Rents are right about where Laguna Woods'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 $3,081 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 Laguna Woods is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in September 2022.
Rent in Laguna Woods changed +5.0% 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 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($59,269) is $1,482 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,160).
Garden Grove, 17 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,703/mo), about $4,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Laguna Woods. 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
Laguna Woods, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income below the national average, 50.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Laguna Woods, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Laguna Woods, CA has increased from $2,721 to $3,081, a 13.2% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $53,076 to $59,269 across the same window, up 11.7% versus 2021. The population has contracted by 1.5% since 2021, moving from about 17,546 residents to roughly 17,289. Renters now make up 28.4% of households, compared with 31.5% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Laguna Woods, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Laguna Woods on your salary?
At $3,081/mo, how Laguna Woods rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Laguna Woods rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Laguna Woods. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Laguna Woods
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Laguna Woods is $3,081/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,160/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,670/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,610/mo.
At 62% of local median household income ($59,269/yr), Laguna Woods ranks as expensive compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Laguna Woods?
Is rent going up or down in Laguna Woods?
How does Laguna Woods rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Laguna Woods?
At $3,081/mo, rent takes ~62% of Laguna Woods's median household income ($59,269/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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