City Report · VA

Vienna

Pop. 16,412·2nd most expensive in Virginia·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,320/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.6%

vs US Median

+$1,388

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Vienna · $3,320

More expensive than 94% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

45/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% above what Vienna's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$3,320/mo

Expected by trend

$3,233/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,547

1 BR

$2,600

2 BR

$2,930

3 BR

$3,663

4 BR+

$4,320

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,930/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,320 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 Vienna usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in July, about $76 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

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

Past year vs. the rest of Virginia

Rent in Vienna changed +2.5% 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 Vienna rose 24.6% while median household income rose 34.6% ($161,196 to $216,953). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Vienna is 32.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($216,953) is $5,424 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,320).

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Vienna, 22182 ($3,098/mo), costs 6% more than the cheapest, 22180 ($2,911/mo).

Cheaper nearby

McLean, 5 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,732/mo), about $7,100 a year in savings.

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

$39,840/yr

At $3,320/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.5% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.5% YoY, +0.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Vienna, VA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 74.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

16,412

Median income

$216,953

Median age

41.7

Renters

16.3%

Age distribution

26.8%

12.6%

31.2%

14.2%

15.1%

Under 1826.8%

18–3412.6%

35–5431.2%

55–6414.2%

65+15.1%

Gender

50.5%

49.5%

Male50.5%

Female49.5%

Race & ethnicity

66.9%

14.1%

White66.9%

Black4.5%

Hispanic8.5%

Asian14.1%

Other6%

Education (25+)

12.4%

74.7%

No HS diploma3.8%

HS diploma9.1%

Some college12.4%

Bachelor's+74.7%

Housing tenure

83.7%

16.3%

Owner83.7%

Renter16.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Vienna, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,510 → $3,320

up 32.3%

Income

$200,938 → $216,953

up 8.0%

Population

16,465 → 16,412

down 0.3%

Renter share

13.7% → 16.3%

+2.6 pts

Bachelor's+

73.2% → 74.7%

+1.5 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Vienna, VA has climbed by $810 per month, settling near $3,320 after starting the period at $2,510. On the earnings side, the typical household in Vienna, VA now reports about $216,953, up from $200,938 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 24.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 16.3% of households rent today, against 13.7% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Vienna, VA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Vienna

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View Vienna rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Vienna on your salary?

At $3,320/mo, how Vienna rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $96,370/yr · Rent = 41.3% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $68,422/yr · Rent = 58.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $78,815/yr · Rent = 50.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $140,872/yr · Rent = 28.3% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $179,999/yr · Rent = 22.1% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $64,066/yr · Rent = 62.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $57,844/yr · Rent = 68.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $71,298/yr · Rent = 55.9% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Vienna rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Vienna

About renting in Vienna, VA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Vienna is $3,320/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,547/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,663/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($216,953/yr), Vienna ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Vienna?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $133,000/year (about $64/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,320/mo in Vienna. The local median household income is $216,953/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Vienna?

Rent in Vienna has risen 2.5% 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 Vienna?

Asking rents in Vienna are usually lowest in January, about 1.2% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $76 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Vienna?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Vienna rose 24.6% while median household income rose 34.6%, from $161,196 to $216,953. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Vienna neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Vienna are 22180 ($2,911/mo), 22181 ($2,983/mo), and 22182 ($3,098/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $3,320/mo.

How does Vienna rent compare to other cities in Virginia?

Vienna is one of the pricier among Virginia cities for rent, ranking #2 of 80 tracked cities at $3,320/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Vienna changed +2.5%, against a typical +2.5% across the 66 Virginia cities Zillow tracks.