City Report · CA

Red Bluff

Pop. 14,549·375th most expensive in California·Rental market data updated monthly for Red Bluff, CA
Median rent (all units)
$1,542/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.0%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
vs US Median
-$390
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Red Bluff · $1,542
More affordable than 73% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
36% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $1,542/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$62,000/yr
Local median income
$51,529/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Red Bluff's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$930
1 BR
$1,030
2 BR
$1,350
3 BR
$1,780
4 BR+
$2,230
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,350/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $1,542 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 Red Bluff changed +4.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($51,529) is $1,288 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,030); a 2-bedroom is $1,350.

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

Annual cost
$18,504/yr
At $1,542/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.0% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Red Bluff, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 11.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
14,549
Median income
$51,529
Median age
34.2
Renters
57.2%
Age distribution
29%
22%
23.1%
14.7%
Under 1829%
18–3422%
35–5423.1%
55–6411.1%
65+14.7%
Gender
48.3%
51.7%
Male48.3%
Female51.7%
Race & ethnicity
66.4%
28.2%
White66.4%
Black3%
Hispanic28.2%
Asian2.5%
Education (25+)
13.2%
34%
41.2%
No HS diploma13.2%
HS diploma34%
Some college41.2%
Bachelor's+11.7%
Housing tenure
42.8%
57.2%
Owner42.8%
Renter57.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Red Bluff, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$41,004 → $51,529
up 25.7%
Population
14,557 → 14,549
down 0.1%
Renter share
57.1% → 57.2%
+0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
12.4% → 11.7%
-0.7 pts

Median household income rose from $41,004 to $51,529 between 2021 and 2024, a 25.7% shift.

Community

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View Red Bluff rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Red Bluff on your salary?

At $1,542/mo, how Red Bluff rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Red Bluff rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Red Bluff

About renting in Red Bluff, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Red Bluff is $1,542/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $930/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,350/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,030/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,780/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($51,529/yr), Red Bluff ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Red Bluff?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $62,000/year (about $30/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,542/mo in Red Bluff. The local median household income is $51,529/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Red Bluff?

Rent in Red Bluff has risen 4.0% over the past year.

How does Red Bluff rent compare to other cities in California?

Red Bluff is one of the more affordable among California cities for rent, ranking #375 of 382 tracked cities at $1,542/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Red Bluff changed +4.0%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
36%
MODERATE

At $1,542/mo, rent takes ~36% of Red Bluff's median household income ($51,529/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Red Bluff 36%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Red Bluff affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Red Bluff, CA

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