Rents are 2% below what Lomita'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 $2,888 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
Rent in Lomita is 0.3% below its high of $2,898 in February 2026, at $2,888 as of September 2026.
Rent in Lomita changed +1.5% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($93,810) is $2,345 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,000); a 2-bedroom is $2,520.
Gardena, 7 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,334/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Lomita. 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
Lomita, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 36% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Lomita, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Lomita, CA paid around $2,477 a month. That figure now sits near $2,888, up 16.6% from the 2022 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $85,852 to $93,810 across the same window, up 9.3% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Lomita, CA losing about 659 residents over the five-year window, down 3.2% on net. The renter share has eased from 56.1% to 54.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 39% to 36% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Lomita, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Lomita on your salary?
At $2,888/mo, how Lomita rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Lomita rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Lomita. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Lomita
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Lomita is $2,888/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,780/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,520/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,000/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,200/mo.
At 37% of local median household income ($93,810/yr), Lomita ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Lomita?
Is rent going up or down in Lomita?
How does Lomita rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,888/mo, rent takes ~37% of Lomita's median household income ($93,810/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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