How much does it cost to rent in Castro Valley, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Castro Valley, CA is $2,767. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Castro Valley cheaper than other California cities?

Castro Valley falls in the middle range for California, ranking #198 out of 387 cities at $2,767/mo.

When was Castro Valley rent data last updated?

Castro Valley rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Castro Valley

Name: Average Rent Prices in Castro Valley, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 65,001·198th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,767/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.3%

Month-over-Month

-2.6%

vs US Median

+$802

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Castro Valley · $2,767

More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

50/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

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

Actual rent

$2,767/mo

Expected by trend

$2,764/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,850

1 BR

$2,100

2 BR

$2,560

3 BR

$3,280

4 BR+

$3,890

Research median

$2,560/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$33,204/yr

At $2,767/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.3% YoY, -2.6% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

65,001

Median income

$142,779

Median age

42.9

Renters

27.5%

Age distribution

20.8%

17.2%

28.3%

14.9%

18.8%

Under 1820.8%

18–3417.2%

35–5428.3%

55–6414.9%

65+18.8%

Gender

49.1%

50.9%

Male49.1%

Female50.9%

Race & ethnicity

35.9%

19.8%

33.2%

White35.9%

Black8.8%

Hispanic19.8%

Asian33.2%

Other2.3%

Education (25+)

16.8%

30.4%

44.5%

No HS diploma8.3%

HS diploma16.8%

Some college30.4%

Bachelor's+44.5%

Housing tenure

72.5%

27.5%

Owner72.5%

Renter27.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Castro Valley, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,329 → $2,767

up 18.8%

Income

$124,203 → $142,779

up 15.0%

Population

66,324 → 65,001

down 2.0%

Renter share

27.6% → 27.5%

-0.1 pts

Bachelor's+

42.7% → 44.5%

+1.8 pts

Median age

42.4 → 42.9

+0.5 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Castro Valley, CA has shifted from $2,329 to $2,767, up 18.8% 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.

Community

Discussions about Castro Valley

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View Castro Valley rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Castro Valley on your salary?

At $2,767/mo, how Castro Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 29.8% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 41.9% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 36.4% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20.4% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 15.9% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 44.8% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 49.6% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 40.3% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Castro Valley rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Castro Valley

About renting in Castro Valley, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Castro Valley is $2,767/mo as of July 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 23% of local median household income ($142,779/yr), Castro Valley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Castro Valley an affordable city for renters?

Castro Valley is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,767/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($142,779/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Castro Valley falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Castro Valley?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $111,000/year (~$53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,767/mo in Castro Valley. The local median household income is $142,779/yr, meaning the typical Castro Valley household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Castro Valley?

Rent in Castro Valley has increased 4.3% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Castro Valley rent compare to other cities in California?

Castro Valley is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #198 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,767/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Castro Valley?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Castro Valley ($2,767/mo): San Lorenzo ($2,238/mo), San Leandro ($2,468/mo), Hayward ($2,615/mo).

What percentage of Castro Valley residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 27.5% of Castro Valley households are renters, while 72.5% are owner-occupied. Castro Valley leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Castro Valley rent compare to the national average?

Castro Valley's median rent of $2,767/mo is $802 (41%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #198 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

23%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,767/mo, rent takes ~23% of Castro Valley's median household income ($142,779/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Castro Valley 23%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Castro Valley affordability calculator →

Nearby cities