City Report · CA

Oak Park

Pop. 13,757·160th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,914/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.7%
Month-over-Month
-0.2%
vs US Median
+$982
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Oak Park · $2,914
More expensive than 89% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
55/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Oak Park's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent
$2,914/mo
Expected by trend
$2,995/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Oak Park's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,570
1 BR
$2,950
2 BR
$3,530
3 BR
$4,820
4 BR+
$5,610
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$3,530/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,914 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

February. Asking rents in Oak Park usually run 0.9% below trend in February and 0.8% above it in May, about $50 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Oak Park is 0.2% below its high of $2,920 in August 2026, at $2,914 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Oak Park changed +4.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($163,085) is $4,077 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,530); a 3-bedroom is $4,820.

Cheaper nearby

Santa Paula, 24 miles away, rents for 21% less ($2,288/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oak Park. 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
$34,968/yr
At $2,914/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.7% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Oak Park, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 63% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
13,757
Median income
$163,085
Median age
43
Renters
28.1%
Age distribution
25.1%
14.8%
27.5%
16.6%
15.9%
Under 1825.1%
18–3414.8%
35–5427.5%
55–6416.6%
65+15.9%
Gender
49.2%
50.8%
Male49.2%
Female50.8%
Race & ethnicity
71.5%
17.4%
White71.5%
Black0.5%
Hispanic7.9%
Asian17.4%
Other2.7%
Education (25+)
27.6%
63%
No HS diploma1.4%
HS diploma8%
Some college27.6%
Bachelor's+63%
Housing tenure
71.9%
28.1%
Owner71.9%
Renter28.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Oak Park, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,279 → $2,914
up 27.9%
Income
$143,153 → $163,085
up 13.9%
Population
13,561 → 13,757
up 1.4%
Renter share
28.5% → 28.1%
-0.4 pts
Bachelor's+
60.4% → 63%
+2.6 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Oak Park, CA has shifted from $2,279 to $2,914, up 27.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $143,153 to $163,085 across the same window, up 13.9% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Oak Park, CA adding about 196 residents over the five-year window, up 1.4% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 60.4% to 63% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Oak Park, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Oak Park

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View Oak Park rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Oak Park on your salary?

At $2,914/mo, how Oak Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Oak Park rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Oak Park

About renting in Oak Park, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Oak Park is $2,914/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,570/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,950/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,820/mo.

At 21% of local median household income ($163,085/yr), Oak Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $117,000/year (about $56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,914/mo in Oak Park. The local median household income is $163,085/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Oak Park?

Rent in Oak Park has risen 4.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $2,920 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Oak Park?

Asking rents in Oak Park are usually lowest in February, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in May, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $50 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

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

Oak Park is in the middle among California cities for rent, ranking #160 of 382 tracked cities at $2,914/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Oak Park changed +4.7%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.

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

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Oak Park ($2,914/mo) include Simi Valley ($2,778/mo).
Income Affordability
21%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,914/mo, rent takes ~21% of Oak Park's median household income ($163,085/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Oak Park 21%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Oak Park affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Oak Park
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Oak Park, CA

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