Rents are 13% below what Palmdale'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 $2,780 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 Palmdale usually run 0.9% below trend in December and 0.5% above it in August, about $39 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Palmdale is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Palmdale changed +2.5% 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 Palmdale rose 52.4% while median household income rose 30.1% ($62,865 to $81,770). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Palmdale is 50.8% 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 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($81,770) is $2,044 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,845); a 1-bedroom is $2,075.
Lancaster, 15 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,460/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Palmdale. 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
Palmdale, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 17.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Palmdale, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Palmdale, CA paid around $2,021 a month. That figure now sits near $2,780, up 37.6% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $70,858 in 2021 to $81,770 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Palmdale, CA losing about 3,353 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 35.3% to 33.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Palmdale, CA market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Palmdale on your salary?
At $2,780/mo, how Palmdale rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Palmdale rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Palmdale. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Palmdale
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Palmdale is $2,780/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,845/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,620/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,075/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,345/mo.
At 41% of local median household income ($81,770/yr), Palmdale ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.5% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Palmdale rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Palmdale?
At $2,780/mo, rent takes ~41% of Palmdale's median household income ($81,770/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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