City Report · CA

Santa Ana

Pop. 312,534·191st most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,820/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.9%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

+$888

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Santa Ana · $2,820

More expensive than 87% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

62/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what Santa Ana's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,820/mo

Expected by trend

$2,999/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Santa Ana's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,000

1 BR

$2,118

2 BR

$2,515

3 BR

$3,405

4 BR+

$4,045

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,515/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,820 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

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in Santa Ana usually run 0.4% below trend in February and 0.5% above it in September, about $25 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Santa Ana is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Santa Ana changed +1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Santa Ana rose 34.9% while median household income rose 42.1% ($66,145 to $93,999). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Santa Ana is 39.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($93,999) is $2,350 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,118); a 2-bedroom is $2,515.

Spread across ZIP codes

The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Santa Ana, 92704 ($3,164/mo), costs 18% more than the cheapest, 92701 ($2,676/mo).

Cheaper nearby

Rowland Heights, 17 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,421/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Santa Ana. 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.

Annual cost

$33,840/yr

At $2,820/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (1.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.9% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Santa Ana, CA is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 18.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

312,534

Median income

$93,999

Median age

34.7

Renters

55.4%

Age distribution

22.9%

27.4%

26.8%

Under 1822.9%

18–3427.4%

35–5426.8%

55–6411.4%

65+11.4%

Gender

51.3%

48.7%

Male51.3%

Female48.7%

Race & ethnicity

16.7%

76.6%

White16.7%

Black0.8%

Hispanic76.6%

Asian12.5%

Education (25+)

33.1%

26.7%

21.9%

18.3%

No HS diploma33.1%

HS diploma26.7%

Some college21.9%

Bachelor's+18.3%

Housing tenure

44.6%

55.4%

Owner44.6%

Renter55.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Ana, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,066 → $2,820

up 36.5%

Income

$77,283 → $93,999

up 21.6%

Population

313,818 → 312,534

down 0.4%

Renter share

54.3% → 55.4%

+1.1 pts

Bachelor's+

17.3% → 18.3%

+1.0 pts

Median age

33 → 34.7

+1.7 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in Santa Ana, CA has shifted from $2,066 to $2,820, up 36.5% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $77,283 to $93,999 across the same window, up 21.6% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Santa Ana, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Santa Ana

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View Santa Ana rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Ana on your salary?

At $2,820/mo, how Santa Ana rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 30.4% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 42.8% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 37.1% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20.8% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.3% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 45.7% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 50.6% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 41% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Santa Ana rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Ana

About renting in Santa Ana, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Santa Ana is $2,820/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,000/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,515/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,118/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,405/mo.

At 36% of local median household income ($93,999/yr), Santa Ana ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Santa Ana?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $113,000/year (about $54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,820/mo in Santa Ana. The local median household income is $93,999/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Ana?

Rent in Santa Ana has risen 1.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Santa Ana?

Asking rents in Santa Ana are usually lowest in February, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in September, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $25 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Santa Ana?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Santa Ana rose 34.9% while median household income rose 42.1%, from $66,145 to $93,999. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Santa Ana neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Ana are 92701 ($2,676/mo), 92706 ($2,721/mo), and 92707 ($2,816/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $2,820/mo.

How does Santa Ana rent compare to other cities in California?

Santa Ana is in the middle among California cities for rent, ranking #191 of 382 tracked cities at $2,820/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Santa Ana changed +1.9%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.