Rents are 8% below what Napa'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 $2,815 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
March. Asking rents in Napa usually run 0.8% below trend in March and 0.9% above it in August, about $48 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in Napa is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2017.
Rent in Napa changed +2.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Napa rose 25.6% while median household income rose 26.1% ($84,043 to $105,963). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Napa is 26% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($105,963) is $2,649 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,050); a 2-bedroom is $2,690.
Fairfield, 12 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,425/mo), about $4,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Napa. 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
Napa, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 38.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Napa, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Napa, CA has increased from $2,300 to $2,815, a 22.4% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $92,700 in 2021 to $105,963 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.8% since 2021, moving from about 79,700 residents to roughly 78,239. College-educated residents now make up 38.2% of adults here, versus 35.2% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Napa, CA market of 2021.
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At $2,815/mo, how Napa rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Napa rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Napa. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Napa
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Napa is $2,815/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,845/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,690/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,505/mo.
At 32% of local median household income ($105,963/yr), Napa ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Napa rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,815/mo, rent takes ~32% of Napa's median household income ($105,963/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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