How much does it cost to rent in Menlo Park, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Menlo Park, CA is $4,400. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Menlo Park cheaper than other California cities?

Menlo Park is one of the pricier cities in California, ranking #29 out of 387 cities tracked at $4,400/mo.

When was Menlo Park rent data last updated?

Menlo Park rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Menlo Park

Name: Average Rent Prices in Menlo Park, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 32,727·29th most expensive in California·Menlo Park rents are up 15.1% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$4,400/mo

Year-over-Year

+15.1%

Month-over-Month

+2.9%

vs US Median

+$2,435

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Menlo Park · $4,400

More expensive than 98% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

19/100

Overheated

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 16% above what Menlo Park's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$4,400/mo

Expected by trend

$3,809/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,560

1 BR

$3,130

2 BR

$3,740

3 BR

$4,660

4 BR+

$4,960

Research median

$3,740/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$52,800/yr

At $4,400/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 15.1% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+15.1% YoY, +2.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Menlo Park, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 72.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

32,727

Median income

$210,025

Median age

39.5

Renters

45.8%

Age distribution

21%

23.5%

27.1%

16.6%

Under 1821%

18–3423.5%

35–5427.1%

55–6411.8%

65+16.6%

Gender

49.7%

50.3%

Male49.7%

Female50.3%

Race & ethnicity

55.6%

20.9%

19.1%

White55.6%

Black2.2%

Hispanic20.9%

Asian19.1%

Other2.3%

Education (25+)

12.1%

72.5%

No HS diploma7.5%

HS diploma7.9%

Some college12.1%

Bachelor's+72.5%

Housing tenure

54.2%

45.8%

Owner54.2%

Renter45.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Menlo Park, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,211 → $4,400

up 37.0%

Income

$179,913 → $210,025

up 16.7%

Population

33,677 → 32,727

down 2.8%

Renter share

42% → 45.8%

+3.8 pts

Bachelor's+

72.6% → 72.5%

-0.1 pts

Median age

38.4 → 39.5

+1.1 yrs

Rent in Menlo Park, CA has increased 37.0% since 2021, going from about $3,211 per month to roughly $4,400 today. Median household income grew from $179,913 to $210,025 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.7% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 20.3 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 33,677 to 32,727 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.8% change. About 45.8% of households rent today, against 42% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Menlo Park, 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 Menlo Park

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View Menlo Park rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Menlo Park on your salary?

At $4,400/mo, how Menlo Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 47.4% income

rent-burdened

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 66.7% income

severely rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 57.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 32.4% income

stretched

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 25.4% income

affordable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 71.2% income

severely rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 78.9% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 64% income

severely rent-burdened

By apartment size

Menlo Park rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Menlo Park

About renting in Menlo Park, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Menlo Park is $4,400/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,560/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,740/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,130/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,660/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($210,025/yr), Menlo Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 15.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Menlo Park an affordable city for renters?

Menlo Park is considered affordable for renters. At $4,400/mo, rent takes approximately 25% of the local median household income ($210,025/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Menlo Park falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Menlo Park?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $176,000/year (~$85/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,400/mo in Menlo Park. The local median household income is $210,025/yr, meaning the typical Menlo Park household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Menlo Park?

Rent in Menlo Park has increased 15.1% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

How does Menlo Park rent compare to other cities in California?

Menlo Park is one of the pricier cities in California for rent, ranking #29 out of 387 tracked cities at $4,400/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Menlo Park?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Menlo Park ($4,400/mo): East Palo Alto ($3,608/mo), Redwood City ($3,949/mo), Palo Alto ($4,299/mo).

What percentage of Menlo Park residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 45.8% of Menlo Park households are renters, while 54.2% are owner-occupied. Menlo Park leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Menlo Park rent compare to the national average?

Menlo Park's median rent of $4,400/mo is $2,435 (124%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #29 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

25%

AFFORDABLE

At $4,400/mo, rent takes ~25% of Menlo Park's median household income ($210,025/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Menlo Park 25%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Menlo Park affordability calculator →

Nearby cities