City Report · CA

Oakdale

Pop. 23,194·340th most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for Oakdale, CA
Median rent (all units)
$2,006/mo
Year-over-Year
+1.6%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
+$74
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Oakdale · $2,006
More expensive than 61% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
29% of income
AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,006/mo, rent takes about 29% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$80,000/yr
Local median income
$83,091/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Oakdale's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,130
1 BR
$1,210
2 BR
$1,570
3 BR
$2,200
4 BR+
$2,560
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,570/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,006 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

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Oakdale changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($83,091) is $2,077 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,570); a 3-bedroom is $2,200.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Oakdale. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$24,072/yr
At $2,006/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (+1.6% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Oakdale, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 22.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
23,194
Median income
$83,091
Median age
35.1
Renters
37.4%
Age distribution
27%
22.9%
23.8%
13.5%
12.9%
Under 1827%
18–3422.9%
35–5423.8%
55–6413.5%
65+12.9%
Gender
47.8%
52.2%
Male47.8%
Female52.2%
Race & ethnicity
61.2%
34.1%
White61.2%
Black1%
Hispanic34.1%
Asian2.2%
Other1.5%
Education (25+)
14.5%
25%
38.2%
22.2%
No HS diploma14.5%
HS diploma25%
Some college38.2%
Bachelor's+22.2%
Housing tenure
62.6%
37.4%
Owner62.6%
Renter37.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Oakdale, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$72,479 → $83,091
up 14.6%
Population
23,016 → 23,194
up 0.8%
Renter share
36.3% → 37.4%
+1.1 pts
Bachelor's+
20.8% → 22.2%
+1.4 pts
Median age
36.4 → 35.1
-1.3 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $72,479 in 2021 to $83,091 more recently.

Community

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View Oakdale rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Oakdale on your salary?

At $2,006/mo, how Oakdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Oakdale rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Oakdale

About renting in Oakdale, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Oakdale is $2,006/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,130/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,570/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,210/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,200/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($83,091/yr), Oakdale ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Oakdale?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $80,000/year (about $38/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,006/mo in Oakdale. The local median household income is $83,091/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Oakdale?

Rent in Oakdale has risen 1.6% over the past year.

How does Oakdale rent compare to other cities in California?

Oakdale is one of the more affordable among California cities for rent, ranking #340 of 382 tracked cities at $2,006/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Oakdale changed +1.6%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Oakdale?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Oakdale ($2,006/mo) include Ceres ($1,960/mo).
Income Affordability
29%
AFFORDABLE

At $2,006/mo, rent takes ~29% of Oakdale's median household income ($83,091/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Oakdale 29%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Oakdale affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Oakdale, CA

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