Rents are 3% below what El Segundo's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $3,253 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
November. Asking rents in El Segundo usually run 1% below trend in November and 0.9% above it in March, about $62 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in El Segundo is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2019.
Rent in El Segundo changed +2.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in El Segundo is 30.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($150,737) is $3,768 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,490); a 3-bedroom is $4,430.
Hawthorne, 3 miles away, rents for 34% less ($2,151/mo), about $13,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for El Segundo. 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.
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Who lives here
El Segundo, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 62.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How El Segundo, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in El Segundo, CA has increased from $2,513 to $3,253, a 29.4% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $126,683 to $150,737 across the same window, up 19.0% 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 2.7% since 2021, moving from about 17,243 residents to roughly 16,769. College-educated residents now make up 62.7% of adults here, versus 56.6% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in El Segundo, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in El Segundo on your salary?
At $3,253/mo, how El Segundo rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
El Segundo rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in El Segundo. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in El Segundo
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in El Segundo is $3,253/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,470/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,490/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,430/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($150,737/yr), El Segundo ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in El Segundo?
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How does El Segundo rent compare to other cities in California?
At $3,253/mo, rent takes ~26% of El Segundo's median household income ($150,737/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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