Rents are 6% below what Tustin'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 $3,229 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
March. Asking rents in Tustin usually run 0.7% below trend in March and 0.8% above it in September, about $48 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Tustin is 0.2% below its high of $3,236 in July 2026, at $3,229 as of September 2026.
Rent in Tustin changed +1.7% 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 Tustin rose 36.6% while median household income rose 32.8% ($84,697 to $112,503). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Tustin is 38.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 10 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($112,503) is $2,813 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,600); a 2-bedroom is $3,075.
Santa Ana, 4 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,820/mo), about $4,900 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Tustin. 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
Tustin, CA is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 47.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Tustin, CA has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Tustin, CA stood at $2,404 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,229, reflecting a 34.3% increase over the period. Census figures show median household income at $112,503 today, compared with $93,901 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.1% since 2021, moving from about 79,895 residents to roughly 78,981. Renters now make up 51.2% of households, compared with 49.6% five years ago. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Tustin on your salary?
At $3,229/mo, how Tustin rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Tustin rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Tustin. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Tustin
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Tustin is $3,229/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,490/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,075/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,600/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $4,160/mo.
At 34% of local median household income ($112,503/yr), Tustin ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Tustin rent compare to other cities in California?
At $3,229/mo, rent takes ~34% of Tustin's median household income ($112,503/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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