ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 78251

Pop. 59,435·Bexar County·605th most expensive ZIP in Texas
Median rent (all units)
$1,233/mo
Year-over-Year
-0.6%
Month-over-Month
+0.5%
vs US Median
-$699
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 78251 · $1,233
More affordable than 90% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,210
1 BR
$1,320
2 BR
$1,600
3 BR
$2,050
4 BR+
$2,390
Research median
$1,600/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

February. Asking rents in ZIP 78251 usually run 1.1% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in August, about $25 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 78251 is 9% below its high of $1,355 in January 2023, at $1,233 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 78251 changed -0.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 78251 rose 19.4% while median household income rose 20.2% ($65,691 to $78,958). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 78251 is 14.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 4 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($78,958) is $1,974 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,600); a 3-bedroom is $2,050.

Rank in San Antonio

11th cheapest of 54 ZIP codes in San Antonio.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 78229, 7 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,049/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78251. 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
$14,796/yr
At $1,233/mo median
Location
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 (-0.6% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 78251 (San Antonio, TX) is roughly split between renters and owners, 33.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
59,435
Median income
$78,958
Median age
33.2
Renters
49.2%
Age distribution
22.5%
30%
28.3%
Under 1822.5%
18–3430%
35–5428.3%
55–6410.5%
65+8.7%
Gender
48.2%
51.8%
Male48.2%
Female51.8%
Race & ethnicity
40%
61.9%
White40%
Black11%
Hispanic61.9%
Asian2.8%
Education (25+)
24.9%
34.1%
33.8%
No HS diploma7.1%
HS diploma24.9%
Some college34.1%
Bachelor's+33.8%
Housing tenure
50.8%
49.2%
Owner50.8%
Renter49.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 78251 in San Antonio, TX has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,142 → $1,233
up 8.0%
Income
$69,346 → $78,958
up 13.9%
Population
61,970 → 59,435
down 4.1%
Renter share
48.3% → 49.2%
+0.9 pts
Bachelor's+
30.3% → 33.8%
+3.5 pts
Median age
31.8 → 33.2
+1.4 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 78251 in San Antonio, TX has shifted from $1,142 to $1,233, up 8.0% since 2021. Census figures show median household income at $78,958 today, compared with $69,346 five years earlier. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show ZIP 78251 in San Antonio, TX losing about 2,535 residents over the five-year window, down 4.1% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 30.3% to 33.8% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 78251

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 78251 covers San Antonio, TX. The median rent here is $1,233/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,320/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,600/mo.

At 19% of local median household income ($78,958/yr), ZIP 78251 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 78251?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $49,000/year (about $24/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,233/mo in ZIP 78251. The local median household income is $78,958/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 78251?

Rent in ZIP 78251 has fallen 0.6% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 9% below its high of $1,355 in January 2023.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 78251?

Asking rents in ZIP 78251 are usually lowest in February, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.9% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $25 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 78251?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 78251 rose 19.4% while median household income rose 20.2%, from $65,691 to $78,958. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 78251 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 78251 is one of the more affordable among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #605 of 693 at $1,233/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 78251 changed -0.6%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.

How does ZIP 78251 compare to the rest of San Antonio?

At $1,233/mo, ZIP 78251 is $148 below the San Antonio citywide median of $1,381/mo. It is the 11th cheapest of 54 ZIP codes in San Antonio.
Income Affordability
19%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,233/mo, rent takes ~19% of ZIP 78251's median household income ($78,958/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 78251 19%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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