At $1,586/mo, rent takes about 26% 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 $1,586 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
December. Asking rents in Odessa usually run 1.2% below trend in December and 1.4% above it in August, about $41 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Odessa is 2.2% below its high of $1,621 in June 2025, at $1,586 as of September 2026.
Rent in Odessa changed +0.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Odessa rose 4.9% while median household income rose 15.1% ($63,847 to $73,472). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Odessa is 14.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($73,472) is $1,837 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,800); a 3-bedroom is $2,180.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Odessa, 79765 ($1,823/mo), costs 39% more than the cheapest, 79761 ($1,311/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Odessa. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Odessa, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 19% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Odessa, TX has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Odessa, TX stood at $1,184 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,586, reflecting a 34.0% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $73,472 today, compared with $66,769 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 2.4% since 2021, moving from about 112,640 residents to roughly 115,322. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,586/mo, how Odessa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Odessa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Odessa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Odessa
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Odessa is $1,586/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,403/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,800/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,410/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,180/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($73,472/yr), Odessa ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $1,586/mo, rent takes ~26% of Odessa's median household income ($73,472/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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