Best rental value cities in California

Name: Best Rental Value Cities in California by Rent Reality Score
Creator: RentDataNow

Cities in California renting furthest below their own 10-year trend, ranked by Rent Reality Score. Updated monthly.

Key findings

Lancaster ranks first, with a Rent Reality Score of 83.
Across all 258 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,829/mo.

Data as of September 2026. RentDataNow's Rent Reality Score compares each city's current rent with its own 10-year trend. High-confidence trends only. Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

258 cities

Rank	City	Score	Median rent	Vs. trend	1-yr change
01	LancasterCA Pop. 169KCompare →	83	$2,460/mo	-16.5%	+0.9%
02	HemetCA Pop. 91KCompare →	83	$1,839/mo	-16.5%	-0.5%
03	AntelopeCA Pop. 48KCompare →	81	$2,389/mo	-15.3%	-0.1%
04	Palm SpringsCA Pop. 45KCompare →	81	$2,067/mo	-15.4%	+2.9%
05	StocktonCA Pop. 322KCompare →	80	$2,032/mo	-15.0%	+1.8%
06	PalmdaleCA Pop. 165KCompare →	77	$2,780/mo	-13.4%	+2.5%
07	Apple ValleyCA Pop. 75KCompare →	77	$1,899/mo	-13.3%	+2.4%
08	Imperial BeachCA Pop. 26KCompare →	77	$2,822/mo	-13.7%	-1.3%
09	ModestoCA Pop. 219KCompare →	76	$2,022/mo	-13.1%	+1.8%
10	MercedCA Pop. 92KCompare →	76	$2,041/mo	-12.8%	+1.6%
11	CarmichaelCA Pop. 77KCompare →	76	$1,757/mo	-13.2%	+0.9%
12	Palm DesertCA Pop. 52KCompare →	76	$2,749/mo	-12.8%	+4.3%
13	Citrus HeightsCA Pop. 87KCompare →	75	$1,883/mo	-12.5%	+1.9%
14	West SacramentoCA Pop. 55KCompare →	75	$2,263/mo	-12.5%	+3.5%
15	SacramentoCA Pop. 529KCompare →	74	$2,045/mo	-11.9%	+1.4%
16	Moreno ValleyCA Pop. 212KCompare →	74	$2,412/mo	-12.0%	+3.6%
17	VictorvilleCA Pop. 138KCompare →	73	$2,248/mo	-11.4%	+5.1%
18	El CajonCA Pop. 104KCompare →	73	$2,259/mo	-11.5%	+0.5%
19	La QuintaCA Pop. 39KCompare →	73	$3,617/mo	-11.6%	+3.3%
20	InglewoodCA Pop. 105KCompare →	72	$2,487/mo	-11.2%	+0.6%
21	VacavilleCA Pop. 103KCompare →	72	$2,627/mo	-11.2%	+2.3%
22	VistaCA Pop. 99KCompare →	72	$2,726/mo	-10.9%	+1.2%
23	Rancho CordovaCA Pop. 82KCompare →	72	$2,412/mo	-11.1%	+2.4%
24	RedlandsCA Pop. 73KCompare →	72	$2,398/mo	-11.1%	+1.8%
25	TurlockCA Pop. 73KCompare →	72	$2,064/mo	-11.1%	+1.8%
26	Lake ElsinoreCA Pop. 72KCompare →	72	$2,348/mo	-11.0%	+3.4%
27	RiversideCA Pop. 319KCompare →	71	$2,427/mo	-10.5%	+2.5%
28	San BernardinoCA Pop. 223KCompare →	71	$1,971/mo	-10.7%	+3.1%
29	Elk GroveCA Pop. 179KCompare →	71	$2,688/mo	-10.4%	+1.8%
30	EscondidoCA Pop. 150KCompare →	71	$2,590/mo	-10.7%	+0.7%
31	MurrietaCA Pop. 112KCompare →	71	$2,650/mo	-10.3%	+2.7%
32	La MesaCA Pop. 61KCompare →	71	$2,627/mo	-10.3%	+1.3%
33	AntiochCA Pop. 116KCompare →	70	$2,814/mo	-10.2%	+1.9%
34	WestmontCA Pop. 34KCompare →	70	$2,333/mo	-10.0%	+2.5%
35	FresnoCA Pop. 546KCompare →	69	$1,945/mo	-9.3%	+4.0%
36	OntarioCA Pop. 181KCompare →	69	$2,580/mo	-9.6%	+2.5%
37	RosevilleCA Pop. 156KCompare →	69	$2,521/mo	-9.6%	+1.6%
38	PomonaCA Pop. 148KCompare →	69	$2,319/mo	-9.5%	+1.7%
39	VallejoCA Pop. 124KCompare →	69	$2,200/mo	-9.5%	+2.9%
40	PittsburgCA Pop. 76KCompare →	69	$2,429/mo	-9.3%	+3.7%
41	Hacienda HeightsCA Pop. 54KCompare →	69	$3,538/mo	-9.5%	-0.1%
42	Loma LindaCA Pop. 25KCompare →	69	$2,317/mo	-9.3%	+3.1%
43	Chula VistaCA Pop. 276KCompare →	68	$2,935/mo	-9.2%	+2.2%
44	Santa ClaritaCA Pop. 230KCompare →	68	$2,783/mo	-8.8%	-0.1%
45	OxnardCA Pop. 201KCompare →	68	$2,894/mo	-9.1%	+0.3%
46	Rancho CucamongaCA Pop. 175KCompare →	68	$2,786/mo	-8.8%	+3.1%
47	ClovisCA Pop. 125KCompare →	68	$2,381/mo	-9.2%	+1.7%
48	FairfieldCA Pop. 121KCompare →	68	$2,425/mo	-8.8%	+2.3%
49	MenifeeCA Pop. 110KCompare →	68	$2,945/mo	-8.8%	+5.4%
50	NorwalkCA Pop. 100KCompare →	68	$2,662/mo	-9.1%	+1.8%