City Report · VA

Oakton

Pop. 36,528·5th most expensive in Virginia·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$3,066/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
+$1,134
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Oakton · $3,066
More expensive than 92% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
23% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,066/mo, rent takes about 23% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$123,000/yr
Local median income
$160,663/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Oakton's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,350
1 BR
$2,400
2 BR
$2,700
3 BR
$3,380
4 BR+
$3,980
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,700/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,066 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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($160,663) is $4,017 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,980).

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

Annual cost
$36,792/yr
At $3,066/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 (+0.0% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Oakton, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 74.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
36,528
Median income
$160,663
Median age
40.1
Renters
33.4%
Age distribution
22.2%
21.5%
29%
16.4%
Under 1822.2%
18–3421.5%
35–5429%
55–6411.1%
65+16.4%
Gender
50.5%
49.5%
Male50.5%
Female49.5%
Race & ethnicity
57.3%
22.4%
White57.3%
Black6.7%
Hispanic10.7%
Asian22.4%
Other2.9%
Education (25+)
14.2%
74.5%
No HS diploma2.7%
HS diploma8.6%
Some college14.2%
Bachelor's+74.5%
Housing tenure
66.6%
33.4%
Owner66.6%
Renter33.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Oakton, VA has changed in 5 years

Income
$145,064 → $160,663
up 10.8%
Population
36,675 → 36,528
down 0.4%
Renter share
31.4% → 33.4%
+2.0 pts
Bachelor's+
73.9% → 74.5%
+0.6 pts
Median age
38.7 → 40.1
+1.4 yrs

Median household income rose from $145,064 to $160,663 between 2021 and 2024, a 10.8% shift. Renters now make up 33.4% of households, compared with 31.4% five years ago.

Community

Discussions about Oakton

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

Can you afford rent in Oakton on your salary?

At $3,066/mo, how Oakton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Oakton rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Oakton

About renting in Oakton, VA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Oakton is $3,066/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,350/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,700/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,400/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,380/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($160,663/yr), Oakton ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Oakton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $123,000/year (about $59/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,066/mo in Oakton. The local median household income is $160,663/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Oakton?

Rent in Oakton has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Oakton rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Oakton is one of the pricier among Virginia cities for rent, ranking #5 of 80 tracked cities at $3,066/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oakton?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Oakton ($3,066/mo) include Herndon ($2,382/mo), Fairfax ($2,456/mo), and Reston ($2,589/mo).
Income Affordability
23%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $3,066/mo, rent takes ~23% of Oakton's median household income ($160,663/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Oakton 23%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5.75%
Run the Oakton affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Oakton, VA

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