City Report · CA

Discovery Bay

Pop. 14,911·72nd most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$3,570/mo
Year-over-Year
-1.5%
Month-over-Month
-1.4%
vs US Median
+$1,638
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Discovery Bay · $3,570
More expensive than 96% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $3,570/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$143,000/yr
Local median income
$147,117/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Discovery Bay's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,510
1 BR
$2,860
2 BR
$3,480
3 BR
$4,450
4 BR+
$5,290
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$3,480/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,570 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

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Discovery Bay changed -1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($147,117) is $3,678 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,480); a 3-bedroom is $4,450.

Cheaper nearby

Tracy, 12 miles away, rents for 23% less ($2,742/mo), about $9,900 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$42,840/yr
At $3,570/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 1.5% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (-1.5% YoY, -1.4% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Discovery Bay, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 32.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,911
Median income
$147,117
Median age
45.6
Renters
9.9%
Age distribution
22.5%
16.6%
26.3%
15.5%
19.1%
Under 1822.5%
18–3416.6%
35–5426.3%
55–6415.5%
65+19.1%
Gender
49.4%
50.6%
Male49.4%
Female50.6%
Race & ethnicity
58.9%
19.2%
White58.9%
Black9%
Hispanic19.2%
Asian7%
Other5.9%
Education (25+)
22.2%
39.5%
32.7%
No HS diploma5.6%
HS diploma22.2%
Some college39.5%
Bachelor's+32.7%
Housing tenure
90.1%
Owner90.1%
Renter9.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Discovery Bay, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$138,576 → $147,117
up 6.2%
Population
15,704 → 14,911
down 5.0%
Renter share
11.5% → 9.9%
-1.6 pts
Bachelor's+
32.2% → 32.7%
+0.5 pts
Median age
43.7 → 45.6
+1.9 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $138,576 in 2021 to $147,117 more recently. Headcount in the area went from 15,704 to 14,911 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.0% change. About 9.9% of households rent today, against 11.5% in 2021.

Community

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View Discovery Bay rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Discovery Bay on your salary?

At $3,570/mo, how Discovery Bay rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Discovery Bay rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Discovery Bay

About renting in Discovery Bay, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Discovery Bay is $3,570/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,510/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,480/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,860/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,450/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($147,117/yr), Discovery Bay ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Discovery Bay?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $143,000/year (about $69/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,570/mo in Discovery Bay. The local median household income is $147,117/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Discovery Bay?

Rent in Discovery Bay has fallen 1.5% over the past year.

How does Discovery Bay rent compare to other cities in California?

Discovery Bay is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #72 of 382 tracked cities at $3,570/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Discovery Bay changed -1.5%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Discovery Bay?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Discovery Bay ($3,570/mo) include Tracy ($2,742/mo), Antioch ($2,814/mo), and Livermore ($3,066/mo).
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $3,570/mo, rent takes ~29% of Discovery Bay's median household income ($147,117/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Discovery Bay 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Discovery Bay affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Discovery Bay, CA

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