Rents are 2% above what Reston's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $2,589 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
January. Asking rents in Reston usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.3% above it in July, about $65 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Reston is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Reston changed +2.4% 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 Reston rose 24% while median household income rose 23.5% ($120,396 to $148,710). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Reston is 31.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($148,710) is $3,718 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,160); a 4-bedroom is $3,727.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Reston, 20190 ($2,657/mo), costs 6% more than the cheapest, 20194 ($2,512/mo).
Lincolnia, 14 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,231/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Reston. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Reston, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 72% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Reston, VA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Reston, VA has climbed by $629 per month, settling near $2,589 after starting the period at $1,960. Median household income grew from $126,571 to $148,710 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.5% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 14.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 62,453 to 64,414 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. Taken together, the five-year picture in Reston, VA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Reston
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Reston on your salary?
At $2,589/mo, how Reston rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Reston rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Reston. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Reston
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Reston is $2,589/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,197/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,527/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,243/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,160/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($148,710/yr), Reston ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Reston?
Is rent going up or down in Reston?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Reston?
Has rent outpaced income in Reston?
Which Reston neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Reston rent compare to other cities in Virginia?
At $2,589/mo, rent takes ~21% of Reston's median household income ($148,710/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Reston.
No discussions yet.