Rents are 11% above what Redwood City's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $4,301 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 Redwood City usually run 1.4% below trend in December and 1.8% above it in July, about $138 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in Redwood City is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2015.
Rent in Redwood City changed +9.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent in Redwood City is 17.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 9 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($157,814) is $3,945 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,737); a 3-bedroom is $4,627.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Redwood City, 94063 ($4,678/mo), costs 22% more than the cheapest, 94061 ($3,820/mo).
Belmont, 4 miles away, rents for 12% less ($3,798/mo), about $6,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Redwood City. 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
Redwood City, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 54.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Redwood City, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Redwood City, CA stood at $3,210 in 2021 and currently runs about $4,301, reflecting a 34.0% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $134,287 in 2021 to $157,814 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.7% since 2021, moving from about 83,905 residents to roughly 82,447. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Redwood City, CA market of 2021.
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At $4,301/mo, how Redwood City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Redwood City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Redwood City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Redwood City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Redwood City is $4,301/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,560/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,737/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,133/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,627/mo.
At 33% of local median household income ($157,814/yr), Redwood City ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 9.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Redwood City?
At $4,301/mo, rent takes ~33% of Redwood City's median household income ($157,814/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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