Rents are 2% below what Hanford'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 $2,008 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 Hanford is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2022.
Rent in Hanford changed +3.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($76,461) is $1,912 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,400); a 3-bedroom is $1,960.
Tulare, 16 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,792/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Hanford. 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
Hanford, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 18.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hanford, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2023, rent in Hanford, CA has climbed by $283 per month, settling near $2,008 after starting the period at $1,725. Median household income grew from $68,316 to $76,461 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 4.5 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 57,359 to 59,754 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.2% change. About 37.9% of households rent today, against 39.4% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Hanford, 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 Hanford on your salary?
At $2,008/mo, how Hanford rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hanford rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hanford. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hanford
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Hanford is $2,008/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,120/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,400/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,960/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($76,461/yr), Hanford ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Hanford?
Is rent going up or down in Hanford?
How does Hanford rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,008/mo, rent takes ~32% of Hanford's median household income ($76,461/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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