How much does it cost to rent in Abilene, TX?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Abilene, TX is $1,947. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Abilene cheaper than other Texas cities?

Abilene is one of the pricier cities in Texas, ranking #59 out of 269 cities tracked at $1,947/mo.

When was Abilene rent data last updated?

Abilene rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · TX

Abilene

Name: Average Rent Prices in Abilene, TX
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 128,053·59th most expensive in Texas·Abilene rents are up 40.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,947/mo

Year-over-Year

+40.0%

Month-over-Month

+6.3%

vs US Median

-$18

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Abilene · $1,947

More expensive than 56% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Affordability

37% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,947/mo, rent takes about 37% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$78,000/yr

Local median income

$62,648/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Abilene's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$922

1 BR

$926

2 BR

$1,178

3 BR

$1,536

4 BR+

$1,854

Research median

$1,178/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$23,364/yr

At $1,947/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 40.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+40.0% YoY, +6.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Abilene, TX is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 27.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

128,053

Median income

$62,648

Median age

32.8

Renters

43.9%

Age distribution

23%

30.6%

22.4%

13.9%

Under 1823%

18–3430.6%

35–5422.4%

55–6410.1%

65+13.9%

Gender

51.4%

48.6%

Male51.4%

Female48.6%

Race & ethnicity

63.4%

27.1%

White63.4%

Black10.3%

Hispanic27.1%

Asian2.4%

Education (25+)

12.3%

30.3%

30%

27.3%

No HS diploma12.3%

HS diploma30.3%

Some college30%

Bachelor's+27.3%

Housing tenure

56.1%

43.9%

Owner56.1%

Renter43.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Abilene, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,026 → $1,947

up 89.8%

Income

$54,493 → $62,648

up 15.0%

Population

125,474 → 128,053

up 2.1%

Renter share

45.5% → 43.9%

-1.6 pts

Bachelor's+

26% → 27.3%

+1.3 pts

Median age

32.1 → 32.8

+0.7 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in Abilene, TX has climbed from $1,026 to $1,947, a 89.8% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $62,648 today, compared with $54,493 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.1% since 2021, moving from about 125,474 residents to roughly 128,053. Renters now make up 43.9% of households, compared with 45.5% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Abilene

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View Abilene rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Abilene on your salary?

At $1,947/mo, how Abilene rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 25% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 35.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 30.5% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 17.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 13.4% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 37.6% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 41.6% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 33.8% income

stretched

By apartment size

Abilene rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Abilene

About renting in Abilene, TX

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Abilene is $1,947/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $922/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,178/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $926/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,536/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($62,648/yr), Abilene ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 40.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Abilene an affordable city for renters?

Abilene is considered moderate for renters. At $1,947/mo, rent takes approximately 37% of the local median household income ($62,648/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Abilene slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Abilene?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $78,000/year (~$38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,947/mo in Abilene. The local median household income is $62,648/yr, meaning the typical Abilene household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Abilene?

Rent in Abilene has increased 40.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Abilene neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Abilene are 79605 ($1,622/mo), 79603 ($1,892/mo), and 79601 ($2,114/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Abilene is $1,947/mo.

How does Abilene rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Abilene is one of the pricier cities in Texas for rent, ranking #59 out of 269 tracked cities at $1,947/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Abilene?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Abilene ($1,947/mo): Graham ($1,195/mo), San Angelo ($1,302/mo).

What percentage of Abilene residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 43.9% of Abilene households are renters, while 56.1% are owner-occupied. Abilene leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.