Rents are right about where Ladera Ranch'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 $3,550 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 Ladera Ranch is 0.6% below its high of $3,573 in May 2026, at $3,550 as of September 2026.
Rent in Ladera Ranch changed +1.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($184,458) is $4,611 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,880); a 3-bedroom is $5,250.
Rancho Santa Margarita, 5 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,849/mo), about $8,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ladera Ranch. 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
Ladera Ranch, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 68% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ladera Ranch, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Ladera Ranch, CA stood at $3,162 in 2022 and currently runs about $3,550, reflecting a 12.3% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $169,706 to $184,458 across the same window, up 8.7% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 6.8% since 2021, moving from about 25,526 residents to roughly 23,793. Renters now make up 25.9% of households, compared with 28.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 68% of adults here, versus 65.8% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Ladera Ranch, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
Discussions about Ladera Ranch
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Can you afford rent in Ladera Ranch on your salary?
At $3,550/mo, how Ladera Ranch rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ladera Ranch rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ladera Ranch. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ladera Ranch
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ladera Ranch is $3,550/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $3,140/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,880/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,280/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,250/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($184,458/yr), Ladera Ranch ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Ladera Ranch?
Is rent going up or down in Ladera Ranch?
How does Ladera Ranch rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ladera Ranch?
At $3,550/mo, rent takes ~23% of Ladera Ranch's median household income ($184,458/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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