City Report · VA

Stephens City

Pop. 2,393·35th most expensive in Virginia·Rental market data updated monthly for Stephens City, VA
Median rent (all units)
$2,112/mo
Year-over-Year
-1.7%
Month-over-Month
-0.3%
vs US Median
+$180
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Stephens City · $2,112
More expensive than 66% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
25% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,112/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$84,000/yr
Local median income
$102,593/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Stephens City's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,210
1 BR
$1,390
2 BR
$1,740
3 BR
$2,160
4 BR+
$2,920
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,740/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,112 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

Past year vs. the rest of Virginia

Rent in Stephens City changed -1.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($102,593) is $2,565 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,160); a 4-bedroom is $2,920.

Cheaper nearby

Winchester, 6 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,768/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$25,344/yr
At $2,112/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 1.7% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (-1.7% YoY, -0.3% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Stephens City, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 31.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
2,393
Median income
$102,593
Median age
35.9
Renters
33%
Age distribution
21.1%
27.1%
30.6%
Under 1821.1%
18–3427.1%
35–5430.6%
55–6410.5%
65+10.7%
Gender
52%
48%
Male52%
Female48%
Race & ethnicity
62.5%
26.3%
White62.5%
Black6.8%
Hispanic26.3%
Asian1.4%
Other3%
Education (25+)
12.7%
20.8%
35.3%
31.2%
No HS diploma12.7%
HS diploma20.8%
Some college35.3%
Bachelor's+31.2%
Housing tenure
67%
33%
Owner67%
Renter33%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Stephens City, VA has changed in 5 years

Income
$80,625 → $102,593
up 27.2%
Population
2,308 → 2,393
up 3.7%
Renter share
45.8% → 33%
-12.8 pts
Bachelor's+
24.8% → 31.2%
+6.4 pts
Median age
32.1 → 35.9
+3.8 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $80,625 in 2021 to $102,593 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 2,308 to 2,393 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.7% change. About 33% of households rent today, against 45.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 24.8% to 31.2%.

Community

Discussions about Stephens City

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View Stephens City rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Stephens City on your salary?

At $2,112/mo, how Stephens City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Stephens City rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Stephens City

About renting in Stephens City, VA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Stephens City is $2,112/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,210/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,740/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,390/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,160/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($102,593/yr), Stephens City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Stephens City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $84,000/year (about $40/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,112/mo in Stephens City. The local median household income is $102,593/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Stephens City?

Rent in Stephens City has fallen 1.7% over the past year.

How does Stephens City rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Stephens City is in the middle among Virginia cities for rent, ranking #35 of 80 tracked cities at $2,112/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Stephens City changed -1.7%, against a typical +2.5% across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Stephens City?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Stephens City ($2,112/mo) include Martinsburg ($1,648/mo), Winchester ($1,768/mo), and Inwood ($1,925/mo).
Income Affordability
25%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,112/mo, rent takes ~25% of Stephens City's median household income ($102,593/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Stephens City 25%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5.75%
Run the Stephens City affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Stephens City
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Stephens City, VA

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