City Report · VA

Culpeper

Pop. 20,794·52nd most expensive in Virginia·Culpeper rents are up 9.3% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,878/mo
Year-over-Year
+9.3%
Month-over-Month
+1.6%
vs US Median
-$54
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Culpeper · $1,878
More expensive than 52% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
24% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,878/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$75,000/yr
Local median income
$94,721/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Culpeper's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,130
1 BR
$1,130
2 BR
$1,400
3 BR
$1,860
4 BR+
$2,010
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,400/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,878 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 Virginia

Rent in Culpeper changed +9.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($94,721) is $2,368 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,010).

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

Annual cost
$22,536/yr
At $1,878/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 9.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+9.3% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Culpeper, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 30.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
20,794
Median income
$94,721
Median age
32.5
Renters
40.8%
Age distribution
29.8%
23.4%
26.6%
Under 1829.8%
18–3423.4%
35–5426.6%
55–649.2%
65+11.1%
Gender
47.9%
52.1%
Male47.9%
Female52.1%
Race & ethnicity
50.4%
17.2%
26.5%
White50.4%
Black17.2%
Hispanic26.5%
Asian2.2%
Other3.7%
Education (25+)
16%
26.1%
27.3%
30.7%
No HS diploma16%
HS diploma26.1%
Some college27.3%
Bachelor's+30.7%
Housing tenure
59.2%
40.8%
Owner59.2%
Renter40.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Culpeper, VA has changed in 5 years

Income
$79,572 → $94,721
up 19.0%
Population
19,740 → 20,794
up 5.3%
Renter share
40.8% → 40.8%
+0.0 pts
Bachelor's+
30.4% → 30.7%
+0.3 pts
Median age
35.5 → 32.5
-3.0 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Culpeper, VA now reports about $94,721, up from $79,572 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 19,740 to 20,794 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.3% change.

Community

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

Can you afford rent in Culpeper on your salary?

At $1,878/mo, how Culpeper rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Culpeper rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Culpeper

About renting in Culpeper, VA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Culpeper is $1,878/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,400/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,130/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,860/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($94,721/yr), Culpeper ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Culpeper?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,878/mo in Culpeper. The local median household income is $94,721/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Culpeper?

Rent in Culpeper has risen 9.3% over the past year.

How does Culpeper rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Culpeper is in the middle among Virginia cities for rent, ranking #52 of 80 tracked cities at $1,878/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Culpeper changed +9.3%, against a typical +2.5% across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
24%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,878/mo, rent takes ~24% of Culpeper's median household income ($94,721/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Culpeper 24%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5.75%
Run the Culpeper affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Culpeper
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Culpeper, VA

Recent submissions

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