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ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 92081

Part of Vista, CA
Pop. 29,002·San Diego County·527th most expensive ZIP in California
Median rent (all units)
$2,672/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.9%
Month-over-Month
+0.7%
vs US Median
+$707
Rising (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
ZIP 92081 · $2,672
More expensive than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,965/mo
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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,580
1 BR
$2,770
2 BR
$3,380
3 BR
$4,500
4 BR+
$5,460
Research median
$3,380/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: July 20, 2026

Annual cost
$32,064/yr
At $2,672/mo median
Location
CityVista
StateCA
CountySan Diego County
Rent Market Meter
Strong Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are up 4.9% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.9% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.
Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 92081 (Vista, CA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 42.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
29,002
Median income
$105,379
Median age
38.5
Renters
45.5%
Age distribution
23%
20.6%
29.9%
16.6%
Under 1823%
18–3420.6%
35–5429.9%
55–6410%
65+16.6%
Gender
51.9%
48.1%
Male51.9%
Female48.1%
Race & ethnicity
57.1%
28.8%
White57.1%
Black4.2%
Hispanic28.8%
Asian8.6%
Other1.3%
Education (25+)
17.4%
32.6%
42.3%
No HS diploma7.7%
HS diploma17.4%
Some college32.6%
Bachelor's+42.3%
Housing tenure
54.5%
45.5%
Owner54.5%
Renter45.5%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 92081 in Vista, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,848 → $2,672
up 44.6%
Income
$90,621 → $105,379
up 16.3%
Population
29,944 → 29,002
down 3.1%
Renter share
48.9% → 45.5%
-3.4 pts
Bachelor's+
36.3% → 42.3%
+6.0 pts
Median age
37.2 → 38.5
+1.3 yrs

Rent in ZIP 92081 in Vista, CA has climbed 44.6% since 2021, going from about $1,848 per month to roughly $2,672 today. Median household income grew from $90,621 to $105,379 between 2021 and 2024, a 16.3% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 28.3 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 29,944 to 29,002 between 2021 and 2024, a 3.1% change. About 45.5% of households rent today, against 48.9% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 36.3% to 42.3%. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 92081 in Vista, CA reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 92081

Last updated: July 20, 2026

ZIP code 92081 covers Vista, CA. The median rent here is $2,672/mo as of July 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,770/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,380/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($105,379/yr), ZIP 92081 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much is rent in ZIP code 92081?

As of July 20, 2026, the median monthly rent in ZIP 92081 (Vista, CA) is $2,672. This is based on aggregated data from public sources and community submissions.

How does ZIP 92081 rent compare to the US average?

ZIP 92081's median rent of $2,672/mo is $707 (36%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo.

How does ZIP 92081 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 92081 falls in the middle range for California, ranking #527 out of 907 ZIPs at $2,672/mo.

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 92081?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $107,000/year (~$51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,672/mo in ZIP 92081. The local median household income is $105,379/yr, meaning the typical household falls short of that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 92081?

Rent in ZIP 92081 has increased 4.9% over the past year as of July 20, 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Is ZIP 92081 an affordable place to rent?

ZIP 92081 is considered moderate for renters. At $2,672/mo, rent takes approximately 30% of the local median household income ($105,379/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. ZIP 92081 slightly exceeds that threshold, so budgeting carefully matters here.

What percentage of ZIP 92081 residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 45.5% of ZIP 92081 households are renters, while 54.5% are owner-occupied. ZIP 92081 leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does ZIP 92081 compare to the rest of Vista?

ZIP 92081 is more affordable than Vista overall. At $2,672/mo, it's $10 below the Vista citywide median of $2,682/mo.

When was rent data for ZIP 92081 last updated?

Rent data for ZIP 92081 reflects July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.
Income Affordability
30%
MODERATE

At $2,672/mo, rent takes ~30% of ZIP 92081's median household income ($105,379/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

ZIP 92081 30%Benchmark 30%
State income tax1–13.3%
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Schools nearby

Public schools near ZIP 92081 (Vista, CA)

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