City Report · CA

Laguna Niguel

Pop. 64,139·95th most expensive in California·Laguna Niguel rents are up 7.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,343/mo

Year-over-Year

+7.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$1,411

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Laguna Niguel · $3,343

More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

54/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Laguna Niguel's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,343/mo

Expected by trend

$3,403/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Laguna Niguel's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,720

1 BR

$2,840

2 BR

$3,360

3 BR

$4,550

4 BR+

$5,430

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$3,360/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,343 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

December. Asking rents in Laguna Niguel usually run 0.4% below trend in December and 0.5% above it in August, about $30 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Laguna Niguel is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Laguna Niguel changed +7.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Laguna Niguel rose 38.6% while median household income rose 29.4% ($108,537 to $140,452). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Laguna Niguel is 48.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($140,452) is $3,511 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,360); a 3-bedroom is $4,550.

Cheaper nearby

Rancho Santa Margarita, 8 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,849/mo), about $5,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Laguna Niguel. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$40,116/yr

At $3,343/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 7.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+7.5% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Laguna Niguel, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 59.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

64,139

Median income

$140,452

Median age

47.6

Renters

32.6%

Age distribution

17.9%

16.8%

26.3%

16.6%

22.4%

Under 1817.9%

18–3416.8%

35–5426.3%

55–6416.6%

65+22.4%

Gender

48.5%

51.5%

Male48.5%

Female51.5%

Race & ethnicity

67.4%

14.7%

White67.4%

Black1.1%

Hispanic14.7%

Asian11.3%

Other5.6%

Education (25+)

13.6%

23.2%

59.8%

No HS diploma3.3%

HS diploma13.6%

Some college23.2%

Bachelor's+59.8%

Housing tenure

67.4%

32.6%

Owner67.4%

Renter32.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Laguna Niguel, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,392 → $3,343

up 39.8%

Income

$125,495 → $140,452

up 11.9%

Population

64,608 → 64,139

down 0.7%

Renter share

33% → 32.6%

-0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

55.9% → 59.8%

+3.9 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in Laguna Niguel, CA has climbed from $2,392 to $3,343, a 39.8% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $125,495 in 2021 to $140,452 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 59.8% of adults here, versus 55.9% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Laguna Niguel, CA market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Laguna Niguel

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View Laguna Niguel rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Laguna Niguel on your salary?

At $3,343/mo, how Laguna Niguel rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 36% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 50.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 44% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 24.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 54.1% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 59.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 48.6% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Laguna Niguel rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Laguna Niguel. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Laguna Niguel

About renting in Laguna Niguel, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Laguna Niguel is $3,343/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,720/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,360/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,840/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,550/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($140,452/yr), Laguna Niguel ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Laguna Niguel?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $134,000/year (about $64/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,343/mo in Laguna Niguel. The local median household income is $140,452/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Laguna Niguel?

Rent in Laguna Niguel has risen 7.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Laguna Niguel?

Asking rents in Laguna Niguel are usually lowest in December, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $30 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Laguna Niguel?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Laguna Niguel rose 38.6% while median household income rose 29.4%, from $108,537 to $140,452. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does Laguna Niguel rent compare to other cities in California?

Laguna Niguel is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #95 of 382 tracked cities at $3,343/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Laguna Niguel changed +7.5%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.