City Report · CA

Cupertino

Pop. 58,566·33rd most expensive in California·Cupertino rents are up 9.0% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,307/mo

Year-over-Year

+9.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.3%

vs US Median

+$2,375

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Cupertino · $4,307

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

29/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% above what Cupertino's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$4,307/mo

Expected by trend

$3,902/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$3,410

1 BR

$3,880

2 BR

$4,500

3 BR

$5,850

4 BR+

$6,370

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$4,500/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $4,307 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

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Cupertino usually run 1.7% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in July, about $134 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Cupertino is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Cupertino changed +9.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Cupertino rose 12% while median household income rose 36.5% ($171,917 to $234,707). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Cupertino is 26.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 24 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($234,707) is $5,868 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($5,850); a 4-bedroom is $6,370.

Cheaper nearby

Campbell, 7 miles away, rents for 20% less ($3,433/mo), about $10,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Cupertino. 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.

Annual cost

$51,684/yr

At $4,307/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 9.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+9.0% YoY, +1.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Cupertino, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 82.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

58,566

Median income

$234,707

Median age

41.7

Renters

39.4%

Age distribution

22.6%

17.3%

31.5%

13.4%

15.2%

Under 1822.6%

18–3417.3%

35–5431.5%

55–6413.4%

65+15.2%

Gender

51.8%

48.2%

Male51.8%

Female48.2%

Race & ethnicity

21.1%

70.9%

White21.1%

Black0.5%

Hispanic4.4%

Asian70.9%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

82.2%

No HS diploma2.9%

HS diploma5.1%

Some college9.7%

Bachelor's+82.2%

Housing tenure

60.6%

39.4%

Owner60.6%

Renter39.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Cupertino, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,060 → $4,307

up 40.8%

Income

$199,778 → $234,707

up 17.5%

Population

60,681 → 58,566

down 3.5%

Renter share

39.2% → 39.4%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

80.9% → 82.2%

+1.3 pts

Median age

41 → 41.7

+0.7 yrs

The median rent in Cupertino, CA stood at $3,060 in 2021 and currently runs about $4,307, reflecting a 40.8% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $199,778 to $234,707 across the same window, up 17.5% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 3.5% since 2021, moving from about 60,681 residents to roughly 58,566. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Cupertino, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Cupertino

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View Cupertino rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Cupertino on your salary?

At $4,307/mo, how Cupertino rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 46.4% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 65.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 56.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 31.7% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 24.8% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 69.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 77.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 62.7% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Cupertino rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Cupertino

About renting in Cupertino, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Cupertino is $4,307/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $4,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,880/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,850/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($234,707/yr), Cupertino ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Cupertino?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $172,000/year (about $83/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,307/mo in Cupertino. The local median household income is $234,707/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Cupertino?

Rent in Cupertino has risen 9.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Cupertino?

Asking rents in Cupertino are usually lowest in January, about 1.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $134 a month. This pattern comes from 8 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Cupertino?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Cupertino rose 12% while median household income rose 36.5%, from $171,917 to $234,707. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does Cupertino rent compare to other cities in California?

Cupertino is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #33 of 382 tracked cities at $4,307/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Cupertino changed +9.0%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.