Rents are right about where Grass Valley's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,227 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 Grass Valley is 0.6% below its high of $2,240 in July 2026, at $2,227 as of September 2026.
Rent in Grass Valley changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
30% of the median household income ($51,764) is $1,294 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,350).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Grass Valley. 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
Grass Valley, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 32.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Grass Valley, CA has changed in 5 years
Rent in Grass Valley, CA has climbed 14.2% since 2023, going from about $1,950 per month to roughly $2,227 today. Household income in the area moved from $44,906 to $51,764 across the same window, up 15.3% versus 2021. Headcount in the area went from 13,550 to 14,113 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.2% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 27.8% to 32.8%. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Grass Valley, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Grass Valley on your salary?
At $2,227/mo, how Grass Valley rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Grass Valley rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Grass Valley. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Grass Valley
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Grass Valley is $2,227/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,350/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,780/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,355/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,495/mo.
At 52% of local median household income ($51,764/yr), Grass Valley ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Grass Valley?
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How does Grass Valley rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Grass Valley?
At $2,227/mo, rent takes ~52% of Grass Valley's median household income ($51,764/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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