City Report · CA

Del Mar

Pop. 3,903·7th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$6,791/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+3.5%

vs US Median

+$4,859

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Del Mar · $6,791

More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Affordability

41% of income

STRETCHED

0%30% benchmark60%+

At $6,791/mo, rent takes about 41% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford

$272,000/yr

Local median income

$199,152/yr

Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Del Mar's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($199,152) is $4,979 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,501).

Cheaper nearby

Solana Beach, 3 miles away, rents for 15% less ($5,784/mo), about $12,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Del Mar. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$81,492/yr

At $6,791/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +3.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Del Mar, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 86.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

3,903

Median income

$199,152

Median age

55.5

Renters

46.8%

Age distribution

12.9%

23.4%

21.1%

31.8%

Under 1812.9%

18–3410.8%

35–5423.4%

55–6421.1%

65+31.8%

Gender

48.6%

51.4%

Male48.6%

Female51.4%

Race & ethnicity

85.5%

White85.5%

Black2.2%

Hispanic4%

Asian2.8%

Other5.6%

Education (25+)

86.4%

No HS diploma0.9%

HS diploma5%

Some college7.6%

Bachelor's+86.4%

Housing tenure

53.2%

46.8%

Owner53.2%

Renter46.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Del Mar, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$157,708 → $199,152

up 26.3%

Population

4,008 → 3,903

down 2.6%

Renter share

48.6% → 46.8%

-1.8 pts

Bachelor's+

83.1% → 86.4%

+3.3 pts

Median age

50.5 → 55.5

+5.0 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $157,708 to $199,152 across the same window, up 26.3% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 4,008 to 3,903 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.6% change. About 46.8% of households rent today, against 48.6% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 83.1% to 86.4%.

Community

Discussions about Del Mar

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View Del Mar rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Del Mar on your salary?

At $6,791/mo, how Del Mar rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 73.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 103% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 89.4% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 50% income

severely rent-burdened

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 39.1% income

stretched

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 110% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 121.8% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 98.8% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Del Mar rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Del Mar

About renting in Del Mar, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Del Mar is $6,791/mo as of October 2026.

At 41% of local median household income ($199,152/yr), Del Mar ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Del Mar?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $272,000/year (about $131/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $6,791/mo in Del Mar. The local median household income is $199,152/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.