Rents are 4% below what Stafford'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 $2,436 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
March. Asking rents in Stafford usually run 0.9% below trend in March and 1% above it in August, about $46 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Stafford is 0.8% below its high of $2,455 in November 2025, at $2,436 as of September 2026.
Rent in Stafford changed -0.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.
Rent in Stafford is 43.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
Fredericksburg, 12 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,061/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Stafford. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series.
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How Stafford, VA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Stafford, VA has climbed from $1,828 to $2,436, a 33.3% change over five years. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Stafford, VA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Stafford on your salary?
At $2,436/mo, how Stafford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Stafford rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Stafford. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Stafford
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Stafford is $2,436/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,970/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,270/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,020/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,840/mo.
At 41% of estimated US median household income ($72,000/yr), Stafford ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $2,436/mo, rent takes ~41% of US median household income ($72,000/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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