City Description
Houston, in the state of Texas, is the fourth most populous city in the whole of the United States. It has a population of over 2.3 million inhabitants. There is a mix of downtown, residential and high-density neighborhoods within the city. Houston is home to many icons, including:
- The Houston Rockets NBA team
- The singer and artist Beyoncé
- Film director Wes Anderson
- NASA’s Johnson Space Center
- Houston Zoo
- Memorial Park
Houston can be a great place to live with its mix of different neighborhoods. From urban to suburban – and low to high density living – there will always be an option to suit each individual. Likewise, there are many things to see, do and explore in this great city!
Overall Average and Median Rent in Houston
The overall average rent per month in Houston ranges from $1,438 to $1,777. The overall median rent per month in Houston ranges from $1,217 to $1,795. These values are based on all property types, from studios up to 4 and more bedroom properties. See below for a summary of overall rental prices per month from each data source we have referred to, for the month of January 2023.
| Source | Average Rent | Median Rent |
| apartments.com | $1,438 | – |
| redfin.com (Jun 2022 data) | $1,777 | – |
| zillow.com | – | $1,795 |
| apartmentlist.com | – | $1,217 |
| renthop.com | – | $1,500 |
Studio Average and Median Rent in Houston
The average rent for a studio per month in Houston ranges from $1,048 to $1,370. The median rent for a studio per month in Houston ranges from $1,192 to $1,342. These values are based on a studio property, which is a self-contained space without separate rooms, except for the bathroom. There is no separate bedroom but usually there is an attached kitchenette. See below for a summary of studio rental prices per month from each data source we have referred to, for the month of January 2023.
| Source | Average Rent | Median Rent |
| apartments.com | $1,048 | – |
| rentable.co | $1,370 | – |
| zillow.com | – | $1,342 |
| zumper.com | – | $1,209 |
| renthop.com | – | $1,192 |
1 Bedroom Average and Median Rent in Houston
The average rent for a 1 bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $1,133 to $1,140. The median rent for a 1 bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $1,062 to $1,326. These values are based on all 1 bedroom property types. These can include 1 bedroom apartments, condos, townhouses and houses. 1 bedroom properties have a separate bedroom, unlike studio apartments. See below for a summary of 1 bedroom rental prices per month from each data source we have referred to, for the month of January 2023.
| Source | Average Rent | Median Rent |
| apartments.com | $1,133 | – |
| rentable.co | $1,140 | – |
| zillow.com | – | $1,200 |
| apartmentlist.com | – | $1,062 |
| zumper.com | – | $1,326 |
| renthop.com | – | $1,230 |
2 Bedroom Average and Median Rent in Houston
The average rent for a 2 bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $1,419 to $1,440. The median rent for a 2 bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $1,273 to $1,649. These values are based on all 2 bedroom property types. These can include 2 bedroom apartments, condos, townhouses and houses. See below for a summary of 2 bedroom rental prices per month from each data source we have referred to, for the month of January 2023.
| Source | Average Rent | Median Rent |
| apartments.com | $1,419 | – |
| rentable.co | $1,440 | – |
| zillow.com | – | $1,600 |
| apartmentlist.com | – | $1,273 |
| zumper.com | – | $1,649 |
| renthop.com | – | $1,573 |
3 Bedroom Average and Median Rent in Houston
The average rent for a 3 bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $1,711 to $1,800. The median rent for a 3 bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $1,938 to $2,118. These values are based on all 3 bedroom property types. These can include 3 bedroom apartments, condos, townhouses and houses. See below for a summary of 3 bedroom rental prices per month from each data source we have referred to, for the month of January 2023.
| Source | Average Rent | Median Rent |
| apartments.com | $1,711 | – |
| rentable.co | $1,800 | – |
| zillow.com | – | $2,000 |
| zumper.com | – | $1,938 |
| renthop.com | – | $2,118 |
4 or More Bedroom Average and Median Rent in Houston
The average rent for a 4 or more bedroom property per month in Houston is approximately $1,960. The median rent for a 4 or more bedroom property per month in Houston ranges from $2,222 to $4,170. These values are based on all 4 or more bedroom property types. These can include 4 or more bedroom apartments, condos, townhouses and houses. See below for a summary of 4 or more bedroom rental prices per month from each data source we have referred to, for the month of January 2023.
| Source | Average Rent | Median Rent |
| rentable.co | $1,960 | – |
| zillow.com | – | $4,170 |
| zumper.com | – | $2,222 |
| renthop.com | – | $2,500 |
Most Expensive Neighborhoods to Rent in Houston
Houston consists of 11 city council districts. These are somewhat linked to the six historical, original wards of the city. The city districts consist of a mix of neighborhoods. According to renthop.com, the below are the top 5 most expensive neighborhoods to rent in Houston.
- Memorial
- Greater Heights
- Great Uptown
- Downtown Houston
- Washington Avenue – Memorial Park
Cheapest Neighborhoods to Rent in Houston
According to rent.com, the below are some of the cheapest neighborhoods to rent in Houston. They tend to be residential, family friendly and contain lots of green space. For example, a 2 bedroom home, on average, can be had from only $776 per month. This is much cheaper than the $1,419 to $1,440 you would be paying elsewhere in the city!
- Pecan Park
- Eastside
- Lawndale-Wayside
- Westwood
- Spring Branch Central
Rental Trends in Houston
According to redfin.com’s Data Center, their average monthly rent estimate, for all of Houston, was $1,595 in February of 2021. This has slightly increased to $1,777 for June of 2022. That’s a minor 11% increase in a 16 month period.
Is it Cheaper to Buy or Rent in Houston?
While this is a difficult question to answer, if we look purely at the average monthly mortgage payment, based on a down payment of 5%, the previous chart suggests that it is slightly cheaper to rent than to pay off the mortgage. Purchasing a home may be more expensive, but you are building equity in your property, and that is something to consider. However, which decision is better ultimately depends on your life circumstances (e.g. are you a frequent mover?) and the specific property you are living in or buying.
Average vs Median Rent
The average value is generally calculated by summing all available values and dividing it by the total number of values. The median value is usually obtained by ordering all values in ascending order and taking the exact middle position’s value (so that half of the values are higher and half are lower). This is why average and median values can be different.
Furthermore, average and median rental prices will vary depending on where the data is taken from. Some of the sources are based on the total collection of their own rental listings, while others are based on estimates and predictions using their own in-house methodologies and/or US Census data. Rental figures were obtained at the time of writing this article and are always changing.