ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 92026

Part of Escondido, CA

Pop. 53,075·San Diego County·513th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$2,695/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.3%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$763

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 92026 · $2,695

More expensive than 84% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,270

1 BR

$2,440

2 BR

$2,980

3 BR

$3,970

4 BR+

$4,810

Research median

$2,980/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 92026 is 0.3% below its high of $2,704 in June 2026, at $2,695 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 92026 changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($104,561) is $2,614 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,440); a 2-bedroom is $2,980.

Rank in Escondido

3rd cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Escondido.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 92027, 10 miles away, rents for 13% less ($2,354/mo), about $4,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 92026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$32,340/yr

At $2,695/mo median

Location

CityEscondido

StateCA

CountySan Diego County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.3% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.3% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 92026 (Escondido, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 33.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

53,075

Median income

$104,561

Median age

39.7

Renters

36.9%

Age distribution

19.8%

23%

26.6%

13.2%

17.4%

Under 1819.8%

18–3423%

35–5426.6%

55–6413.2%

65+17.4%

Gender

50.6%

49.4%

Male50.6%

Female49.4%

Race & ethnicity

48.6%

41.6%

White48.6%

Black2.2%

Hispanic41.6%

Asian9.7%

Education (25+)

14%

20.6%

31.6%

33.8%

No HS diploma14%

HS diploma20.6%

Some college31.6%

Bachelor's+33.8%

Housing tenure

63.1%

36.9%

Owner63.1%

Renter36.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 92026 in Escondido, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,392 → $2,695

up 12.7%

Income

$83,194 → $104,561

up 25.7%

Population

51,953 → 53,075

up 2.2%

Renter share

40% → 36.9%

-3.1 pts

Bachelor's+

31.1% → 33.8%

+2.7 pts

Median age

37.3 → 39.7

+2.4 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 92026 in Escondido, CA stood at $2,392 in 2022 and currently runs about $2,695, reflecting a 12.7% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $83,194 to $104,561 across the same window, up 25.7% versus 2021. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 2.2% since 2021, moving from about 51,953 residents to roughly 53,075. Renters now make up 36.9% of households, compared with 40% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 33.8% of adults here, versus 31.1% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 92026 in Escondido, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

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About renting in ZIP 92026

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 92026 covers Escondido, CA. The median rent here is $2,695/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,440/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,980/mo.

At 31% of local median household income ($104,561/yr), ZIP 92026 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 92026?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $108,000/year (about $52/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,695/mo in ZIP 92026. The local median household income is $104,561/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 92026?

Rent in ZIP 92026 has risen 2.3% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $2,704 in June 2026.

How does ZIP 92026 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 92026 is in the middle among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #513 of 898 at $2,695/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 92026 changed +2.3%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.