City Report · CA

Lathrop

Pop. 35,052·132nd most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$3,056/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.5%
Month-over-Month
+0.1%
vs US Median
+$1,124
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Lathrop · $3,056
More expensive than 92% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
55/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 2% below what Lathrop's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent
$3,056/mo
Expected by trend
$3,131/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Lathrop's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,660
1 BR
$1,810
2 BR
$2,310
3 BR
$3,240
4 BR+
$3,880
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,310/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,056 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

Compared with the peak

Rent in Lathrop is 1% below its high of $3,086 in December 2025, at $3,056 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Lathrop changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($126,421) is $3,161 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,310); a 3-bedroom is $3,240.

Cheaper nearby

Manteca, 5 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,530/mo), about $6,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lathrop. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$36,672/yr
At $3,056/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 (+1.5% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Lathrop, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 28% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
35,052
Median income
$126,421
Median age
33.9
Renters
14.7%
Age distribution
30.4%
21.5%
28.4%
Under 1830.4%
18–3421.5%
35–5428.4%
55–649.7%
65+10.1%
Gender
51.1%
48.9%
Male51.1%
Female48.9%
Race & ethnicity
18.9%
35.4%
33.9%
White18.9%
Black7%
Hispanic35.4%
Asian33.9%
Other4.7%
Education (25+)
17.4%
27.5%
27.2%
28%
No HS diploma17.4%
HS diploma27.5%
Some college27.2%
Bachelor's+28%
Housing tenure
85.3%
14.7%
Owner85.3%
Renter14.7%

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

2023 vs 2026

How Lathrop, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,862 → $3,056
up 6.8%
Income
$99,632 → $126,421
up 26.9%
Population
28,078 → 35,052
up 24.8%
Renter share
17.5% → 14.7%
-2.8 pts
Bachelor's+
21.7% → 28%
+6.3 pts
Median age
32.8 → 33.9
+1.1 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Lathrop, CA paid around $2,862 a month. That figure now sits near $3,056, up 6.8% from the 2023 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $99,632 in 2021 to $126,421 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. Census counts show Lathrop, CA adding about 6,974 residents over the five-year window, up 24.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 17.5% to 14.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 21.7% to 28% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Lathrop, CA market of 2023.

Community

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View Lathrop rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Lathrop on your salary?

At $3,056/mo, how Lathrop rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Lathrop rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Lathrop

About renting in Lathrop, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Lathrop is $3,056/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,660/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,310/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,240/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($126,421/yr), Lathrop ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Lathrop?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $122,000/year (about $59/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,056/mo in Lathrop. The local median household income is $126,421/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Lathrop?

Rent in Lathrop has risen 1.5% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1% below its high of $3,086 in December 2025.

How does Lathrop rent compare to other cities in California?

Lathrop is in the middle among California cities for rent, ranking #132 of 382 tracked cities at $3,056/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Lathrop changed +1.5%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Lathrop?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Lathrop ($3,056/mo) include Stockton ($2,032/mo), Lodi ($2,278/mo), and Manteca ($2,530/mo).
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $3,056/mo, rent takes ~29% of Lathrop's median household income ($126,421/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Lathrop 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Lathrop affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Lathrop
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Lathrop, CA

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