Rents are 20% above what Belmont's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $3,550 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: August 17, 2026
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Belmont, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 69.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Belmont, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Belmont, CA stood at $2,422 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,550, reflecting a 46.6% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $178,125 in 2021 to $205,297 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.7% since 2021, moving from about 28,109 residents to roughly 27,337. Renters now make up 45.2% of households, compared with 43.6% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Belmont, CA market of 2021.
Discussions about Belmont
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Belmont on your salary?
At $3,550/mo, how Belmont rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Belmont rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Belmont. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Belmont
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Belmont is $3,550/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,530/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,690/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,090/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,600/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($205,297/yr), Belmont ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 16.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belmont an affordable city for renters?
How much income do you need to rent in Belmont?
Is rent going up or down in Belmont?
How does Belmont rent compare to other cities in California?
What percentage of Belmont residents rent vs. own?
How does Belmont rent compare to the national average?
At $3,550/mo, rent takes ~21% of Belmont's median household income ($205,297/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Belmont.
No discussions yet.
