Rents are 4% below what Carson's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,909 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
June. Asking rents in Carson usually run 0.7% below trend in June and 0.7% above it in March, about $41 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Carson is 2.2% below its high of $2,975 in December 2025, at $2,909 as of September 2026.
Rent in Carson changed +2.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($108,703) is $2,718 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,560); a 3-bedroom is $3,250.
Compton, 5 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,315/mo), about $7,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Carson. 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
Carson, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 29.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Carson, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2022, rent in Carson, CA has increased by $431 per month, settling near $2,909 after starting the period at $2,478. Household income in the area moved from $92,548 to $108,703 across the same window, up 17.5% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 95,104 to 92,871 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.3% change. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Carson, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Carson on your salary?
At $2,909/mo, how Carson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Carson rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Carson. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Carson
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Carson is $2,909/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,810/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,560/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,030/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,250/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($108,703/yr), Carson ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Carson?
Is rent going up or down in Carson?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Carson?
How does Carson rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Carson?
At $2,909/mo, rent takes ~32% of Carson's median household income ($108,703/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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