Rents are 3% above what Castro Valley'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 $3,011 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
Rent in Castro Valley is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2019.
Rent in Castro Valley changed +7.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Castro Valley is 19.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($142,779) is $3,569 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,280); a 4-bedroom is $3,890.
San Leandro, 4 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,517/mo), about $5,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Castro Valley. 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
Castro Valley, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 44.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Castro Valley, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Castro Valley, CA has shifted from $2,489 to $3,011, up 21.0% since 2021. Median household income climbed from $124,203 to $142,779 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.0% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Castro Valley, CA losing about 1,323 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in Castro Valley, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Castro Valley on your salary?
At $3,011/mo, how Castro Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Castro Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Castro Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Castro Valley
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Castro Valley is $3,011/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,850/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,560/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,100/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,280/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($142,779/yr), Castro Valley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Castro Valley?
Is rent going up or down in Castro Valley?
How does Castro Valley rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Castro Valley?
At $3,011/mo, rent takes ~25% of Castro Valley's median household income ($142,779/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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