Rents are 4% below what Fullerton'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 $2,888 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
December. Asking rents in Fullerton usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.5% above it in August, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Fullerton is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Fullerton changed +3.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Fullerton rose 33.5% while median household income rose 30.4% ($79,978 to $104,286). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Fullerton is 37.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 10 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($104,286) is $2,607 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,228); a 2-bedroom is $2,640.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Fullerton, 92835 ($4,265/mo), costs 1.7 times the cheapest, 92831 ($2,517/mo).
Buena Park, 5 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,590/mo), about $3,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Fullerton. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Fullerton, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 43.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Fullerton, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Fullerton, CA stood at $2,142 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,888, reflecting a 34.8% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $92,718 to $104,286 between 2021 and 2024, a 12.5% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.4% since 2021, moving from about 142,964 residents to roughly 140,968. Taken together, the five-year picture in Fullerton, 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.
Discussions about Fullerton
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Fullerton on your salary?
At $2,888/mo, how Fullerton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Fullerton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Fullerton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Fullerton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Fullerton is $2,888/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,125/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,640/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,228/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,573/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($104,286/yr), Fullerton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Fullerton?
Is rent going up or down in Fullerton?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Fullerton?
Has rent outpaced income in Fullerton?
Which Fullerton neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Fullerton rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fullerton?
At $2,888/mo, rent takes ~33% of Fullerton's median household income ($104,286/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Fullerton.
No discussions yet.