At $2,850/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within 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 $2,850 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
Rent in Sierra Madre changed +1.6% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($143,547) is $3,589 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,850); a 3-bedroom is $3,620.
El Monte, 7 miles away, rents for 14% less ($2,451/mo), about $4,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Sierra Madre. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Sierra Madre, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 64% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Sierra Madre, CA has changed in 5 years
Household income in the area moved from $116,884 to $143,547 across the same window, up 22.8% versus 2021. Census counts show Sierra Madre, CA losing about 313 residents over the five-year window, down 2.8% on net. The renter share has risen from 42.4% to 44.2%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.
Discussions about Sierra Madre
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Sierra Madre on your salary?
At $2,850/mo, how Sierra Madre rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Sierra Madre rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Sierra Madre. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Sierra Madre
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Sierra Madre is $2,850/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,010/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,850/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,260/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,620/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($143,547/yr), Sierra Madre ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.6% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Sierra Madre?
Is rent going up or down in Sierra Madre?
How does Sierra Madre rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Sierra Madre?
At $2,850/mo, rent takes ~24% of Sierra Madre's median household income ($143,547/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Sierra Madre.
No discussions yet.