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Fairfax County apartment rents began rising with the early-spring leasing season, but prices remained lower than they were a year earlier across most of the county.

The countywide median rent reached $2,359 in March, down 2.3% from $2,414 in March 2025, according to data reported March 30 by Apartment List. The median was $2,022 for a one-bedroom apartment and $2,342 for a two-bedroom unit.

Despite the annual decline, Fairfax rents are more than $500 above their early-2021 low of roughly $1,820 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the pandemic, the county’s median rent had peaked near $2,000 in mid-2019.

Six of the seven Fairfax County areas tracked by Apartment List recorded year-over-year decreases. Tysons had the steepest drop at 3%, with median rents of $2,329 for a one-bedroom and $2,792 for a two-bedroom.

Annandale rents fell 2.1%, reaching $1,916 for one-bedroom units and $2,186 for two bedrooms. Fair Oaks posted a 2.3% decline, with rents of $2,187 and $2,444, respectively.

The Fairfax area also declined 2.3%, with one-bedroom rents at $1,901 and two-bedroom rents at $2,175. Herndon recorded the same percentage decrease, with rents of $1,795 and $2,154.

Reston rents slipped 0.7% to $2,146 for a one-bedroom and $2,272 for a two-bedroom. Centreville was the only tracked Fairfax County area to post an annual increase, rising 0.2% as rents reached $2,076 and $2,412.

Neighboring jurisdictions also registered declines. Alexandria’s median apartment rent fell 2.7% to $2,219, while Arlington’s dropped 1.7% to $2,585. The overall median for the Washington region was $2,137.

National demand remains subdued

Apartment List analysts attributed weakening demand to an uncertain economy, inflation concerns and a shaky labor market.

Among 100 urban areas included in the company’s monthly rankings, California contained the four most expensive markets: San Francisco at $3,262, Irvine at $3,056, San Jose at $2,916 and Fremont at $2,797. Arlington ranked fifth.

Toledo had the lowest median rent at $868. Wichita and Cleveland followed at $1,018 each, with Tucson at $1,021 and Detroit at $1,036.

The national median stood at $1,363 in March, down 1.7% from a year earlier and 5.5% below its 2022 peak. Although the busier spring leasing season has started, analysts said the multifamily market remains soft.

Annual rents declined in 36 of the 52 metropolitan areas with populations above 1 million. The decreases were concentrated largely in the South and Mountain West, while many markets in the Northeast, Midwest and portions of the West Coast continued to record increases.

A growing supply of available apartments has left more units vacant, increasing competition among property owners and limiting their ability to raise prices. Austin remained the weakest major rental market, with its median down 6% over the past year. Virginia Beach led large markets in rent growth with a 5.5% annual increase.

Apartments now take an average of 38 days to lease after being listed. That is five days longer than a year earlier and more than twice the turnover time recorded during the market’s mid-2021 peak.

Second survey finds spring prices edging upward

Separate Zumper data showed a similar national pattern. The median one-bedroom rent was $1,502 in March, down 1.4% from a year earlier, while the median two-bedroom rent declined 1.3% to $1,880.

Both categories nevertheless increased from February. One-bedroom rents rose 0.2%, and two-bedroom rents gained 0.1%. It was the first time both apartment sizes had posted monthly increases since May 2025, signaling a return to more typical seasonal movement after an unusually weak summer and fall.

Zumper CEO Shawn Mullahy said annual rents were still declining, but the decreases were slowing as early spring demand began pushing prices higher. He said competition could intensify during peak leasing season, particularly in markets that have absorbed substantial new housing supply.

New York City had the country’s highest median one-bedroom rent in the Zumper survey at $4,380. San Francisco followed at $3,790, Jersey City at $3,190, Boston at $3,020 and San Jose at $2,660. Miami and Arlington ranked just outside the five most expensive markets.

Florida recorded some of the largest annual declines after its sharp post-pandemic rent increases. Every Florida market covered by Zumper had flat or falling rents as domestic migration cooled and housing supply remained elevated. Tampa posted the state’s biggest decrease, with its median rent down 12.1% over the past year.