At $4,250/mo, rent takes about 45% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.
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 $4,250 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
30% of the median household income ($113,493) is $2,837 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,550); a 2-bedroom is $3,030.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for East Palo Alto. 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
East Palo Alto, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 26.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How East Palo Alto, CA has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in East Palo Alto, CA now reports about $113,493, up from $96,349 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 29,888 to 29,069 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.7% change.
Discussions about East Palo Alto
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Can you afford rent in East Palo Alto on your salary?
At $4,250/mo, how East Palo Alto rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
East Palo Alto rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in East Palo Alto. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in East Palo Alto
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in East Palo Alto is $4,250/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,150/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,030/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,550/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,810/mo.
At 45% of local median household income ($113,493/yr), East Palo Alto ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in East Palo Alto?
How does East Palo Alto rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than East Palo Alto?
At $4,250/mo, rent takes ~45% of East Palo Alto's median household income ($113,493/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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