City Report · CA

Livermore

Pop. 85,522·130th most expensive in California·Livermore rents are up 5.5% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$3,066/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.5%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

+$1,134

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Livermore · $3,066

More expensive than 92% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

51/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Livermore's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent

$3,066/mo

Expected by trend

$3,081/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,140

1 BR

$2,425

2 BR

$2,885

3 BR

$3,695

4 BR+

$4,370

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,885/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $3,066 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

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Livermore usually run 0.9% below trend in January and 0.7% above it in July, about $49 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Livermore is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Livermore changed +5.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Livermore rose 13.7% while median household income rose 26.1% ($127,452 to $160,775). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Livermore is 22.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 8 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($160,775) is $4,019 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,695); a 4-bedroom is $4,370.

Cheaper nearby

Tracy, 11 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,742/mo), about $3,900 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Livermore. 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.

Annual cost

$36,792/yr

At $3,066/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.5% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Livermore, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 52.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

85,522

Median income

$160,775

Median age

40.7

Renters

28%

Age distribution

23%

18.9%

29.1%

14.3%

14.7%

Under 1823%

18–3418.9%

35–5429.1%

55–6414.3%

65+14.7%

Gender

50.1%

49.9%

Male50.1%

Female49.9%

Race & ethnicity

57.3%

21.9%

17.1%

White57.3%

Black2%

Hispanic21.9%

Asian17.1%

Other1.8%

Education (25+)

13.4%

28.5%

52.3%

No HS diploma5.8%

HS diploma13.4%

Some college28.5%

Bachelor's+52.3%

Housing tenure

72%

28%

Owner72%

Renter28%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Livermore, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,614 → $3,066

up 17.3%

Income

$139,904 → $160,775

up 14.9%

Population

88,403 → 85,522

down 3.3%

Renter share

27.7% → 28%

+0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

46.4% → 52.3%

+5.9 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Livermore, CA has shifted from $2,614 to $3,066, up 17.3% since 2021. Median household income climbed from $139,904 to $160,775 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.9% shift. Census counts show Livermore, CA losing about 2,881 residents over the five-year window, down 3.3% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 46.4% to 52.3% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Livermore, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Livermore

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View Livermore rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Livermore on your salary?

At $3,066/mo, how Livermore rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 33% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 46.5% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 40.4% income

rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 22.6% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 17.7% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 49.6% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 55% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 44.6% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Livermore rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Livermore

About renting in Livermore, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Livermore is $3,066/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,140/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,885/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,425/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,695/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($160,775/yr), Livermore ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Livermore?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $123,000/year (about $59/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,066/mo in Livermore. The local median household income is $160,775/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Livermore?

Rent in Livermore has risen 5.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Livermore?

Asking rents in Livermore are usually lowest in January, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $49 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Livermore?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Livermore rose 13.7% while median household income rose 26.1%, from $127,452 to $160,775. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Livermore neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Livermore are 94550 ($3,007/mo), and 94551 ($3,146/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $3,066/mo.

How does Livermore rent compare to other cities in California?

Livermore is in the middle among California cities for rent, ranking #130 of 382 tracked cities at $3,066/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Livermore changed +5.5%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.