Rents are right about where Poway's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $3,325 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
Rent in Poway is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Poway changed +4.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($148,359) is $3,709 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,890); a 3-bedroom is $3,860.
Lakeside, 9 miles away, rents for 28% less ($2,384/mo), about $11,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Poway. 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
Poway, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 54.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Poway, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Poway, CA paid around $2,886 a month. That figure now sits near $3,325, up 15.2% from the 2022 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $119,847 in 2021 to $148,359 more recently. With wages climbing faster than rent over the same window, renters here have a bit more breathing room than they did five years back. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Poway, CA market of 2022.
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Can you afford rent in Poway on your salary?
At $3,325/mo, how Poway rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Poway rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Poway. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Poway
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Poway is $3,325/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,150/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,890/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,340/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,860/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($148,359/yr), Poway ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Poway?
Is rent going up or down in Poway?
How does Poway rent compare to other cities in California?
At $3,325/mo, rent takes ~27% of Poway's median household income ($148,359/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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