ZIP Code · VA

ZIP 20121

Part of Centreville, VA

Pop. 27,788·Fairfax County·46th most expensive ZIP in Virginia

Median rent (all units)

$2,438/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.7%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$506

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 20121 · $2,438

More expensive than 78% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,130

1 BR

$2,200

2 BR

$2,450

3 BR

$3,090

4 BR+

$3,630

Research median

$2,450/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

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

November. Asking rents in ZIP 20121 usually run 1.3% below trend in November and 1.1% above it in June, about $59 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 20121 is 2.3% below its high of $2,496 in January 2025, at $2,438 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Virginia

Rent in ZIP 20121 changed -1.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 169 Virginia ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 20121 is 38.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($129,947) is $3,249 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,090); a 4-bedroom is $3,630.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 20109, 4 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,098/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 20121. 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

$29,256/yr

At $2,438/mo median

Location

CityCentreville

StateVA

CountyFairfax County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.7% YoY, -0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 20121 (Centreville, VA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 53.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,788

Median income

$129,947

Median age

36.1

Renters

30%

Age distribution

21.2%

26.9%

30.9%

12.4%

Under 1821.2%

18–3426.9%

35–5430.9%

55–6412.4%

65+8.5%

Gender

52.1%

47.9%

Male52.1%

Female47.9%

Race & ethnicity

37.6%

25.7%

26.9%

White37.6%

Black9.9%

Hispanic25.7%

Asian26.9%

Education (25+)

16.9%

22.2%

53.8%

No HS diploma7%

HS diploma16.9%

Some college22.2%

Bachelor's+53.8%

Housing tenure

70%

30%

Owner70%

Renter30%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 20121 in Centreville, VA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,815 → $2,438

up 34.3%

Income

$117,065 → $129,947

up 11.0%

Population

27,432 → 27,788

up 1.3%

Renter share

30.1% → 30%

-0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

53.3% → 53.8%

+0.5 pts

Median age

34.9 → 36.1

+1.2 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 20121 in Centreville, VA has increased by $623 per month, settling near $2,438 after starting the period at $1,815. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $117,065 in 2021 to $129,947 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 23.3 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 27,432 to 27,788 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 20121 in Centreville, VA market of 2021.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 20121

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 20121 covers Centreville, VA. The median rent here is $2,438/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,200/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,450/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($129,947/yr), ZIP 20121 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 ZIP 20121?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $98,000/year (about $47/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,438/mo in ZIP 20121. The local median household income is $129,947/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 20121?

Rent in ZIP 20121 has fallen 1.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 2.3% below its high of $2,496 in January 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 20121?

Asking rents in ZIP 20121 are usually lowest in November, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $59 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 20121 compare to other ZIPs in Virginia?

ZIP 20121 is one of the pricier among Virginia ZIP codes for rent, ranking #46 of 194 at $2,438/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 20121 changed -1.7%, against a typical +3.4% across the 169 Virginia ZIP codes Zillow tracks.