Rents are 10% below what Fountain Valley'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 $2,738 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Fountain Valley, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 46.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fountain Valley, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Fountain Valley, CA has increased 27.9% since 2021, going from about $2,140 per month to roughly $2,738 today. Median household income grew from $92,765 to $115,237 between 2021 and 2024, a 24.2% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 3.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 57,139 to 56,258 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.5% change. About 35.2% of households rent today, against 32.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 42.6% to 46.4%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Fountain Valley, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
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Can you afford rent in Fountain Valley on your salary?
At $2,738/mo, how Fountain Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fountain Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fountain Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fountain Valley
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Fountain Valley is $2,738/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,520/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,110/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,630/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,210/mo.
At 29% of local median household income ($115,237/yr), Fountain Valley ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Fountain Valley an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Fountain Valley?
How does Fountain Valley rent compare to other cities in California?
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What percentage of Fountain Valley residents rent vs. own?
How does Fountain Valley rent compare to the national average?
At $2,738/mo, rent takes ~29% of Fountain Valley's median household income ($115,237/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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