ZIP 92078
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 92078 usually run 1.1% below trend in January and 1.3% above it in September, about $84 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 92078 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2016.
Rent in ZIP 92078 changed +4.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 92078 rose 41% while median household income rose 40.9% ($85,335 to $120,268). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 92078 is 44.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($120,268) is $3,007 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,770); a 2-bedroom is $3,380.
ZIP 92029, 4 miles away, rents for 17% less ($2,915/mo), about $7,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 92078. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
Who lives here
ZIP 92078 (San Marcos, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 49.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 92078 in San Marcos, CA has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 92078 in San Marcos, CA has shifted from $2,590 to $3,520, up 35.9% since 2021. Household income in the area moved from $97,908 to $120,268 across the same window, up 22.8% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. The renter share has eased from 29.8% to 28%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 92078 in San Marcos, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 92078
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 92078 covers San Marcos, CA. The median rent here is $3,520/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,770/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,380/mo.
At 35% of local median household income ($120,268/yr), ZIP 92078 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 92078 compare to other ZIPs in California?
How does ZIP 92078 compare to the rest of San Marcos?
At $3,520/mo, rent takes ~35% of ZIP 92078's median household income ($120,268/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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