At $1,137/mo, rent takes about 18% 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 $1,137 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Universal City, TX is majority owner-occupied, 33.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Universal City, TX has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Universal City, TX paid around $981 a month. That figure now sits near $1,137, up 15.9% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $64,115 in 2021 to $74,811 more recently. Census counts show Universal City, TX adding about 510 residents over the five-year window, up 2.6% on net. The renter share has eased from 44.4% to 42.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 31% to 33.6% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Universal City, TX market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Universal City on your salary?
At $1,137/mo, how Universal City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Universal City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Universal City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Universal City
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Universal City is $1,137/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,090/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,460/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,200/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,850/mo.
At 18% of local median household income ($74,811/yr), Universal City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Universal City an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Universal City?
How does Universal City rent compare to other cities in Texas?
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What percentage of Universal City residents rent vs. own?
How does Universal City rent compare to the national average?
At $1,137/mo, rent takes ~18% of Universal City's median household income ($74,811/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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