Rents are 2% above what Newark's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $3,670 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
December. Asking rents in Newark usually run 1.1% below trend in December and 1.2% above it in June, about $84 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Newark is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2018.
Rent in Newark changed +4.8% 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 Newark rose 13.5% while median household income rose 44.7% ($116,856 to $169,064). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Newark is 19.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($169,064) is $4,227 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,200).
Union City, 7 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,913/mo), about $9,100 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Newark. 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
Newark, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 48.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Newark, CA has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in Newark, CA has increased by $699 per month, settling near $3,670 after starting the period at $2,971. Census figures show median household income at $169,064 today, compared with $144,011 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 6.1 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 47,815 to 46,903 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.9% change. About 30.6% of households rent today, against 32.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 41% to 48.1%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Newark on your salary?
At $3,670/mo, how Newark rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Newark rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Newark. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Newark
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Newark is $3,670/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,990/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,760/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,270/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,530/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($169,064/yr), Newark ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Newark?
At $3,670/mo, rent takes ~26% of Newark's median household income ($169,064/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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