Rents are 3% below what Hayward'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 $2,635 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Hayward, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 34% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Hayward, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Hayward, CA paid around $2,247 a month. That figure now sits near $2,635, up 17.3% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $98,837 to $113,318 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.7% shift. Census counts show Hayward, CA losing about 3,453 residents over the five-year window, down 2.1% on net. The renter share has eased from 44.2% to 42%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 30.9% to 34% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Hayward, 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 Hayward on your salary?
At $2,635/mo, how Hayward rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Hayward rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Hayward. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Hayward
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Hayward is $2,635/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,935/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,678/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,198/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,425/mo.
At 28% of local median household income ($113,318/yr), Hayward ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Hayward residents rent vs. own?
How does Hayward rent compare to the national average?
At $2,635/mo, rent takes ~28% of Hayward's median household income ($113,318/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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