How much does it cost to rent in Gainesville, VA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Gainesville, VA is $2,947. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Gainesville cheaper than other Virginia cities?

Gainesville is one of the pricier cities in Virginia, ranking #10 out of 83 cities tracked at $2,947/mo.

When was Gainesville rent data last updated?

Gainesville rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · VA

Gainesville

Name: Average Rent Prices in Gainesville, VA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 18,196·10th most expensive in Virginia·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,947/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$982

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Gainesville · $2,947

More expensive than 90% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

55/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% below what Gainesville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,947/mo

Expected by trend

$3,019/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,670

1 BR

$2,730

2 BR

$3,070

3 BR

$3,840

4 BR+

$4,530

Research median

$3,070/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$35,364/yr

At $2,947/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 4.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Gainesville, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 58% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

18,196

Median income

$174,410

Median age

37.2

Renters

16.5%

Age distribution

27%

19.4%

32.5%

Under 1827%

18–3419.4%

35–5432.5%

55–6411.4%

65+9.6%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

55%

14.7%

White55%

Black14.7%

Hispanic11.6%

Asian14.7%

Other4%

Education (25+)

15.3%

22.6%

58%

No HS diploma4.1%

HS diploma15.3%

Some college22.6%

Bachelor's+58%

Housing tenure

83.5%

16.5%

Owner83.5%

Renter16.5%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Gainesville, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,310 → $2,947

up 27.6%

Income

$150,487 → $174,410

up 15.9%

Population

17,081 → 18,196

up 6.5%

Renter share

14.2% → 16.5%

+2.3 pts

Bachelor's+

54.9% → 58%

+3.1 pts

Median age

35 → 37.2

+2.2 yrs

Since 2022, the typical rent in Gainesville, VA has climbed from $2,310 to $2,947, a 27.6% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $150,487 in 2021 to $174,410 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 6.5% since 2021, moving from about 17,081 residents to roughly 18,196. Renters now make up 16.5% of households, compared with 14.2% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 58% of adults here, versus 54.9% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Gainesville, VA market of 2022.

Community

Discussions about Gainesville

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View Gainesville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Gainesville on your salary?

At $2,947/mo, how Gainesville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 36.7% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 51.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 44.9% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 25.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 19.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 55.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 61.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 49.6% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Gainesville rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Gainesville

About renting in Gainesville, VA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Gainesville is $2,947/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,670/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,070/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,840/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($174,410/yr), Gainesville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Gainesville an affordable city for renters?

Gainesville is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,947/mo, rent takes approximately 20% of the local median household income ($174,410/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Gainesville falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Gainesville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $118,000/year (~$57/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,947/mo in Gainesville. The local median household income is $174,410/yr, meaning the typical Gainesville household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Gainesville?

Rent in Gainesville has increased 4.4% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Gainesville rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Gainesville is one of the pricier cities in Virginia for rent, ranking #10 out of 83 tracked cities at $2,947/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gainesville?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Gainesville ($2,947/mo): Manassas ($2,200/mo), Centreville ($2,424/mo).

What percentage of Gainesville residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 16.5% of Gainesville households are renters, while 83.5% are owner-occupied. Gainesville leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Gainesville rent compare to the national average?

Gainesville's median rent of $2,947/mo is $982 (50%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Virginia, it ranks #10 out of 83 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

20%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,947/mo, rent takes ~20% of Gainesville's median household income ($174,410/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Gainesville 20%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Gainesville affordability calculator →

Nearby cities