ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78148

Part of Universal City, TX

Pop. 22,187·Bexar County·633rd most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,163/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$769

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 78148 · $1,163

More affordable than 93% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,040

1 BR

$1,140

2 BR

$1,380

3 BR

$1,770

4 BR+

$2,060

Research median

$1,380/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 78148 usually run 1% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in August, about $26 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 78148 is 7.8% below its high of $1,262 in January 2023, at $1,163 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 78148 changed -1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($74,783) is $1,870 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,770); a 4-bedroom is $2,060.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78148. 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

$13,956/yr

At $1,163/mo median

Location

CityUniversal City

StateTX

CountyBexar 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 (-1.4% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78148 (Universal City, TX) is roughly split between renters and owners, 33.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,187

Median income

$74,783

Median age

35.3

Renters

47.4%

Age distribution

23.3%

25.9%

25.3%

12.2%

13.3%

Under 1823.3%

18–3425.9%

35–5425.3%

55–6412.2%

65+13.3%

Gender

50.3%

49.7%

Male50.3%

Female49.7%

Race & ethnicity

53.5%

40.4%

White53.5%

Black8.5%

Hispanic40.4%

Asian5.7%

Education (25+)

26.7%

35.5%

33.3%

No HS diploma4.5%

HS diploma26.7%

Some college35.5%

Bachelor's+33.3%

Housing tenure

52.6%

47.4%

Owner52.6%

Renter47.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 78148 in Universal City, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,054 → $1,163

up 10.3%

Income

$65,256 → $74,783

up 14.6%

Population

22,580 → 22,187

down 1.7%

Renter share

49.9% → 47.4%

-2.5 pts

Bachelor's+

32.3% → 33.3%

+1.0 pts

Median age

33.3 → 35.3

+2.0 yrs

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 78148 in Universal City, TX has climbed from $1,054 to $1,163, a 10.3% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $65,256 to $74,783 across the same window, up 14.6% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has contracted by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 22,580 residents to roughly 22,187. Renters now make up 47.4% of households, compared with 49.9% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 78148 in Universal City, TX look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 78148

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78148 covers Universal City, TX. The median rent here is $1,163/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,140/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,380/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($74,783/yr), ZIP 78148 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78148?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $47,000/year (about $23/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,163/mo in ZIP 78148. The local median household income is $74,783/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 78148?

Rent in ZIP 78148 has fallen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 7.8% below its high of $1,262 in January 2023.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 78148?

Asking rents in ZIP 78148 are usually lowest in December, about 1% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $26 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 78148 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 78148 is one of the more affordable among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #633 of 693 at $1,163/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 78148 changed -1.4%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.