City Report · TX

Portland

Pop. 20,543·150th most expensive in Texas·Portland rents are up 9.0% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,582/mo
Year-over-Year
+9.0%
Month-over-Month
+0.5%
vs US Median
-$350
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Portland · $1,582
More affordable than 70% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,582/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$63,000/yr
Local median income
$83,865/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Portland's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,410
1 BR
$1,510
2 BR
$1,860
3 BR
$2,430
4 BR+
$2,840
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,860/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,582 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 Portland changed +9.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.0%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($83,865) is $2,097 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,860); a 3-bedroom is $2,430.

Cheaper nearby

Ingleside, 11 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,333/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$18,984/yr
At $1,582/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 9.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+9.0% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Portland, TX is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 25.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
20,543
Median income
$83,865
Median age
34.7
Renters
36.9%
Age distribution
25.8%
24.7%
26.3%
13.9%
Under 1825.8%
18–3424.7%
35–5426.3%
55–649.4%
65+13.9%
Gender
50.2%
49.8%
Male50.2%
Female49.8%
Race & ethnicity
64.7%
43.4%
White64.7%
Black1.9%
Hispanic43.4%
Asian2.5%
Education (25+)
26.1%
39.5%
25.7%
No HS diploma8.7%
HS diploma26.1%
Some college39.5%
Bachelor's+25.7%
Housing tenure
63.1%
36.9%
Owner63.1%
Renter36.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Portland, TX has changed in 5 years

Income
$82,439 → $83,865
up 1.7%
Population
19,914 → 20,543
up 3.2%
Renter share
36.2% → 36.9%
+0.7 pts
Bachelor's+
26.6% → 25.7%
-0.9 pts
Median age
33.7 → 34.7
+1.0 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $82,439 to $83,865 across the same window, up 1.7% versus 2021. The population has grown by 3.2% since 2021, moving from about 19,914 residents to roughly 20,543.

Community

Discussions about Portland

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

Can you afford rent in Portland on your salary?

At $1,582/mo, how Portland rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Portland rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Portland

About renting in Portland, TX

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Portland is $1,582/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,860/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,510/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,430/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($83,865/yr), Portland ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Portland?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,582/mo in Portland. The local median household income is $83,865/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Portland?

Rent in Portland has risen 9.0% over the past year.

How does Portland rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Portland is in the middle among Texas cities for rent, ranking #150 of 257 tracked cities at $1,582/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Portland changed +9.0%, against a typical +1.0% across the 224 Texas cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Portland?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Portland ($1,582/mo) include Rockport ($1,161/mo), Ingleside ($1,333/mo), and Live Oak ($1,350/mo).
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,582/mo, rent takes ~23% of Portland's median household income ($83,865/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Portland 23%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
Run the Portland affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Portland, TX

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