At $2,507/mo, rent takes about 25% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $2,507 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
Rent in California changed +0.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($119,855) is $2,996 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,520); a 4-bedroom is $3,110.
Leonardtown, 6 miles away, rents for 19% less ($2,025/mo), about $5,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for California. 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
California, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 43.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How California, MD has changed in 5 years
Census figures show median household income at $119,855 today, compared with $101,907 five years earlier. The population has contracted by 7.0% since 2021, moving from about 14,129 residents to roughly 13,136. Renters now make up 37.1% of households, compared with 40% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 43.8% of adults here, versus 41.5% in 2021.
Discussions about California
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Can you afford rent in California on your salary?
At $2,507/mo, how California rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
California rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in California. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in California
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in California is $2,507/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,650/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,020/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,790/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,520/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($119,855/yr), California ranks as affordable 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 California?
Is rent going up or down in California?
How does California rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than California?
At $2,507/mo, rent takes ~25% of California's median household income ($119,855/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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