ZIP 78261
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 78261 usually run 1.4% below trend in December and 1.3% above it in August, about $48 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 78261 is 3.7% below its high of $1,835 in December 2023, at $1,768 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 78261 changed -0.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.
Rent in ZIP 78261 is 24.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($147,727) is $3,693 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,750).
51st cheapest of 54 ZIP codes in San Antonio.
ZIP 78259, 5 miles away, rents for 17% less ($1,464/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 78261. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 78261 (San Antonio, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 59.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 78261 in San Antonio, TX has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 78261 in San Antonio, TX has increased by $267 per month, settling near $1,768 after starting the period at $1,501. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $118,042 in 2021 to $147,727 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 7.3 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 23,992 to 26,657 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.1% change. About 20.2% of households rent today, against 17.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 56.9% to 59.5%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 78261 in San Antonio, TX market of 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 78261
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 78261 covers San Antonio, TX. The median rent here is $1,768/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,520/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,840/mo.
At 14% of local median household income ($147,727/yr), ZIP 78261 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 78261 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?
How does ZIP 78261 compare to the rest of San Antonio?
At $1,768/mo, rent takes ~14% of ZIP 78261's median household income ($147,727/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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