Rents are 6% below what Lakewood's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $3,391 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: August 17, 2026
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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 $891 per month, settling near $3,391 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 18.9 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 $3,391/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: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Lakewood is $3,391/mo as of August 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 decreased 2.0% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lakewood an affordable city for renters?
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Which Lakewood neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Lakewood rent compare to other cities in California?
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What percentage of Lakewood residents rent vs. own?
How does Lakewood rent compare to the national average?
At $3,391/mo, rent takes ~34% of Lakewood's median household income ($119,177/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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