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City Report · CA

Santa Paula

Pop. 31,376·299th most expensive in California·Rents have been falling, good time to negotiate
Median rent (all units)
$2,325/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-5.1%
vs US Median
+$360
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Santa Paula · $2,325
More expensive than 73% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo
Affordability
35% of income
MODERATE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,325/mo, rent takes about 35% of the local median household income, slightly above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$93,000/yr
Local median income
$79,294/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Santa Paula's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,560
1 BR
$1,810
2 BR
$2,180
3 BR
$2,980
4 BR+
$3,490
Research median
$2,180/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
$27,900/yr
At $2,325/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are down 0.0% year-over-year. Push hard on price, concessions, and lease terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -5.1% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Santa Paula, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, 15.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
31,376
Median income
$79,294
Median age
35.7
Renters
44.1%
Age distribution
25.9%
22.9%
28%
14.5%
Under 1825.9%
18–3422.9%
35–5428%
55–648.7%
65+14.5%
Gender
49.2%
50.8%
Male49.2%
Female50.8%
Race & ethnicity
46.9%
81.7%
White46.9%
Black1.4%
Hispanic81.7%
Asian1.3%
Education (25+)
32.2%
22.6%
30.1%
15.1%
No HS diploma32.2%
HS diploma22.6%
Some college30.1%
Bachelor's+15.1%
Housing tenure
55.9%
44.1%
Owner55.9%
Renter44.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Santa Paula, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$67,697 → $79,294
up 17.1%
Population
30,741 → 31,376
up 2.1%
Renter share
47.2% → 44.1%
-3.1 pts
Bachelor's+
12.8% → 15.1%
+2.3 pts
Median age
33.7 → 35.7
+2.0 yrs

Median household income climbed from $67,697 to $79,294 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.1% shift. Census counts show Santa Paula, CA adding about 635 residents over the five-year window, up 2.1% on net. The renter share has eased from 47.2% to 44.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 12.8% to 15.1% across the same window.

Community

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View Santa Paula rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Santa Paula on your salary?

At $2,325/mo, how Santa Paula rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Santa Paula rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Santa Paula

About renting in Santa Paula, CA

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Santa Paula is $2,325/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,560/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,180/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,810/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,980/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($79,294/yr), Santa Paula ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Santa Paula an affordable city for renters?

Santa Paula is considered moderate for renters. At $2,325/mo, rent takes approximately 35% of the local median household income ($79,294/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Santa Paula slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

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

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $93,000/year (~$45/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,325/mo in Santa Paula. The local median household income is $79,294/yr, meaning the typical Santa Paula household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Santa Paula?

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

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

Santa Paula is one of the more affordable cities in California for rent, ranking #299 out of 387 tracked cities at $2,325/mo.

What percentage of Santa Paula residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 44.1% of Santa Paula households are renters, while 55.9% are owner-occupied. Santa Paula leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Santa Paula rent compare to the national average?

Santa Paula's median rent of $2,325/mo is $360 (18%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within California, it ranks #299 out of 387 tracked cities.
Income Affordability
35%
MODERATE

At $2,325/mo, rent takes ~35% of Santa Paula's median household income ($79,294/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Santa Paula 35%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Santa Paula affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Santa Paula, CA

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