Rents are 15% below what Stockton'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 $2,032 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
February. Asking rents in Stockton usually run 0.5% below trend in February and 0.7% above it in August, about $24 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Stockton is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Stockton changed +1.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Stockton rose 44.1% while median household income rose 46.3% ($54,614 to $79,907). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Stockton is 42.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,907) is $1,998 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,806); a 3-bedroom is $2,499.
The priciest of 8 ZIP codes in Stockton, 95206 ($2,420/mo), costs 1.7 times the cheapest, 95203 ($1,459/mo).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Stockton. 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
Stockton, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 20% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Stockton, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Stockton, CA stood at $1,648 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,032, reflecting a 23.3% increase over the period. Median household income rose from $63,916 to $79,907 between 2021 and 2024, a 25.0% shift. The population has grown by 1.4% since 2021, moving from about 317,818 residents to roughly 322,326. Renters now make up 46.1% of households, compared with 48.8% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 20% of adults here, versus 18% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Stockton, 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.
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At $2,032/mo, how Stockton rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Stockton rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Stockton. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Stockton
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Stockton is $2,032/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,289/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,806/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,428/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,499/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($79,907/yr), Stockton ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Stockton rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,032/mo, rent takes ~31% of Stockton's median household income ($79,907/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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