City Report · TX

Alton

Pop. 20,214·255th most expensive in Texas·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,022/mo
Year-over-Year
+2.9%
Month-over-Month
+1.3%
vs US Median
-$910
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Alton · $1,022
More affordable than 98% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,022/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$41,000/yr
Local median income
$52,715/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Alton's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$750
1 BR
$750
2 BR
$930
3 BR
$1,210
4 BR+
$1,350
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$930/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,022 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 Texas

Rent in Alton changed +2.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 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 ($52,715) is $1,318 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,210); a 4-bedroom is $1,350.

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

Annual cost
$12,264/yr
At $1,022/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (2.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+2.9% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Alton, TX is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 14.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
20,214
Median income
$52,715
Median age
26.1
Renters
45%
Age distribution
35.5%
29%
22.4%
Under 1835.5%
18–3429%
35–5422.4%
55–645.9%
65+7.1%
Gender
51.2%
48.8%
Male51.2%
Female48.8%
Race & ethnicity
13.7%
96.8%
White13.7%
Hispanic96.8%
Education (25+)
32.8%
29.3%
23.6%
14.2%
No HS diploma32.8%
HS diploma29.3%
Some college23.6%
Bachelor's+14.2%
Housing tenure
55%
45%
Owner55%
Renter45%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Alton, TX has changed in 5 years

Income
$39,077 → $52,715
up 34.9%
Population
17,993 → 20,214
up 12.3%
Renter share
40.5% → 45%
+4.5 pts
Bachelor's+
11.1% → 14.2%
+3.1 pts
Median age
25.4 → 26.1
+0.7 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $39,077 to $52,715 across the same window, up 34.9% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 17,993 to 20,214 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.3% change. About 45% of households rent today, against 40.5% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 11.1% to 14.2%.

Community

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View Alton rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Alton on your salary?

At $1,022/mo, how Alton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Alton rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Alton

About renting in Alton, TX

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Alton is $1,022/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $750/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $750/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,210/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($52,715/yr), Alton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Alton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $41,000/year (about $20/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,022/mo in Alton. The local median household income is $52,715/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Alton?

Rent in Alton has risen 2.9% over the past year.

How does Alton rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Alton is one of the more affordable among Texas cities for rent, ranking #255 of 257 tracked cities at $1,022/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Alton changed +2.9%, against a typical +1.0% across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,022/mo, rent takes ~23% of Alton's median household income ($52,715/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Alton 23%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
Run the Alton affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Alton, TX

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