ZIP Code · GA

ZIP 30038

Part of Lithonia, GA

Pop. 43,776·Dekalb County·148th most expensive ZIP in Georgia

Median rent (all units)

$1,680/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$252

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 30038 · $1,680

More affordable than 60% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,520

1 BR

$1,600

2 BR

$1,750

3 BR

$2,100

4 BR+

$2,500

Research median

$1,750/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

April. Asking rents in ZIP 30038 usually run 0.4% below trend in April and 0.5% above it in September, about $15 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 30038 is 0.1% below its high of $1,682 in April 2026, at $1,680 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Georgia

Rent in ZIP 30038 changed +1.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 216 Georgia ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 30038 rose 46.7% while median household income rose 42.1% ($51,862 to $73,694). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 30038 is 47.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,694) is $1,842 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,750); a 3-bedroom is $2,100.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 30083, 10 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,425/mo), about $3,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 30038. 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

$20,160/yr

At $1,680/mo median

Location

CityLithonia

StateGA

CountyDekalb County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.3% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 30038 (Lithonia, GA) is majority owner-occupied, 35.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

43,776

Median income

$73,694

Median age

37.6

Renters

35.3%

Age distribution

24.4%

22.3%

30.8%

12.5%

Under 1824.4%

18–3422.3%

35–5430.8%

55–6410%

65+12.5%

Gender

47.3%

52.7%

Male47.3%

Female52.7%

Race & ethnicity

82.7%

White4%

Black82.7%

Hispanic4.5%

Asian0.9%

Other7.8%

Education (25+)

23.5%

34.7%

35.4%

No HS diploma6.4%

HS diploma23.5%

Some college34.7%

Bachelor's+35.4%

Housing tenure

64.7%

35.3%

Owner64.7%

Renter35.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 30038 in Lithonia, GA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,291 → $1,680

up 30.1%

Income

$61,050 → $73,694

up 20.7%

Population

40,902 → 43,776

up 7.0%

Renter share

44.9% → 35.3%

-9.6 pts

Bachelor's+

33% → 35.4%

+2.4 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 30038 in Lithonia, GA has increased from $1,291 to $1,680, a 30.1% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $61,050 in 2021 to $73,694 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 7.0% since 2021, moving from about 40,902 residents to roughly 43,776. Renters now make up 35.3% of households, compared with 44.9% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 35.4% of adults here, versus 33% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 30038 in Lithonia, GA market of 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 30038

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 30038 covers Lithonia, GA. The median rent here is $1,680/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,600/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,750/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($73,694/yr), ZIP 30038 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 30038?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,680/mo in ZIP 30038. The local median household income is $73,694/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 30038?

Rent in ZIP 30038 has risen 1.3% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.1% below its high of $1,682 in April 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 30038?

Asking rents in ZIP 30038 are usually lowest in April, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $15 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 30038?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 30038 rose 46.7% while median household income rose 42.1%, from $51,862 to $73,694. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 30038 compare to other ZIPs in Georgia?

ZIP 30038 is in the middle among Georgia ZIP codes for rent, ranking #148 of 234 at $1,680/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 30038 changed +1.3%, against a typical +2.4% across the 216 Georgia ZIP codes Zillow tracks.