Rents are 7% below what Gardena'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 $2,334 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
Rent in Gardena is 0.8% below its high of $2,353 in July 2026, at $2,334 as of September 2026.
Rent in Gardena changed +3.0% 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 Gardena rose 32.3% while median household income rose 45.1% ($58,447 to $84,803). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Gardena is 36.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($84,803) is $2,120 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,820); a 2-bedroom is $2,300.
Lynwood, 6 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,045/mo), about $3,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gardena. 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
Gardena, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, 28.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gardena, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Gardena, CA paid around $1,777 a month. That figure now sits near $2,334, up 31.3% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $84,803 today, compared with $68,413 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Gardena, CA losing about 1,495 residents over the five-year window, down 2.5% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25.8% to 28.9% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $2,334/mo, how Gardena rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gardena rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gardena. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gardena
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gardena is $2,334/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,615/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,300/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,820/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,940/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($84,803/yr), Gardena ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Gardena rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,334/mo, rent takes ~33% of Gardena's median household income ($84,803/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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