City Report · CA

Vacaville

Pop. 102,596·239th most expensive in California·One of the pricier rental markets in the US

Median rent (all units)

$2,627/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.3%

Month-over-Month

+0.4%

vs US Median

+$695

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Vacaville · $2,627

More expensive than 83% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo

Rent Reality Score

72/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 11% below what Vacaville's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$2,627/mo

Expected by trend

$2,957/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Vacaville's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,785

1 BR

$1,960

2 BR

$2,505

3 BR

$3,350

4 BR+

$3,795

Fair Market Rent (HUD)

$2,505/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,627 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

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Vacaville usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.8% above it in August, about $42 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Vacaville is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in Vacaville changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.4%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in Vacaville rose 25.2% while median household income rose 26.5% ($87,823 to $111,126). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in Vacaville is 26.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($111,126) is $2,778 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,505); a 3-bedroom is $3,350.

Cheaper nearby

Vallejo, 21 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,200/mo), about $5,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Vacaville. 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.

Annual cost

$31,524/yr

At $2,627/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.3% YoY, +0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Vacaville, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 28% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

102,596

Median income

$111,126

Median age

38.2

Renters

32.5%

Age distribution

21.9%

23.4%

26%

12.9%

15.7%

Under 1821.9%

18–3423.4%

35–5426%

55–6412.9%

65+15.7%

Gender

51.8%

48.2%

Male51.8%

Female48.2%

Race & ethnicity

53.1%

27.9%

White53.1%

Black8.6%

Hispanic27.9%

Asian11.4%

Education (25+)

24.6%

38.4%

28%

No HS diploma9%

HS diploma24.6%

Some college38.4%

Bachelor's+28%

Housing tenure

67.5%

32.5%

Owner67.5%

Renter32.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Vacaville, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,251 → $2,627

up 16.7%

Income

$97,683 → $111,126

up 13.8%

Population

102,256 → 102,596

up 0.3%

Renter share

35% → 32.5%

-2.5 pts

Bachelor's+

25% → 28%

+3.0 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in Vacaville, CA has shifted from $2,251 to $2,627, up 16.7% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $97,683 to $111,126 across the same window, up 13.8% versus 2021. The renter share has eased from 35% to 32.5%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 25% to 28% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Vacaville, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

Discussions about Vacaville

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View Vacaville rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Vacaville on your salary?

At $2,627/mo, how Vacaville rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $111,486/yr · Rent = 28.3% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $79,154/yr · Rent = 39.8% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $91,179/yr · Rent = 34.6% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $162,970/yr · Rent = 19.3% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $208,235/yr · Rent = 15.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $74,116/yr · Rent = 42.5% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $66,918/yr · Rent = 47.1% income

rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $82,482/yr · Rent = 38.2% income

stretched

By apartment size

Vacaville rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Vacaville

About renting in Vacaville, CA

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Vacaville is $2,627/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,785/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,505/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,960/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,350/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($111,126/yr), Vacaville ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Vacaville?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $105,000/year (about $50/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,627/mo in Vacaville. The local median household income is $111,126/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Vacaville?

Rent in Vacaville has risen 2.3% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Vacaville?

Asking rents in Vacaville are usually lowest in January, about 0.8% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 0.8% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $42 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in Vacaville?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in Vacaville rose 25.2% while median household income rose 26.5%, from $87,823 to $111,126. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

Which Vacaville neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Vacaville are 95688 ($2,605/mo), and 95687 ($2,652/mo). Citywide, the median rent is $2,627/mo.

How does Vacaville rent compare to other cities in California?

Vacaville is in the middle among California cities for rent, ranking #239 of 382 tracked cities at $2,627/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Vacaville changed +2.3%, against a typical +3.4% across the 336 California cities Zillow tracks.