City Report · VA

Front Royal

Pop. 15,296·49th most expensive in Virginia·Rental market data updated monthly for Front Royal, VA

Median rent (all units)

$1,944/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

-1.5%

vs US Median

+$12

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Front Royal · $1,944

More expensive than 57% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

36% of income

MODERATE

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,944/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$78,000/yr

Local median income

$64,838/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Front Royal's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$970

1 BR

$980

2 BR

$1,280

3 BR

$1,710

4 BR+

$2,150

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,280/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,944 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: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Virginia

Rent in Front Royal changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($64,838) is $1,621 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,280); a 3-bedroom is $1,710.

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

Annual cost

$23,328/yr

At $1,944/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.4% YoY, -1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Front Royal, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 18.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

15,296

Median income

$64,838

Median age

37.7

Renters

41.8%

Age distribution

21.7%

23.7%

22.3%

15.3%

17.1%

Under 1821.7%

18–3423.7%

35–5422.3%

55–6415.3%

65+17.1%

Gender

50.9%

49.1%

Male50.9%

Female49.1%

Race & ethnicity

74.1%

White74.1%

Black9.3%

Hispanic9.4%

Asian1.8%

Other5.4%

Education (25+)

16.1%

38.1%

27.1%

18.8%

No HS diploma16.1%

HS diploma38.1%

Some college27.1%

Bachelor's+18.8%

Housing tenure

58.2%

41.8%

Owner58.2%

Renter41.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Front Royal, VA has changed in 5 years

Income

$54,731 → $64,838

up 18.5%

Population

15,039 → 15,296

up 1.7%

Renter share

42% → 41.8%

-0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

18.8% → 18.8%

+0.0 pts

Median age

37.2 → 37.7

+0.5 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in Front Royal, VA now reports about $64,838, up from $54,731 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 15,039 to 15,296 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.7% change.

Community

Discussions about Front Royal

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View Front Royal rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Front Royal on your salary?

At $1,944/mo, how Front Royal rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 24.2% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 29.6% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 13% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 36.4% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 40.3% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 32.7% income

stretched

By apartment size

Front Royal rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Front Royal

About renting in Front Royal, VA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Front Royal is $1,944/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $970/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,280/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $980/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,710/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($64,838/yr), Front Royal ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Front Royal?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $78,000/year (about $38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,944/mo in Front Royal. The local median household income is $64,838/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Front Royal?

Rent in Front Royal has risen 1.4% over the past year.

How does Front Royal rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Front Royal is in the middle among Virginia cities for rent, ranking #49 of 80 tracked cities at $1,944/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Front Royal changed +1.4%, against a typical +2.5% across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks.