ZIP Code · TX

ZIP 79603

Part of Abilene, TX

Pop. 23,548·Taylor County·140th most expensive ZIP in Texas

Median rent (all units)

$1,868/mo

Year-over-Year

+39.4%

Month-over-Month

+3.1%

vs US Median

-$64

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 79603 · $1,868

More expensive 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

$940

1 BR

$950

2 BR

$1,190

3 BR

$1,540

4 BR+

$1,850

Research median

$1,190/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 79603 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2023.

Past year vs. the rest of Texas

Rent in ZIP 79603 changed +39.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +1.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 18 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($53,513) is $1,338 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,190); a 3-bedroom is $1,540.

Rank in Abilene

2nd cheapest of 5 ZIP codes in Abilene.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 79603. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$22,416/yr

At $1,868/mo median

Location

CityAbilene

StateTX

CountyTaylor County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 39.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+39.4% YoY, +3.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 79603 (Abilene, TX) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 16% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

23,548

Median income

$53,513

Median age

35.8

Renters

37.3%

Age distribution

27.1%

21.7%

25.7%

14.5%

Under 1827.1%

18–3421.7%

35–5425.7%

55–6411%

65+14.5%

Gender

50.5%

49.5%

Male50.5%

Female49.5%

Race & ethnicity

51.8%

43.8%

White51.8%

Black9.7%

Hispanic43.8%

Asian0.9%

Education (25+)

17.5%

39.7%

26.8%

16%

No HS diploma17.5%

HS diploma39.7%

Some college26.8%

Bachelor's+16%

Housing tenure

62.7%

37.3%

Owner62.7%

Renter37.3%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 79603 in Abilene, TX has changed in 5 years

Income

$48,614 → $53,513

up 10.1%

Population

23,956 → 23,548

down 1.7%

Renter share

40.8% → 37.3%

-3.5 pts

Bachelor's+

16.4% → 16%

-0.4 pts

Median age

34.8 → 35.8

+1.0 yrs

Census figures show median household income at $53,513 today, compared with $48,614 five years earlier. Census counts show ZIP 79603 in Abilene, TX losing about 408 residents over the five-year window, down 1.7% on net. The renter share has eased from 40.8% to 37.3%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 79603

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 79603 covers Abilene, TX. The median rent here is $1,868/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $950/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,190/mo.

At 42% of local median household income ($53,513/yr), ZIP 79603 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 39.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 79603?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (about $36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,868/mo in ZIP 79603. The local median household income is $53,513/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 79603?

Rent in ZIP 79603 has risen 39.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2023.

How does ZIP 79603 compare to other ZIPs in Texas?

ZIP 79603 is one of the pricier among Texas ZIP codes for rent, ranking #140 of 693 at $1,868/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 79603 changed +39.4%, against a typical +1.2% across the 629 Texas ZIP codes Zillow tracks.