Rents are 5% below what Seal Beach's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $3,017 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
Seal Beach, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 51.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Seal Beach, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Seal Beach, CA paid around $2,536 a month. That figure now sits near $3,017, up 19.0% from the 2023 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $85,964 today, compared with $75,821 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Seal Beach, CA losing about 494 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.
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Can you afford rent in Seal Beach on your salary?
At $3,017/mo, how Seal Beach rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Seal Beach rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Seal Beach. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Seal Beach
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Seal Beach is $3,017/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,370/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,930/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,480/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,960/mo.
At 42% of local median household income ($85,964/yr), Seal Beach ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Seal Beach an affordable city for renters?
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Is rent going up or down in Seal Beach?
How does Seal Beach rent compare to other cities in California?
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What percentage of Seal Beach residents rent vs. own?
How does Seal Beach rent compare to the national average?
At $3,017/mo, rent takes ~42% of Seal Beach's median household income ($85,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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