Most affordable cities for renters in California
Cities in California ranked by lowest median rent. Includes cities with 15,000+ residents. Updated monthly.
Key findings
- Ridgecrest ranks first, with a median rent of $1,274/mo.
- Across all 310 cities on this list, the median rent is $2,786/mo.
Data as of September 2026. Median rent from RentDataNow's monthly city data (Zillow's rent index where Zillow covers the city). Rank a year ago compares the same cities' rent 12 months earlier. 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 | Median rent | 1-yr change | 5-yr change | Rent/income | Vs. a year ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | RidgecrestCA | $1,274/mo | +2.3% | +23.8% | 17.1% | same |
| 02 | OrovilleCA | $1,436/mo | +4.7% | -- | 33.0% | ↑1 from #3 |
| 03 | BarstowCA | $1,467/mo | +7.5% | -- | 33.0% | ↓1 from #2 |
| 04 | PortervilleCA | $1,475/mo | +3.0% | -- | 29.3% | ↑1 from #5 |
| 05 | ClearlakeCA | $1,478/mo | 0.0% | -- | 42.4% | -- |
| 06 | Twentynine PalmsCA | $1,494/mo | +5.2% | -- | 28.7% | ↓2 from #4 |
| 07 | ChicoCA | $1,561/mo | +2.0% | +13.4% | 28.0% | ↓1 from #6 |
| 08 | El CentroCA | $1,573/mo | 0.0% | -- | 35.6% | -- |
| 09 | ArcataCA | $1,582/mo | +2.4% | -- | 40.6% | ↓2 from #7 |
| 10 | EurekaCA | $1,612/mo | +2.4% | -- | 33.5% | ↓2 from #8 |
| 11 | MaywoodCA | $1,635/mo | 0.0% | -- | 32.2% | -- |
| 12 | ReddingCA | $1,647/mo | +4.6% | +27.7% | 28.0% | ↓3 from #9 |
| 13 | CarmichaelCA | $1,757/mo | +0.9% | +14.2% | 24.5% | ↓2 from #11 |
| 14 | Huntington ParkCA | $1,768/mo | +5.4% | -- | 35.4% | ↓4 from #10 |
| 15 | TulareCA | $1,792/mo | +2.5% | -- | 29.7% | ↓3 from #12 |
| 16 | Yucca ValleyCA | $1,827/mo | +2.1% | -- | 36.8% | ↓3 from #13 |
| 17 | VisaliaCA | $1,839/mo | +2.1% | +26.5% | 26.9% | ↓1 from #16 |
| 18 | HemetCA | $1,839/mo | -0.5% | +19.9% | 38.2% | ↑3 from #21 |
| 19 | AtwaterCA | $1,853/mo | 0.0% | -- | 34.5% | -- |
| 20 | LemooreCA | $1,868/mo | +2.9% | -- | 26.8% | ↓3 from #17 |
| 21 | BanningCA | $1,870/mo | +4.2% | -- | 36.3% | ↓6 from #15 |
| 22 | Citrus HeightsCA | $1,883/mo | +1.9% | +11.1% | 27.5% | ↓2 from #20 |
| 23 | Apple ValleyCA | $1,899/mo | +2.4% | +26.7% | 32.6% | same |
| 24 | BakersfieldCA | $1,901/mo | +3.1% | +29.1% | 28.3% | ↓5 from #19 |
| 25 | McKinleyvilleCA | $1,908/mo | +3.9% | -- | 31.2% | ↓7 from #18 |
| 26 | UkiahCA | $1,921/mo | +7.3% | -- | 34.8% | ↓12 from #14 |
| 27 | ColtonCA | $1,929/mo | +2.8% | -- | 32.5% | ↓2 from #25 |
| 28 | FresnoCA | $1,945/mo | +4.0% | +23.3% | 32.9% | ↓4 from #24 |
| 29 | San BernardinoCA | $1,971/mo | +3.1% | +33.1% | 35.1% | ↓2 from #27 |
| 30 | Yuba CityCA | $1,993/mo | -0.8% | -- | 31.7% | ↑7 from #37 |
| 31 | RosemontCA | $1,996/mo | +2.3% | -- | 26.6% | ↓2 from #29 |
| 32 | OakdaleCA | $2,006/mo | +1.6% | -- | 29.0% | same |
| 33 | HanfordCA | $2,008/mo | +3.7% | -- | 31.5% | ↓5 from #28 |
| 34 | AdelantoCA | $2,008/mo | +8.5% | -- | 35.1% | ↓12 from #22 |
| 35 | ModestoCA | $2,022/mo | +1.8% | +19.6% | 30.4% | ↓2 from #33 |
| 36 | FlorinCA | $2,024/mo | +0.9% | -- | 34.2% | same |
| 37 | StocktonCA | $2,032/mo | +1.8% | +15.5% | 30.5% | ↓2 from #35 |
| 38 | Desert Hot SpringsCA | $2,038/mo | +3.7% | -- | 46.4% | ↓8 from #30 |
| 39 | MercedCA | $2,041/mo | +1.6% | +17.1% | 38.8% | same |
| 40 | SacramentoCA | $2,045/mo | +1.4% | +15.5% | 28.1% | same |
| 41 | LynwoodCA | $2,045/mo | +8.8% | -- | 32.8% | ↓15 from #26 |
| 42 | TurlockCA | $2,064/mo | +1.8% | +21.6% | 29.8% | ↓1 from #41 |
| 43 | Palm SpringsCA | $2,067/mo | +2.9% | +25.9% | 33.9% | ↓5 from #38 |
| 44 | Fair OaksCA | $2,089/mo | +5.1% | +21.6% | 21.4% | ↓10 from #34 |
| 45 | East Los AngelesCA | $2,125/mo | +7.8% | -- | 37.1% | ↓14 from #31 |
| 46 | LompocCA | $2,126/mo | +3.0% | -- | 35.4% | ↓3 from #43 |
| 47 | ImperialCA | $2,138/mo | 0.0% | -- | 28.4% | -- |
| 48 | RosamondCA | $2,149/mo | 0.0% | -- | 32.5% | -- |
| 49 | HawthorneCA | $2,151/mo | +2.3% | +21.7% | 34.0% | ↓4 from #45 |
| 50 | MaderaCA | $2,162/mo | +2.0% | -- | 40.6% | ↓4 from #46 |