City Report · CA

Topanga

Pop. 8,885·9th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$6,317/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
+3.5%
vs US Median
+$4,385
Reported rents
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Topanga · $6,317
More expensive than 100% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
48% of income
STRETCHED
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $6,317/mo, rent takes about 48% of the local median household income, well above the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$253,000/yr
Local median income
$157,045/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Topanga's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,790
1 BR
$3,120
2 BR
$3,940
3 BR
$5,010
4 BR+
$5,560
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$3,940/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $6,317 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($157,045) is $3,926 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($3,120); a 2-bedroom is $3,940.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Topanga. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$75,804/yr
At $6,317/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 0.0% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +3.5% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Topanga, 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.

Population
8,885
Median income
$157,045
Median age
46.5
Renters
17.9%
Age distribution
20.1%
14.7%
27%
16.7%
21.4%
Under 1820.1%
18–3414.7%
35–5427%
55–6416.7%
65+21.4%
Gender
46.9%
53.1%
Male46.9%
Female53.1%
Race & ethnicity
69%
White69%
Black1.3%
Hispanic7.5%
Asian11.7%
Other10.5%
Education (25+)
26.5%
64%
No HS diploma1.9%
HS diploma7.6%
Some college26.5%
Bachelor's+64%
Housing tenure
82.1%
17.9%
Owner82.1%
Renter17.9%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Topanga, CA has changed in 5 years

Income
$128,884 → $157,045
up 21.8%
Population
8,255 → 8,885
up 7.6%
Renter share
25.1% → 17.9%
-7.2 pts
Bachelor's+
63.3% → 64%
+0.7 pts
Median age
45.6 → 46.5
+0.9 yrs

Median household income grew from $128,884 to $157,045 between 2021 and 2024, a 21.8% shift. Headcount in the area went from 8,255 to 8,885 between 2021 and 2024, a 7.6% change. About 17.9% of households rent today, against 25.1% in 2021.

Community

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View Topanga rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Topanga on your salary?

At $6,317/mo, how Topanga rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Topanga rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Topanga

About renting in Topanga, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Topanga is $6,317/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,790/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $3,120/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $5,010/mo.

At 48% of local median household income ($157,045/yr), Topanga ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Topanga?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $253,000/year (about $122/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $6,317/mo in Topanga. The local median household income is $157,045/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Topanga?

Rent in Topanga has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Topanga rent compare to other cities in California?

Topanga is one of the pricier among California cities for rent, ranking #9 of 382 tracked cities at $6,317/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Topanga?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Topanga ($6,317/mo) include Oak Park ($2,914/mo), Santa Monica ($3,516/mo), and Marina del Rey ($4,009/mo).
Income Affordability
48%
STRETCHED

At $6,317/mo, rent takes ~48% of Topanga's median household income ($157,045/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Topanga 48%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
Run the Topanga affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Topanga, CA

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