Rents are 14% 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 $3,798 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
January. Asking rents in Belmont usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1.1% above it in August, about $91 a month apart at today's median. Based on 7 years of data.
Rent in Belmont is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2018.
Rent in Belmont changed +12.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Belmont rose 7.9% while median household income rose 31.6% ($156,052 to $205,297). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Belmont is 23.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 12 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($205,297) is $5,132 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,890).
San Bruno, 11 miles away, rents for 12% less ($3,346/mo), about $5,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Belmont. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
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 $2,706 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,798, reflecting a 40.4% 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.
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At $3,798/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: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Belmont is $3,798/mo as of October 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 22% of local median household income ($205,297/yr), Belmont ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Belmont rent compare to other cities in California?
At $3,798/mo, rent takes ~22% of Belmont's median household income ($205,297/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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