City Report · VA

Suffolk

Pop. 98,796·45th most expensive in Virginia·Suffolk rents are up 7.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,028/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

+$96

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Suffolk · $2,028

More expensive than 62% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

42/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% above what Suffolk's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,028/mo

Expected by trend

$1,948/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Suffolk's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,635

1 BR

$1,645

2 BR

$1,880

3 BR

$2,615

4 BR+

$3,115

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$1,880/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,028 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

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Suffolk usually run 0.4% below trend in January and 0.4% above it in September, about $16 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Suffolk is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Virginia

Rent in Suffolk changed +7.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.5%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Suffolk rose 41.3% while median household income rose 23.7% ($74,884 to $92,666). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Suffolk is 57.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 12 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($92,666) is $2,317 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,880); a 3-bedroom is $2,615.

Cheaper nearby

Portsmouth, 11 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,642/mo), about $4,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Suffolk. 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.

Annual cost

$24,336/yr

At $2,028/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.0% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Suffolk, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 33.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

98,796

Median income

$92,666

Median age

38.7

Renters

29.3%

Age distribution

23.6%

21.3%

26.3%

13.5%

15.3%

Under 1823.6%

18–3421.3%

35–5426.3%

55–6413.5%

65+15.3%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

46.5%

42%

White46.5%

Black42%

Hispanic5.2%

Asian1.9%

Other4.4%

Education (25+)

25.2%

32.7%

33.3%

No HS diploma8.8%

HS diploma25.2%

Some college32.7%

Bachelor's+33.3%

Housing tenure

70.7%

29.3%

Owner70.7%

Renter29.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Suffolk, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,367 → $2,028

up 48.4%

Income

$81,883 → $92,666

up 13.2%

Population

93,268 → 98,796

up 5.9%

Renter share

30.3% → 29.3%

-1.0 pts

Bachelor's+

31% → 33.3%

+2.3 pts

Median age

38.2 → 38.7

+0.5 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Suffolk, VA has shifted from $1,367 to $2,028, up 48.4% since 2021. On the earnings side, the typical household in Suffolk, VA now reports about $92,666, up from $81,883 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Suffolk, VA adding about 5,528 residents over the five-year window, up 5.9% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 31% to 33.3% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Suffolk, VA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Suffolk

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View Suffolk rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Suffolk on your salary?

At $2,028/mo, how Suffolk rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 25.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 35.6% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 17.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 13.5% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 38% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 42.1% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 34.1% income

stretched

By apartment size

Suffolk rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Suffolk

About renting in Suffolk, VA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Suffolk is $2,028/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,635/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,880/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,645/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,615/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($92,666/yr), Suffolk ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Suffolk?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $81,000/year (about $39/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,028/mo in Suffolk. The local median household income is $92,666/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Suffolk?

Rent in Suffolk has risen 7.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Suffolk?

Asking rents in Suffolk are usually lowest in January, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $16 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Suffolk?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Suffolk rose 41.3% while median household income rose 23.7%, from $74,884 to $92,666. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Suffolk neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Suffolk are 23434 ($1,846/mo), and 23435 ($2,421/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $2,028/mo.

How does Suffolk rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Suffolk is in the middle among Virginia cities for rent, ranking #45 of 80 tracked cities at $2,028/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Suffolk changed +7.0%, against a typical +2.5% across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks.