How much does it cost to rent in Santa Clarita, CA?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Santa Clarita, CA is $2,806. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Santa Clarita cheaper than other California cities?

Santa Clarita falls in the middle range for California, ranking #187 out of 387 cities at $2,806/mo.

When was Santa Clarita rent data last updated?

Santa Clarita rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · CA

Santa Clarita

Name: Average Rent Prices in Santa Clarita, CA
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 230,221·187th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,806/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.2%

Month-over-Month

-0.9%

vs US Median

+$841

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Santa Clarita · $2,806

More expensive than 87% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

65/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% below what Santa Clarita's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,806/mo

Expected by trend

$3,026/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,332

1 BR

$2,615

2 BR

$3,300

3 BR

$4,195

4 BR+

$4,647

Research median

$3,300/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$33,672/yr

At $2,806/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 (+2.2% YoY, -0.9% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Santa Clarita, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 39.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

230,221

Median income

$123,062

Median age

38.4

Renters

28.2%

Age distribution

24.6%

20.4%

28.5%

13%

13.5%

Under 1824.6%

18–3420.4%

35–5428.5%

55–6413%

65+13.5%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

47.2%

36.3%

12.3%

White47.2%

Black4.6%

Hispanic36.3%

Asian12.3%

Education (25+)

19.2%

32.1%

39.8%

No HS diploma8.8%

HS diploma19.2%

Some college32.1%

Bachelor's+39.8%

Housing tenure

71.8%

28.2%

Owner71.8%

Renter28.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Clarita, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,270 → $2,806

up 23.6%

Income

$106,166 → $123,062

up 15.9%

Population

227,182 → 230,221

up 1.3%

Renter share

29.7% → 28.2%

-1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

37.7% → 39.8%

+2.1 pts

Median age

37 → 38.4

+1.4 yrs

Rent in Santa Clarita, CA has increased 23.6% since 2021, going from about $2,270 per month to roughly $2,806 today. Median household income grew from $106,166 to $123,062 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.9% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 7.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 227,182 to 230,221 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.3% change. About 28.2% of households rent today, against 29.7% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 37.7% to 39.8%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Santa Clarita, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

Discussions about Santa Clarita

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View Santa Clarita rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Clarita on your salary?

At $2,806/mo, how Santa Clarita rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 30.2% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 42.5% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 36.9% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 20.7% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 16.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 45.4% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 50.3% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 40.8% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Santa Clarita rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Clarita

About renting in Santa Clarita, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,806/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,332/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,300/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,615/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,195/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($123,062/yr), Santa Clarita ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Clarita an affordable city for renters?

Santa Clarita is considered affordable for renters. At $2,806/mo, rent takes approximately 27% of the local median household income ($123,062/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Clarita falls comfortably within that range.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $112,000/year (~$54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,806/mo in Santa Clarita. The local median household income is $123,062/yr, meaning the typical Santa Clarita household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Clarita?

Rent in Santa Clarita has increased 2.2% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Santa Clarita neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Santa Clarita are 91321 ($2,523/mo), 91351 ($2,535/mo), and 91387 ($2,699/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Santa Clarita is $2,806/mo.

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

Santa Clarita is middle-of-the-pack for California for rent, ranking #187 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,806/mo.

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

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Santa Clarita ($2,806/mo): Simi Valley ($2,717/mo), Palmdale ($2,720/mo), Burbank ($2,765/mo).

What percentage of Santa Clarita residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28.2% of Santa Clarita households are renters, while 71.8% are owner-occupied. Santa Clarita leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Santa Clarita rent compare to the national average?

Santa Clarita's median rent of $2,806/mo is $841 (43%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #187 out of 387 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

27%

AFFORDABLE

At $2,806/mo, rent takes ~27% of Santa Clarita's median household income ($123,062/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Clarita 27%Benchmark 30%

State income tax1–13.3%

Run the Santa Clarita affordability calculator →

Nearby cities