Rents are right about where Lakewood'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 $3,401 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
November. Asking rents in Lakewood usually run 1.9% below trend in November and 1.2% above it in July, about $105 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Lakewood is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2021.
Rent in Lakewood changed +5.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($119,177) is $2,979 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,590); a 2-bedroom is $3,267.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Lakewood, 90713 ($4,100/mo), costs 37% more than the cheapest, 90715 ($2,987/mo).
Bellflower, 3 miles away, rents for 35% less ($2,221/mo), about $14,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lakewood. 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.
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Who lives here
Lakewood, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 32.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lakewood, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Lakewood, CA has climbed by $1,006 per month, settling near $3,401 after starting the period at $2,395. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $102,163 in 2021 to $119,177 more recently. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 82,419 to 79,850 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. About 28.6% of households rent today, against 26.7% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lakewood, CA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Lakewood on your salary?
At $3,401/mo, how Lakewood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lakewood rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lakewood. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lakewood
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lakewood is $3,401/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,307/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,267/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,590/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,150/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($119,177/yr), Lakewood ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lakewood?
At $3,401/mo, rent takes ~34% of Lakewood's median household income ($119,177/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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