City Report · CA

Paradise

Pop. 241·369th most expensive in California·Paradise rents are up 5.0% over the past year
Median rent (all units)
$1,613/mo
Year-over-Year
+5.0%
Month-over-Month
+1.7%
vs US Median
-$319
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Paradise · $1,613
More affordable than 68% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
18% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,613/mo, rent takes about 18% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$65,000/yr
Local median income
$109,375/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Paradise's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$970
1 BR
$1,020
2 BR
$1,330
3 BR
$1,860
4 BR+
$2,230
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,330/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,613 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 Paradise changed +5.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($109,375) is $2,734 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,230).

Cheaper nearby

Oroville, 15 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,436/mo), about $2,100 a year in savings.

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

Annual cost
$19,356/yr
At $1,613/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 5.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+5.0% YoY, +1.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Paradise, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 61.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
241
Median income
$109,375
Median age
61.1
Renters
16.7%
Age distribution
34.4%
16.2%
37.3%
Under 189.5%
18–342.5%
35–5434.4%
55–6416.2%
65+37.3%
Gender
55.2%
44.8%
Male55.2%
Female44.8%
Race & ethnicity
90.5%
29%
White90.5%
Hispanic29%
Asian2.5%
Education (25+)
15.6%
20.6%
61.9%
No HS diploma1.8%
HS diploma15.6%
Some college20.6%
Bachelor's+61.9%
Housing tenure
83.3%
16.7%
Owner83.3%
Renter16.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Paradise, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$93,333 → $109,375
up 17.2%
Population
201 → 241
up 19.9%
Renter share
6.9% → 16.7%
+9.8 pts
Bachelor's+
39.6% → 61.9%
+22.3 pts
Median age
62.3 → 61.1
-1.2 yrs

Household income in the area moved from $93,333 to $109,375 across the same window, up 17.2% versus 2021. Census counts show Paradise, CA adding about 40 residents over the five-year window, up 19.9% on net. The renter share has risen from 6.9% to 16.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 39.6% to 61.9% across the same window.

Community

Discussions about Paradise

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

Can you afford rent in Paradise on your salary?

At $1,613/mo, how Paradise rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Paradise rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Paradise

About renting in Paradise, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Paradise is $1,613/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $970/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,330/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,020/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,860/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($109,375/yr), Paradise ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Paradise?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $65,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,613/mo in Paradise. The local median household income is $109,375/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Paradise?

Rent in Paradise has risen 5.0% over the past year.

How does Paradise rent compare to other cities in California?

Paradise is one of the more affordable among California cities for rent, ranking #369 of 382 tracked cities at $1,613/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Paradise changed +5.0%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Paradise?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Paradise ($1,613/mo) include Oroville ($1,436/mo), and Chico ($1,561/mo).
Income Affordability
18%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,613/mo, rent takes ~18% of Paradise's median household income ($109,375/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Paradise 18%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Paradise affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Paradise
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Paradise, CA

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