City Report · TX

Decatur

Pop. 7,426·199th most expensive in Texas·One of the most affordable rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$1,402/mo
Year-over-Year
-3.8%
Month-over-Month
+0.2%
vs US Median
-$530
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Decatur · $1,402
More affordable than 82% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,402/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$56,000/yr
Local median income
$73,179/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Decatur's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,000
1 BR
$1,030
2 BR
$1,220
3 BR
$1,710
4 BR+
$1,950
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,220/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,402 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 Decatur changed -3.8% 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 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,179) is $1,829 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,710); a 4-bedroom is $1,950.

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

Annual cost
$16,824/yr
At $1,402/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 3.8% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (-3.8% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Decatur, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 27.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
7,426
Median income
$73,179
Median age
40.5
Renters
28.5%
Age distribution
22.7%
19.8%
21.6%
14%
21.9%
Under 1822.7%
18–3419.8%
35–5421.6%
55–6414%
65+21.9%
Gender
45.3%
54.7%
Male45.3%
Female54.7%
Race & ethnicity
71.8%
29.6%
White71.8%
Hispanic29.6%
Asian1.5%
Education (25+)
34%
28.6%
27.1%
No HS diploma10.3%
HS diploma34%
Some college28.6%
Bachelor's+27.1%
Housing tenure
71.5%
28.5%
Owner71.5%
Renter28.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Decatur, TX has changed in 5 years

Income
$66,034 → $73,179
up 10.8%
Population
6,557 → 7,426
up 13.3%
Renter share
34.3% → 28.5%
-5.8 pts
Bachelor's+
25.4% → 27.1%
+1.7 pts
Median age
36 → 40.5
+4.5 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $66,034 in 2021 to $73,179 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 6,557 to 7,426 between 2021 and 2024, a 13.3% change. About 28.5% of households rent today, against 34.3% in 2021.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Decatur on your salary?

At $1,402/mo, how Decatur rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Decatur rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Decatur

About renting in Decatur, TX

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Decatur is $1,402/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,220/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,030/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,710/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($73,179/yr), Decatur ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Decatur?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $56,000/year (about $27/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,402/mo in Decatur. The local median household income is $73,179/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Decatur?

Rent in Decatur has fallen 3.8% over the past year.

How does Decatur rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Decatur is one of the more affordable among Texas cities for rent, ranking #199 of 257 tracked cities at $1,402/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Decatur changed -3.8%, against a typical +1.0% across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,402/mo, rent takes ~23% of Decatur's median household income ($73,179/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Decatur 23%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Decatur, TX

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