ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 77038

Part of Houston, TX

Pop. 32,637·Harris County·205th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,772/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$160

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 77038 · $1,772

More affordable than 53% 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

$1,200

2 BR

$1,430

3 BR

$1,920

4 BR+

$2,400

Research median

$1,430/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($57,232) is $1,431 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,430); a 3-bedroom is $1,920.

Rank in Houston

69th cheapest of 92 ZIP codes in Houston.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 77060, 3 miles away, rents for 45% less ($972/mo), about $9,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 77038. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$21,264/yr

At $1,772/mo median

Location

CityHouston

StateTX

CountyHarris 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 (+0.0% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 77038 (Houston, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 15.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,637

Median income

$57,232

Median age

30.5

Renters

42.4%

Age distribution

33.8%

22.6%

26.3%

Under 1833.8%

18–3422.6%

35–5426.3%

55–649.8%

65+7.4%

Gender

54%

46%

Male54%

Female46%

Race & ethnicity

22.2%

70.8%

White10.5%

Black22.2%

Hispanic70.8%

Asian3.7%

Education (25+)

35.2%

30.4%

18.7%

15.7%

No HS diploma35.2%

HS diploma30.4%

Some college18.7%

Bachelor's+15.7%

Housing tenure

57.6%

42.4%

Owner57.6%

Renter42.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 77038 in Houston, TX has changed in 5 years

Income

$44,145 → $57,232

up 29.6%

Population

32,275 → 32,637

up 1.1%

Renter share

43.7% → 42.4%

-1.3 pts

Bachelor's+

9.7% → 15.7%

+6.0 pts

Median age

29.3 → 30.5

+1.2 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 77038 in Houston, TX now reports about $57,232, up from $44,145 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 32,275 to 32,637 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.1% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 9.7% to 15.7%.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 77038

About renting in ZIP 77038

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 77038 covers Houston, TX. The median rent here is $1,772/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,200/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,430/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($57,232/yr), ZIP 77038 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 77038?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $71,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,772/mo in ZIP 77038. The local median household income is $57,232/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.