At $1,660/mo, rent takes about 28% of the US 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 $1,660 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 Saint Helens changed +1.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 54 Oregon cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.9%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
Kelso, WA, 22 miles away, rents for 12% less ($1,469/mo), about $2,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Saint Helens.
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At $1,660/mo, how Saint Helens rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Saint Helens rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Saint Helens. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Saint Helens
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Saint Helens is $1,660/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 28% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Saint Helens ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Saint Helens rent compare to other cities in Oregon?
At $1,660/mo, rent takes ~28% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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