Best rent-to-income cities in California
Cities in California ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.
Key findings
- Moraga ranks first, with rent at 17.0% of median household income.
- Across all 310 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,786/mo.
- Stevenson Ranch moved from #19 to #10 compared with a year ago.
Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)
Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordableMost expensiveRent fallingRent risingBest rent/incomeMost rent-burdenedRecord-high rentSeasonal swingsRent vs. income
310 cities
| Rank | City | Rent/income | Median rent | Income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | MoragaCA | 17.0% | $3,060/mo | $216,193 | -- |
| 02 | RidgecrestCA | 17.1% | $1,274/mo | $89,250 | ↓1 from #1 |
| 03 | LafayetteCA | 17.7% | $3,372/mo | $228,250 | same |
| 04 | DublinCA | 18.6% | $3,325/mo | $214,385 | ↓2 from #2 |
| 05 | San RamonCA | 19.1% | $3,121/mo | $196,161 | ↓1 from #4 |
| 06 | PleasantonCA | 20.0% | $3,175/mo | $190,124 | ↓1 from #5 |
| 07 | Fair OaksCA | 21.4% | $2,089/mo | $116,975 | ↑2 from #9 |
| 08 | San CarlosCA | 21.5% | $4,248/mo | $237,470 | ↓1 from #7 |
| 09 | Granite BayCA | 21.7% | $3,332/mo | $184,606 | -- |
| 10 | Stevenson RanchCA | 22.0% | $2,899/mo | $158,434 | ↑9 from #19 |
| 11 | CupertinoCA | 22.0% | $4,307/mo | $234,707 | ↓3 from #8 |
| 12 | Los GatosCA | 22.1% | $4,004/mo | $217,554 | ↓2 from #10 |
| 13 | BelmontCA | 22.2% | $3,798/mo | $205,297 | ↓7 from #6 |
| 14 | El Dorado HillsCA | 22.3% | $3,070/mo | $165,349 | ↓3 from #11 |
| 15 | DanvilleCA | 22.3% | $4,324/mo | $232,216 | ↑1 from #16 |
| 16 | FremontCA | 22.4% | $3,388/mo | $181,506 | ↓4 from #12 |
| 17 | Rancho Santa MargaritaCA | 22.4% | $2,849/mo | $152,560 | ↓3 from #14 |
| 18 | AlbanyCA | 22.4% | $2,694/mo | $144,107 | ↓5 from #13 |
| 19 | LivermoreCA | 22.9% | $3,066/mo | $160,775 | ↓2 from #17 |
| 20 | FolsomCA | 22.9% | $2,667/mo | $139,804 | ↓2 from #18 |
| 21 | Ladera RanchCA | 23.1% | $3,550/mo | $184,458 | ↑1 from #22 |
| 22 | RocklinCA | 23.3% | $2,408/mo | $124,168 | ↑1 from #23 |
| 23 | MartinezCA | 23.6% | $2,509/mo | $127,355 | ↑2 from #25 |
| 24 | Palo AltoCA | 23.7% | $4,558/mo | $231,101 | ↓9 from #15 |
| 25 | MilpitasCA | 24.3% | $3,614/mo | $178,798 | ↓5 from #20 |
| 26 | BeniciaCA | 24.3% | $2,455/mo | $121,204 | ↑7 from #33 |
| 27 | Menlo ParkCA | 24.4% | $4,277/mo | $210,025 | ↓6 from #21 |
| 28 | CarmichaelCA | 24.5% | $1,757/mo | $85,914 | ↑4 from #32 |
| 29 | South PasadenaCA | 25.0% | $2,649/mo | $127,175 | ↑1 from #30 |
| 30 | AlamedaCA | 25.1% | $2,876/mo | $137,697 | ↓3 from #27 |
| 31 | OrindaCA | 25.1% | $5,239/mo | $250,001 | -- |
| 32 | Pleasant HillCA | 25.2% | $3,042/mo | $145,029 | ↓4 from #28 |
| 33 | Castro ValleyCA | 25.3% | $3,011/mo | $142,779 | ↓7 from #26 |
| 34 | RosevilleCA | 25.4% | $2,521/mo | $119,288 | ↑3 from #37 |
| 35 | SunnyvaleCA | 25.6% | $3,972/mo | $186,170 | ↓11 from #24 |
| 36 | Elk GroveCA | 25.6% | $2,688/mo | $125,924 | ↑4 from #40 |
| 37 | El SegundoCA | 25.9% | $3,253/mo | $150,737 | ↑4 from #41 |
| 38 | NewarkCA | 26.0% | $3,670/mo | $169,064 | ↓2 from #36 |
| 39 | Union CityCA | 26.1% | $2,913/mo | $133,715 | ↓8 from #31 |
| 40 | PinoleCA | 26.3% | $2,800/mo | $127,717 | -- |
| 41 | Santa ClaraCA | 26.5% | $3,958/mo | $178,958 | ↓6 from #35 |
| 42 | MoorparkCA | 26.6% | $3,289/mo | $148,480 | ↑13 from #55 |
| 43 | RosemontCA | 26.6% | $1,996/mo | $90,046 | ↑6 from #49 |
| 44 | OrangevaleCA | 26.7% | $2,220/mo | $99,832 | ↓5 from #39 |
| 45 | BreaCA | 26.7% | $2,916/mo | $131,129 | same |
| 46 | LemooreCA | 26.8% | $1,868/mo | $83,724 | ↑4 from #50 |
| 47 | Foster CityCA | 26.8% | $4,450/mo | $199,143 | ↓18 from #29 |
| 48 | PacificaCA | 26.9% | $3,594/mo | $160,523 | ↓14 from #34 |
| 49 | PowayCA | 26.9% | $3,325/mo | $148,359 | ↓5 from #44 |
| 50 | Walnut CreekCA | 26.9% | $2,924/mo | $130,432 | ↓7 from #43 |