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

As of August 2026, the median monthly rent in Carson, CA is $2,917. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Carson cheaper than other California cities?

Carson falls in the middle range for California, ranking #164 out of 381 cities at $2,917/mo.

When was Carson rent data last updated?

Carson 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 Carson, CA?

HUD sets the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom home in Carson, CA at $2,560 per month, which is 12% below the $2,917 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

Carson

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

Pop. 92,871·164th most expensive in California·Carson rents have dropped 6.8%, currently a renter's market

Median rent (all units)

$2,917/mo

Year-over-Year

-6.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.2%

vs US Median

+$955

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Carson · $2,917

More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo

Rent Reality Score

75/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 12% below what Carson's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,917/mo

Expected by trend

$3,329/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,810

1 BR

$2,030

2 BR

$2,560

3 BR

$3,250

4 BR+

$3,610

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,560/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,917 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

$35,004/yr

At $2,917/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are down 6.8% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (-6.8% YoY, -1.2% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

92,871

Median income

$108,703

Median age

41.7

Renters

26%

Age distribution

20.1%

21.2%

26.1%

14%

18.5%

Under 1820.1%

18–3421.2%

35–5426.1%

55–6414%

65+18.5%

Gender

48.9%

51.1%

Male48.9%

Female51.1%

Race & ethnicity

14.1%

21.8%

39.1%

27.2%

White14.1%

Black21.8%

Hispanic39.1%

Asian27.2%

Education (25+)

15.5%

22.3%

32.9%

29.3%

No HS diploma15.5%

HS diploma22.3%

Some college32.9%

Bachelor's+29.3%

Housing tenure

74%

26%

Owner74%

Renter26%

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

2022 vs 2026

How Carson, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,685 → $2,917

up 8.6%

Income

$92,548 → $108,703

up 17.5%

Population

95,104 → 92,871

down 2.3%

Renter share

25.9% → 26%

+0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

29.6% → 29.3%

-0.3 pts

Median age

40.9 → 41.7

+0.8 yrs

Compared with 2022, rent in Carson, CA has increased by $232 per month, settling near $2,917 after starting the period at $2,685. Household income in the area moved from $92,548 to $108,703 across the same window, up 17.5% versus 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 8.9 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 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.

Community

Discussions about Carson

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View Carson rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Carson on your salary?

At $2,917/mo, how Carson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 31.4% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 44.2% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 38.4% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 21.5% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 47.2% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 52.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 42.4% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Carson rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Carson

About renting in Carson, CA

Last updated: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Carson is $2,917/mo as of August 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 decreased 6.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Carson an affordable city for renters?

Carson is considered moderate for renters. At $2,917/mo, rent takes approximately 32% of the local median household income ($108,703/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Carson slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Carson?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $117,000/year (~$56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,917/mo in Carson. The local median household income is $108,703/yr, meaning the typical Carson household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Carson?

Rent in Carson has decreased 6.8% over the past year as of August 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

How does Carson rent compare to other cities in California?

Carson is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #164 out of 381 tracked cities at $2,917/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Carson?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Carson ($2,917/mo): Compton ($2,344/mo), Gardena ($2,366/mo), Long Beach ($2,448/mo).

What percentage of Carson residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 26% of Carson households are renters, while 74% are owner-occupied. Carson leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Carson rent compare to the national average?

Carson's median rent of $2,917/mo is $955 (49%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #164 out of 381 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

32%

MODERATE

At $2,917/mo, rent takes ~32% of Carson's median household income ($108,703/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Carson 32%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Carson affordability calculator →

Nearby cities