Rents are right about where Barstow's 10-year trend predicts.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,467 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Barstow is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.
Rent in Barstow changed +7.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($53,380) is $1,335 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,370).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Barstow. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Barstow, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 13.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Barstow, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Barstow, CA has climbed by $300 per month, settling near $1,467 after starting the period at $1,167. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $48,219 in 2021 to $53,380 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 15.0 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 11.1% to 13.2%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Barstow, CA market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Barstow on your salary?
At $1,467/mo, how Barstow rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Barstow rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Barstow. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Barstow
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Barstow is $1,467/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,810/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,440/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($53,380/yr), Barstow ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Barstow?
Is rent going up or down in Barstow?
How does Barstow rent compare to other cities in California?
At $1,467/mo, rent takes ~33% of Barstow's median household income ($53,380/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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