At $1,436/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Kemah's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Kemah changed +3.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,357) is $2,134 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,800); a 3-bedroom is $2,400.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Kemah. 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
Kemah, TX is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 34.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Kemah, TX has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $85,357 today, compared with $94,286 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 1,878 to 2,168 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.4% change. About 46.3% of households rent today, against 26.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.3% to 34.1%.
Discussions about Kemah
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Can you afford rent in Kemah on your salary?
At $1,436/mo, how Kemah rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Kemah rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Kemah. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Kemah
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Kemah is $1,436/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,045/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,307/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,096/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,742/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($85,357/yr), Kemah ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Kemah?
Is rent going up or down in Kemah?
How does Kemah rent compare to other cities in Texas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Kemah?
At $1,436/mo, rent takes ~20% of Kemah's median household income ($85,357/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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