ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 77021

Part of Houston, TX

Pop. 26,153·Harris County·168th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,827/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

-$105

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 77021 · $1,827

More expensive than 51% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,160

1 BR

$1,190

2 BR

$1,420

3 BR

$1,910

4 BR+

$2,380

Research median

$1,420/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 77021 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 77021 changed +5.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($45,574) is $1,139 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,160).

Rank in Houston

71st cheapest of 92 ZIP codes in Houston.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 77030, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,633/mo), about $2,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 77021. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,924/yr

At $1,827/mo median

Location

CityHouston

StateTX

CountyHarris County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.4% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 77021 (Houston, TX) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 33% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

26,153

Median income

$45,574

Median age

36.5

Renters

58.2%

Age distribution

24%

24.3%

23.5%

17.3%

Under 1824%

18–3424.3%

35–5423.5%

55–6410.9%

65+17.3%

Gender

46%

54%

Male46%

Female54%

Race & ethnicity

13%

59.8%

23.8%

White13%

Black59.8%

Hispanic23.8%

Asian3.1%

Education (25+)

16.9%

26.1%

24%

33%

No HS diploma16.9%

HS diploma26.1%

Some college24%

Bachelor's+33%

Housing tenure

41.8%

58.2%

Owner41.8%

Renter58.2%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 77021 in Houston, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,552 → $1,827

up 17.7%

Income

$40,444 → $45,574

up 12.7%

Population

26,287 → 26,153

down 0.5%

Renter share

62.9% → 58.2%

-4.7 pts

Bachelor's+

30.3% → 33%

+2.7 pts

Median age

34.1 → 36.5

+2.4 yrs

Rent in ZIP 77021 in Houston, TX has climbed 17.7% since 2022, going from about $1,552 per month to roughly $1,827 today. Household income in the area moved from $40,444 to $45,574 across the same window, up 12.7% versus 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 5.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. About 58.2% of households rent today, against 62.9% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 30.3% to 33%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 77021 in Houston, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 77021

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 77021 covers Houston, TX. The median rent here is $1,827/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,190/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,420/mo.

At 48% of local median household income ($45,574/yr), ZIP 77021 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 77021?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $73,000/year (about $35/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,827/mo in ZIP 77021. The local median household income is $45,574/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 77021?

Rent in ZIP 77021 has risen 5.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2022.

How does ZIP 77021 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 77021 is one of the pricier among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #168 of 693 at $1,827/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 77021 changed +5.4%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.