalla ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Molalla?
How does Molalla rent compare to other cities in Oregon?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Molalla?
At $1,746/mo, rent takes ~23% of Molalla's median household income ($89,318/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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