At $1,596/mo, rent takes about 29% 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 $1,596 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 Brenham changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($65,112) is $1,628 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,560).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Brenham. 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
Brenham, TX is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 32.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Brenham, TX has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $65,112 today, compared with $54,536 five years earlier. Census counts show Brenham, TX adding about 1,256 residents over the five-year window, up 7.2% on net. The renter share has risen from 43.7% to 48.9%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 27.4% to 32.5% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Brenham on your salary?
At $1,596/mo, how Brenham rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Brenham rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Brenham. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Brenham
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Brenham is $1,596/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $880/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,150/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $890/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,500/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($65,112/yr), Brenham ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Brenham?
Is rent going up or down in Brenham?
How does Brenham rent compare to other cities in Texas?
At $1,596/mo, rent takes ~29% of Brenham's median household income ($65,112/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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