At $2,509/mo, rent takes about 36% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.
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 $2,509 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
March. Asking rents in Santa Maria usually run 1.5% below trend in March and 1.7% above it in September, about $80 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.
Rent in Santa Maria is 3.2% below its high of $2,591 in June 2022, at $2,509 as of September 2026.
Rent in Santa Maria changed +1.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($84,746) is $2,119 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($2,257).
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Santa Maria, 93455 ($3,221/mo), costs 1.5 times the cheapest, 93458 ($2,186/mo).
Lompoc, 21 miles away, rents for 15% less ($2,126/mo), about $4,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Santa Maria. 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
Santa Maria, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 15.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Santa Maria, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Santa Maria, CA has shifted from $2,029 to $2,509, up 23.7% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $73,300 in 2021 to $84,746 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Santa Maria, CA adding about 1,153 residents over the five-year window, up 1.1% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 13.6% to 15.7% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Santa Maria, CA market of 2021.
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At $2,509/mo, how Santa Maria rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Santa Maria rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Santa Maria. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Santa Maria
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Santa Maria is $2,509/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,257/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,890/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,560/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,843/mo.
At 36% of local median household income ($84,746/yr), Santa Maria ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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At $2,509/mo, rent takes ~36% of Santa Maria's median household income ($84,746/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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