RentDataNowRentDataNow
City Report · TX

Midland

Pop. 136,640·142nd most expensive in Texas·Midland rents are up 5.3% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,636/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.3%
Month-over-Month
+0.1%
vs US Median
-$326
Stable (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Midland rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Midland · $1,636
More affordable than 66% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Affordability
22% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,636/mo, rent takes about 22% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$65,000/yr
Local median income
$89,585/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Midland's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,556
1 BR
$1,564
2 BR
$1,834
3 BR
$2,356
4 BR+
$2,910
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,834/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,636 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

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$19,632/yr
At $1,636/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (5.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.3% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Midland, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 33.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
136,640
Median income
$89,585
Median age
31.5
Renters
34.9%
Age distribution
29.8%
26.5%
24.9%
Under 1829.8%
18–3426.5%
35–5424.9%
55–648.6%
65+10.1%
Gender
50.8%
49.2%
Male50.8%
Female49.2%
Race & ethnicity
54.6%
45.9%
White54.6%
Black8.5%
Hispanic45.9%
Asian2.6%
Education (25+)
13.4%
22.6%
30.2%
33.7%
No HS diploma13.4%
HS diploma22.6%
Some college30.2%
Bachelor's+33.7%
Housing tenure
65.1%
34.9%
Owner65.1%
Renter34.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Midland, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,165 → $1,636
up 40.4%
Income
$87,900 → $89,585
up 1.9%
Population
130,765 → 136,640
up 4.5%
Renter share
35.8% → 34.9%
-0.9 pts
Bachelor's+
30.9% → 33.7%
+2.8 pts

The median rent in Midland, TX stood at $1,165 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,636, reflecting a 40.4% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $87,900 to $89,585 across the same window, up 1.9% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 4.5% since 2021, moving from about 130,765 residents to roughly 136,640. College-educated residents now make up 33.7% of adults here, versus 30.9% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Midland, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Midland

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

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

Can you afford rent in Midland on your salary?

At $1,636/mo, how Midland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Midland rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Midland

About renting in Midland, TX

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Midland is $1,636/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,556/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,834/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,564/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,356/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($89,585/yr), Midland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Midland an affordable city for renters?

Midland is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,636/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($89,585/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Midland falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Midland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $65,000/year (~$31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,636/mo in Midland. The local median household income is $89,585/yr, meaning the typical Midland household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Midland?

Rent in Midland has increased 5.3% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Midland neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Midland are 79703 ($1,366/mo), 79707 ($1,534/mo), and 79701 ($1,710/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Midland is $1,636/mo.

How does Midland rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Midland is middle-of-the-pack for Texas for rent, ranking #142 out of 267 tracked cities at $1,636/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Midland?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Midland ($1,636/mo): Big Spring ($1,233/mo), Hobbs ($1,439/mo), Odessa ($1,554/mo).

What percentage of Midland residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 34.9% of Midland households are renters, while 65.1% are owner-occupied. Midland leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Midland rent compare to the national average?

Midland's median rent of $1,636/mo is $326 (17%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Texas, it ranks #142 out of 267 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
22%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,636/mo, rent takes ~22% of Midland's median household income ($89,585/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Midland 22%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
Run the Midland affordability calculator →
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Midland, TX

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Midland.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.

Add RentDataNow as a preferred source on Google