How much does it cost to rent in Fullerton, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Fullerton, CA is $2,872. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Fullerton cheaper than other California cities?

Fullerton falls in the middle range for California, ranking #175 out of 387 cities at $2,872/mo.

When was Fullerton rent data last updated?

Fullerton rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Fullerton

Name: Average Rent Prices in Fullerton, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 140,968·175th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,872/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.0%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

+$907

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Fullerton · $2,872

More expensive than 88% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

52/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Fullerton's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$2,872/mo

Expected by trend

$2,908/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Fullerton's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,125

1 BR

$2,228

2 BR

$2,640

3 BR

$3,573

4 BR+

$4,260

Research median

$2,640/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$34,464/yr

At $2,872/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.0% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

140,968

Median income

$104,286

Median age

36.9

Renters

48.2%

Age distribution

22.1%

25.2%

25.5%

15.2%

Under 1822.1%

18–3425.2%

35–5425.5%

55–6412%

65+15.2%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

37.2%

40.3%

24.9%

White37.2%

Black2%

Hispanic40.3%

Asian24.9%

Education (25+)

12.5%

15.4%

28.7%

43.5%

No HS diploma12.5%

HS diploma15.4%

Some college28.7%

Bachelor's+43.5%

Housing tenure

51.8%

48.2%

Owner51.8%

Renter48.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Fullerton, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,099 → $2,872

up 36.8%

Income

$92,718 → $104,286

up 12.5%

Population

142,964 → 140,968

down 1.4%

Renter share

47% → 48.2%

+1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

43.5% → 43.5%

+0.0 pts

Median age

35.4 → 36.9

+1.5 yrs

The median rent in Fullerton, CA stood at $2,099 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,872, reflecting a 36.8% 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.

Community

Discussions about Fullerton

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View Fullerton rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Fullerton on your salary?

At $2,872/mo, how Fullerton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 30.9% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 43.5% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 37.8% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 21.1% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.6% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 46.5% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 51.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 41.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Fullerton rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Fullerton

About renting in Fullerton, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Fullerton is $2,872/mo as of July 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 5.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Fullerton an affordable city for renters?

Fullerton is considered moderate for renters. At $2,872/mo, rent takes approximately 33% of the local median household income ($104,286/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Fullerton slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Fullerton?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $115,000/year (~$55/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,872/mo in Fullerton. The local median household income is $104,286/yr, meaning the typical Fullerton household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Fullerton?

Rent in Fullerton has increased 5.0% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Fullerton neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Fullerton are 92831 ($2,640/mo), 92832 ($2,822/mo), and 92833 ($3,211/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Fullerton is $2,872/mo.

How does Fullerton rent compare to other cities in California?

Fullerton is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #175 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,872/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Fullerton?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Fullerton ($2,872/mo): Buena Park ($2,603/mo), Anaheim ($2,674/mo), La Habra ($2,745/mo).

What percentage of Fullerton residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 48.2% of Fullerton households are renters, while 51.8% are owner-occupied. Fullerton leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Fullerton rent compare to the national average?

Fullerton's median rent of $2,872/mo is $907 (46%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #175 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

33%

MODERATE

At $2,872/mo, rent takes ~33% of Fullerton's median household income ($104,286/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Fullerton 33%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Fullerton affordability calculator →

Nearby cities