Rents are 12% above what Joshua Tree's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $2,005 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 Joshua Tree is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2023.
Rent in Joshua Tree changed +16.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($66,291) is $1,657 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,450); a 2-bedroom is $1,810.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Joshua Tree. 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
Joshua Tree, CA is majority owner-occupied, 27% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Joshua Tree, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Joshua Tree, CA has increased from $1,338 to $2,005, a 49.9% change over five years. On the earnings side, the typical household in Joshua Tree, CA now reports about $66,291, up from $47,944 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 15.7% since 2021, moving from about 7,398 residents to roughly 6,234. Renters now make up 34.5% of households, compared with 42.7% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 27% of adults here, versus 20.5% in 2021. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Joshua Tree, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Joshua Tree on your salary?
At $2,005/mo, how Joshua Tree rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Joshua Tree rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Joshua Tree. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Joshua Tree
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Joshua Tree is $2,005/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,810/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,450/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,440/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($66,291/yr), Joshua Tree ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 16.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Joshua Tree?
Is rent going up or down in Joshua Tree?
How does Joshua Tree rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Joshua Tree?
At $2,005/mo, rent takes ~36% of Joshua Tree's median household income ($66,291/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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