Rents are 7% below what Stafford'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 $1,568 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
February. Asking rents in Stafford usually run 1.5% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in August, about $38 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.
Rent in Stafford is 2.2% below its high of $1,603 in December 2024, at $1,568 as of September 2026.
Rent in Stafford changed +0.7% 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 Stafford rose 15.6% while median household income rose 40.4% ($62,264 to $87,432). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Stafford is 17.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($87,432) is $2,186 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,640); a 3-bedroom is $2,190.
Jersey Village, 18 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,352/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Stafford. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Stafford, TX is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, 41.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Stafford, TX has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Stafford, TX stood at $1,354 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,568, reflecting a 15.8% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $77,718 in 2021 to $87,432 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 1.3% since 2021, moving from about 17,170 residents to roughly 17,401. Renters now make up 61.3% of households, compared with 52.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 41.4% of adults here, versus 37.1% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Stafford, TX market of 2021.
Discussions about Stafford
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Stafford on your salary?
At $1,568/mo, how Stafford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Stafford rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Stafford. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Stafford
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Stafford is $1,568/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,310/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,370/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,190/mo.
At 22% of local median household income ($87,432/yr), Stafford ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Stafford?
Is rent going up or down in Stafford?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Stafford?
Has rent outpaced income in Stafford?
How does Stafford rent compare to other cities in Texas?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Stafford?
At $1,568/mo, rent takes ~22% of Stafford's median household income ($87,432/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Stafford.
No discussions yet.