How much does it cost to rent in Stafford, TX?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Stafford, TX is $1,578. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Stafford cheaper than other Texas cities?

Stafford falls in the middle range for Texas, ranking #163 out of 267 cities at $1,578/mo.

When was Stafford rent data last updated?

Stafford rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Stafford, TX?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Stafford, TX at $1,640 per month, which is 4% above the $1,578 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · TX

Stafford

Name: Average Rent Prices in Stafford, TX
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 17,401·163rd most expensive in Texas·Rental market data updated monthly for Stafford, TX

Median rent (all units)

$1,578/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.9%

vs US Median

-$384

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Stafford · $1,578

More affordable than 71% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

60/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 5% below what Stafford's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,578/mo

Expected by trend

$1,662/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Stafford's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,310

1 BR

$1,370

2 BR

$1,640

3 BR

$2,190

4 BR+

$2,750

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,640/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,578 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

$18,936/yr

At $1,578/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 2.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.4% YoY, +1.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

17,401

Median income

$87,432

Median age

32.3

Renters

61.3%

Age distribution

22.5%

32.7%

21.2%

12.9%

Under 1822.5%

18–3432.7%

35–5421.2%

55–6412.9%

65+10.7%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

19.6%

30.4%

27.2%

24.2%

White19.6%

Black30.4%

Hispanic27.2%

Asian24.2%

Education (25+)

13.8%

22.2%

22.6%

41.4%

No HS diploma13.8%

HS diploma22.2%

Some college22.6%

Bachelor's+41.4%

Housing tenure

38.7%

61.3%

Owner38.7%

Renter61.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Stafford, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,315 → $1,578

up 20.0%

Income

$77,718 → $87,432

up 12.5%

Population

17,170 → 17,401

up 1.3%

Renter share

52.4% → 61.3%

+8.9 pts

Bachelor's+

37.1% → 41.4%

+4.3 pts

The median rent in Stafford, TX stood at $1,315 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,578, reflecting a 20.0% 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.

Community

Discussions about Stafford

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View Stafford rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Stafford on your salary?

At $1,578/mo, how Stafford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $93,535/yr · Rent = 20.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $66,409/yr · Rent = 28.5% income

affordable

Police Officer

Avg $76,497/yr · Rent = 24.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $136,729/yr · Rent = 13.8% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $174,705/yr · Rent = 10.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $62,182/yr · Rent = 30.5% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $56,143/yr · Rent = 33.7% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $69,201/yr · Rent = 27.4% income

affordable

By apartment size

Stafford rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Stafford

About renting in Stafford, TX

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Stafford is $1,578/mo as of August 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 2.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Stafford an affordable city for renters?

Stafford is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,578/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($87,432/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Stafford falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Stafford?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $63,000/year (~$30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,578/mo in Stafford. The local median household income is $87,432/yr, meaning the typical Stafford household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Stafford?

Rent in Stafford has increased 2.4% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Stafford rent compare to other cities in Texas?

Stafford is middle-of-the-pack for Texas for rent, ranking #163 out of 267 tracked cities at $1,578/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Stafford?

Pecan Grove is nearby and more affordable at $1,561/mo, which is $17 less than Stafford.

What percentage of Stafford residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 61.3% of Stafford households are renters, while 38.7% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Stafford has a strong rental market.

How does Stafford rent compare to the national average?

Stafford's median rent of $1,578/mo is $384 (20%) below the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within Texas, it ranks #163 out of 267 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

22%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,578/mo, rent takes ~22% of Stafford's median household income ($87,432/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Stafford 22%Benchmark 30%

State income taxNone

Run the Stafford affordability calculator →

Nearby cities