Rents are 8% below what Whittier'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 $2,402 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
December. Asking rents in Whittier usually run 0.6% below trend in December and 0.6% above it in May, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Whittier is 1.4% below its high of $2,435 in February 2026, at $2,402 as of September 2026.
Rent in Whittier changed +0.8% 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 Whittier rose 36.7% while median household income rose 25.8% ($77,270 to $97,201). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Whittier is 35.5% 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 ($97,201) is $2,430 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,080); a 2-bedroom is $2,624.
The priciest of 4 ZIP codes in Whittier, 90606 ($2,966/mo), costs 40% more than the cheapest, 90602 ($2,116/mo).
Maywood, 9 miles away, rents for 32% less ($1,635/mo), about $9,200 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Whittier. 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.
Is your rent fair?
Compare your rent to the local median.
Who lives here
Whittier, CA is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 29.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Whittier, CA has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Whittier, CA paid around $1,845 a month. That figure now sits near $2,402, up 30.2% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Whittier, CA now reports about $97,201, up from $80,306 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Whittier, CA losing about 1,019 residents over the five-year window, down 1.2% on net. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Whittier, CA reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Whittier
No discussions yet. Start the conversation.
Can you afford rent in Whittier on your salary?
At $2,402/mo, how Whittier rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Whittier rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Whittier. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Whittier
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Whittier is $2,402/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,854/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,624/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,080/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,334/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($97,201/yr), Whittier ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Whittier?
Is rent going up or down in Whittier?
When is the cheapest time to rent in Whittier?
Has rent outpaced income in Whittier?
Which Whittier neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Whittier rent compare to other cities in California?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Whittier?
At $2,402/mo, rent takes ~30% of Whittier's median household income ($97,201/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
Pick another city or ZIP to compare.
Estimated from ZIP-level data
Be the first to submit your rent for Whittier.
No discussions yet.