Rents are 2% below what Lawndale'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 $2,692 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
July. Asking rents in Lawndale usually run 1% below trend in July and 1.1% above it in December, about $57 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.
Rent in Lawndale is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2019.
Rent in Lawndale changed +6.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Lawndale is 43% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($85,441) is $2,136 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,980); a 2-bedroom is $2,500.
Hawthorne, 2 miles away, rents for 20% less ($2,151/mo), about $6,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lawndale. 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
Lawndale, CA is majority renter-occupied, 20.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lawndale, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Lawndale, CA paid around $1,965 a month. That figure now sits near $2,692, up 37.0% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $72,246 to $85,441 across the same window, up 18.3% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Lawndale, CA losing about 1,254 residents over the five-year window, down 3.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 61.2% to 63%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Lawndale, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Lawndale on your salary?
At $2,692/mo, how Lawndale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lawndale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lawndale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lawndale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lawndale is $2,692/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,500/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,980/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,180/mo.
At 38% of local median household income ($85,441/yr), Lawndale ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Lawndale rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,692/mo, rent takes ~38% of Lawndale's median household income ($85,441/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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