Rents are 6% below what Petersburg's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $1,373 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
November. Asking rents in Petersburg usually run 1% below trend in November and 0.7% above it in August, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Petersburg is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.
Rent in Petersburg changed +3.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Petersburg rose 52.8% while median household income rose 31.1% ($38,679 to $50,698). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Petersburg is 63.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($50,698) is $1,267 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,250); a 1-bedroom is $1,300.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Petersburg. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Petersburg, VA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 25.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Petersburg, VA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Petersburg, VA paid around $950 a month. That figure now sits near $1,373, up 44.5% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Petersburg, VA now reports about $50,698, up from $44,890 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 64.1% to 61.4%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 22% to 25.4% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Petersburg, VA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Petersburg on your salary?
At $1,373/mo, how Petersburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Petersburg rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Petersburg. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Petersburg
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Petersburg is $1,373/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,250/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,440/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,300/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,835/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($50,698/yr), Petersburg ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Petersburg rent compare to other cities in Virginia?
At $1,373/mo, rent takes ~32% of Petersburg's median household income ($50,698/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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