ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 77081

Part of Houston, TX

Pop. 50,129·Harris County·685th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$933/mo

Year-over-Year

-5.0%

Month-over-Month

-1.3%

vs US Median

-$999

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 77081 · $933

More affordable than 99% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$688

1 BR

$713

2 BR

$845

3 BR

$1,135

4 BR+

$1,419

Research median

$845/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

December. Asking rents in ZIP 77081 usually run 0.7% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in March, about $13 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 77081 is 6.8% below its high of $1,001 in June 2023, at $933 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 77081 changed -5.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 77081 is 14.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 3 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($43,251) is $1,081 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,090).

Rank in Houston

3rd cheapest of 92 ZIP codes in Houston.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 77081. 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

$11,196/yr

At $933/mo median

Location

CityHouston

StateTX

CountyHarris County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 5.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-5.0% YoY, -1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 77081 (Houston, TX) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income below the national average, 18% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

50,129

Median income

$43,251

Median age

28.5

Renters

93.4%

Age distribution

27.6%

37.2%

23.5%

Under 1827.6%

18–3437.2%

35–5423.5%

55–646.6%

65+5.1%

Gender

50.9%

49.1%

Male50.9%

Female49.1%

Race & ethnicity

12.8%

75.7%

White12.8%

Black9.5%

Hispanic75.7%

Asian4.5%

Education (25+)

46%

22.8%

13.2%

18%

No HS diploma46%

HS diploma22.8%

Some college13.2%

Bachelor's+18%

Housing tenure

93.4%

Owner6.6%

Renter93.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 77081 in Houston, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$812 → $933

up 14.9%

Income

$37,594 → $43,251

up 15.0%

Population

51,374 → 50,129

down 2.4%

Renter share

93.5% → 93.4%

-0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

21.5% → 18%

-3.5 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 77081 in Houston, TX has shifted from $812 to $933, up 14.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $37,594 to $43,251 across the same window, up 15.0% versus 2021. Census counts show ZIP 77081 in Houston, TX losing about 1,245 residents over the five-year window, down 2.4% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 21.5% to 18% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 77081 in Houston, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 77081

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 77081 covers Houston, TX. The median rent here is $933/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $713/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $845/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($43,251/yr), ZIP 77081 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 5.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 77081?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $37,000/year (about $18/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $933/mo in ZIP 77081. The local median household income is $43,251/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 77081?

Rent in ZIP 77081 has fallen 5.0% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 6.8% below its high of $1,001 in June 2023.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 77081?

Asking rents in ZIP 77081 are usually lowest in December, about 0.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in March, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $13 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 77081 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 77081 is one of the more affordable among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #685 of 693 at $933/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 77081 changed -5.0%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.