Rents are 11% below what Turlock'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 $2,064 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
January. Asking rents in Turlock usually run 1% below trend in January and 0.9% above it in July, about $39 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in Turlock is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2018.
Rent in Turlock 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 Turlock rose 44.6% while median household income rose 39.1% ($59,681 to $82,995). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Turlock is 44.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($82,995) is $2,075 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,575); a 3-bedroom is $2,205.
Atwater, 17 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,853/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Turlock. 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
Turlock, CA is majority owner-occupied, 26.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Turlock, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Turlock, CA has increased from $1,588 to $2,064, a 30.0% change over five years. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $66,646 in 2021 to $82,995 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 43.9% of households, compared with 45.5% five years ago. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Turlock, CA market of 2021.
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At $2,064/mo, how Turlock rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Turlock rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Turlock. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Turlock
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Turlock is $2,064/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,145/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,575/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,215/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,205/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($82,995/yr), Turlock 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 Turlock rent compare to other cities in California?
At $2,064/mo, rent takes ~30% of Turlock's median household income ($82,995/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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