Rents are 2% below what Friendswood's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,216 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 Friendswood is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.
Rent in Friendswood changed +5.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($126,508) is $3,163 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,570); a 4-bedroom is $3,240.
Webster, 5 miles away, rents for 40% less ($1,337/mo), about $10,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Friendswood. 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
Friendswood, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 52.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Friendswood, TX has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Friendswood, TX paid around $1,935 a month. That figure now sits near $2,216, up 14.5% from the 2023 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $114,516 to $126,508 across the same window, up 10.5% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 48.5% to 52.7% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Friendswood, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Friendswood on your salary?
At $2,216/mo, how Friendswood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Friendswood rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Friendswood. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Friendswood
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Friendswood is $2,216/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,550/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,610/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,570/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($126,508/yr), Friendswood ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Friendswood?
Is rent going up or down in Friendswood?
How does Friendswood rent compare to other cities in Texas?
At $2,216/mo, rent takes ~21% of Friendswood's median household income ($126,508/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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