ZIP 23185
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 23185 usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.6% above it in June, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 23185 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in ZIP 23185 changed +5.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 169 Virginia ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 23185 rose 44.1% while median household income rose 25.4% ($84,085 to $105,431). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 23185 is 52.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($105,431) is $2,636 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,500); a 4-bedroom is $2,940.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 23185. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 23185 (Williamsburg, VA) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 51.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 23185 in Williamsburg, VA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 23185 in Williamsburg, VA has increased by $625 per month, settling near $2,062 after starting the period at $1,437. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 23185 in Williamsburg, VA now reports about $105,431, up from $91,855 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 28.7 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 52,313 to 55,270 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.7% change. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 23185 in Williamsburg, VA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 23185
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 23185 covers Williamsburg, VA. The median rent here is $2,062/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,590/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,800/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($105,431/yr), ZIP 23185 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 23185 compare to the rest of Williamsburg?
At $2,062/mo, rent takes ~23% of ZIP 23185's median household income ($105,431/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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