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City Report · CA

Santa Ana

Pop. 312,534·190th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,781/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-0.1%
vs US Median
+$819
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Santa Ana · $2,781
More expensive than 86% of US cities · National median $1,962/mo
Rent Reality Score
65/100
Good value
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 8% below what Santa Ana's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent
$2,781/mo
Expected by trend
$3,006/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 $2,781 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: August 17, 2026

Annual cost
$33,372/yr
At $2,781/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (-0.0% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.
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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
$2,092 → $2,781
up 32.9%
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 $2,092 to $2,781, up 32.9% 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 $2,781/mo, how Santa Ana rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

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: August 17, 2026

The median rent in Santa Ana is $2,781/mo as of August 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 decreased 0.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Ana an affordable city for renters?

Santa Ana is considered moderate for renters. At $2,781/mo, rent takes approximately 36% of the local median household income ($93,999/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Ana slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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 $111,000/year (~$53/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,781/mo in Santa Ana. The local median household income is $93,999/yr, meaning the typical Santa Ana household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Ana?

Rent in Santa Ana has been relatively stable over the past year, with a 0.0% change year over year as of August 2026.

Which Santa Ana neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Ana are 92701 ($2,624/mo), 92706 ($2,729/mo), and 92707 ($2,740/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Santa Ana is $2,781/mo.

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

Santa Ana is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #190 out of 381 tracked cities at $2,781/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Santa Ana?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Santa Ana ($2,781/mo): Fountain Valley ($2,738/mo), Garden Grove ($2,768/mo).

What percentage of Santa Ana residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.4% of Santa Ana households are renters, while 44.6% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Santa Ana has a strong rental market.

How does Santa Ana rent compare to the national average?

Santa Ana's median rent of $2,781/mo is $819 (42%) above the US national median of $1,962/mo. Within California, it ranks #190 out of 381 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
36%
MODERATE

At $2,781/mo, rent takes ~36% of Santa Ana's median household income ($93,999/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Ana 36%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Santa Ana affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Santa Ana, CA

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