How much does it cost to rent in Brentwood, CA?

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Brentwood, CA is $3,416. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Brentwood cheaper than other California cities?

Brentwood is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #88 out of 381 cities tracked at $3,416/mo.

When was Brentwood rent data last updated?

Brentwood rent data reflects August 2026 and was last refreshed on August 17, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

What is the Fair Market Rent in Brentwood, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Brentwood, CA at $2,980 per month, which is 13% below the $3,416 market median. Fair Market Rent is the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) payment standard. It is a 40th-percentile gross rent that includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash, and HUD updates it once a year, so it measures something different from current market asking rent.

City Report · CA

Brentwood

Name: Average Rent Prices in Brentwood, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Pop. 65,208·88th most expensive in California·Brentwood rents are up 9.3% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,416/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.3%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

+$1,454

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Brentwood · $3,416

More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

49/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Brentwood's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,416/mo

Expected by trend

$3,404/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Brentwood's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,150

1 BR

$2,450

2 BR

$2,980

3 BR

$3,810

4 BR+

$4,530

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,980/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,416 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: August 17, 2026

Annual cost

$40,992/yr

At $3,416/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.3% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.3% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Brentwood, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 39.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

65,208

Median income

$142,494

Median age

40.2

Renters

17.8%

Age distribution

26.3%

17.7%

28.1%

12.1%

15.8%

Under 1826.3%

18–3417.7%

35–5428.1%

55–6412.1%

65+15.8%

Gender

48.3%

51.7%

Male48.3%

Female51.7%

Race & ethnicity

46%

27.1%

15.7%

White46%

Black8.5%

Hispanic27.1%

Asian15.7%

Other2.6%

Education (25+)

20%

32.5%

39.3%

No HS diploma8.3%

HS diploma20%

Some college32.5%

Bachelor's+39.3%

Housing tenure

82.2%

17.8%

Owner82.2%

Renter17.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Brentwood, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,817 → $3,416

up 21.3%

Income

$125,152 → $142,494

up 13.9%

Population

63,618 → 65,208

up 2.5%

Renter share

19.8% → 17.8%

-2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

37.5% → 39.3%

+1.8 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in Brentwood, CA has climbed by $599 per month, settling near $3,416 after starting the period at $2,817. On the earnings side, the typical household in Brentwood, CA now reports about $142,494, up from $125,152 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.4 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 63,618 to 65,208 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. About 17.8% of households rent today, against 19.8% in 2021. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Brentwood, CA reflects that arc in its own way.

Community

Discussions about Brentwood

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View Brentwood rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Brentwood on your salary?

At $3,416/mo, how Brentwood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 36.8% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 51.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 45% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 25.2% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 19.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 55.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 61.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 49.7% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Brentwood rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Brentwood. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Brentwood

About renting in Brentwood, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Brentwood is $3,416/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,150/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,980/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,810/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($142,494/yr), Brentwood ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Brentwood an affordable city for renters?

Brentwood is considered affordable for renters. At $3,416/mo, rent takes approximately 29% of the local median household income ($142,494/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Brentwood falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Brentwood?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $137,000/year (~$66/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,416/mo in Brentwood. The local median household income is $142,494/yr, meaning the typical Brentwood household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Brentwood?

Rent in Brentwood has increased 9.3% over the past year as of August 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Brentwood rent compare to other cities in California?

Brentwood is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #88 out of 381 tracked cities at $3,416/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Brentwood?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Brentwood ($3,416/mo): Pittsburg ($2,388/mo), Antioch ($2,679/mo), Tracy ($2,748/mo).

What percentage of Brentwood residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 17.8% of Brentwood households are renters, while 82.2% are owner-occupied. Brentwood leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Brentwood rent compare to the national average?

Brentwood's median rent of $3,416/mo is $1,454 (74%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #88 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

29%

AFFORDABLE

At $3,416/mo, rent takes ~29% of Brentwood's median household income ($142,494/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Brentwood 29%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Brentwood affordability calculator →

Nearby cities