How much does it cost to rent in Lakewood, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Lakewood, CA is $3,430. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Lakewood cheaper than other California cities?

Lakewood is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #90 out of 387 cities tracked at $3,430/mo.

When was Lakewood rent data last updated?

Lakewood rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Lakewood

Name: Average Rent Prices in Lakewood, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 79,850·90th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$3,430/mo

Year-over-Year

-1.0%

Month-over-Month

-0.1%

vs US Median

+$1,465

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Lakewood · $3,430

More expensive than 95% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

58/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 4% below what Lakewood's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$3,430/mo

Expected by trend

$3,582/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,307

1 BR

$2,590

2 BR

$3,267

3 BR

$4,150

4 BR+

$4,603

Research median

$3,267/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$41,160/yr

At $3,430/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-1.0% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

79,850

Median income

$119,177

Median age

39.4

Renters

28.6%

Age distribution

20.5%

22.9%

27.7%

13.6%

15.3%

Under 1820.5%

18–3422.9%

35–5427.7%

55–6413.6%

65+15.3%

Gender

49.5%

50.5%

Male49.5%

Female50.5%

Race & ethnicity

36.2%

38.9%

17.8%

White36.2%

Black7.1%

Hispanic38.9%

Asian17.8%

Education (25+)

23%

34.5%

32.7%

No HS diploma9.8%

HS diploma23%

Some college34.5%

Bachelor's+32.7%

Housing tenure

71.4%

28.6%

Owner71.4%

Renter28.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Lakewood, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,500 → $3,430

up 37.2%

Income

$102,163 → $119,177

up 16.7%

Population

82,419 → 79,850

down 3.1%

Renter share

26.7% → 28.6%

+1.9 pts

Bachelor's+

32.1% → 32.7%

+0.6 pts

Median age

38.4 → 39.4

+1.0 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Lakewood, CA has climbed by $930 per month, settling near $3,430 after starting the period at $2,500. 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 20.5 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.

Community

Discussions about Lakewood

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View Lakewood rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lakewood on your salary?

At $3,430/mo, how Lakewood rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 36.9% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 52% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 45.1% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 25.3% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 19.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 55.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 61.5% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 49.9% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Lakewood rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lakewood

About renting in Lakewood, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Lakewood is $3,430/mo as of July 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 35% of local median household income ($119,177/yr), Lakewood ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Lakewood an affordable city for renters?

Lakewood is considered moderate for renters. At $3,430/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($119,177/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Lakewood slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

How much income do you need to rent in Lakewood?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $137,000/year (~$66/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,430/mo in Lakewood. The local median household income is $119,177/yr, meaning the typical Lakewood household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Lakewood?

Rent in Lakewood has decreased 1.0% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which Lakewood neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Lakewood are 90715 ($3,199/mo), 90712 ($3,498/mo), and 90713 ($3,750/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Lakewood is $3,430/mo.

How does Lakewood rent compare to other cities in California?

Lakewood is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #90 out of 387 tracked cities at $3,430/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lakewood?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Lakewood ($3,430/mo): Long Beach ($2,364/mo), Bellflower ($2,472/mo), Norwalk ($2,757/mo).

What percentage of Lakewood residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.6% of Lakewood households are renters, while 71.4% are owner-occupied. Lakewood leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Lakewood rent compare to the national average?

Lakewood's median rent of $3,430/mo is $1,465 (75%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #90 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

35%

MODERATE

At $3,430/mo, rent takes ~35% of Lakewood's median household income ($119,177/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lakewood 35%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Lakewood affordability calculator →

Nearby cities