Rents are 12% above what Santa Clara'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 $3,935 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Santa Clara, CA is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 65.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Santa Clara, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Santa Clara, CA paid around $2,836 a month. That figure now sits near $3,935, up 38.8% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $178,958 today, compared with $150,244 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Santa Clara, CA adding about 2,334 residents over the five-year window, up 1.8% on net. The renter share has risen from 57.6% to 59.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 63.2% to 65.9% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Santa Clara on your salary?
At $3,935/mo, how Santa Clara rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Santa Clara rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Clara. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Santa Clara
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Santa Clara is $3,935/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,770/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,660/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,160/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,757/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($178,958/yr), Santa Clara ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 12.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Santa Clara residents rent vs. own?
How does Santa Clara rent compare to the national average?
At $3,935/mo, rent takes ~26% of Santa Clara's median household income ($178,958/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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