ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 92121

Part of San Diego, CA

Pop. 3,974·San Diego County·127th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,835/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+1.6%

vs US Median

+$1,903

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 92121 · $3,835

More expensive than 97% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,680

1 BR

$2,880

2 BR

$3,520

3 BR

$4,690

4 BR+

$5,680

Research median

$3,520/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

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($135,938) is $3,398 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,880); a 2-bedroom is $3,520.

Rank in San Diego

30th cheapest of 33 ZIP codes in San Diego.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 92122, 3 miles away, rents for 14% less ($3,285/mo), about $6,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 92121. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$46,020/yr

At $3,835/mo median

Location

CitySan Diego

StateCA

CountySan Diego County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (0.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +1.6% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 92121 (San Diego, CA) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 74.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

3,974

Median income

$135,938

Median age

32.7

Renters

50.4%

Age distribution

12.4%

40.7%

21.9%

13.9%

Under 1812.4%

18–3440.7%

35–5421.9%

55–6413.9%

65+11.1%

Gender

54.8%

45.2%

Male54.8%

Female45.2%

Race & ethnicity

50.2%

13.5%

26.3%

White50.2%

Black2.1%

Hispanic13.5%

Asian26.3%

Other7.9%

Education (25+)

16.7%

74.4%

No HS diploma0.7%

HS diploma8.2%

Some college16.7%

Bachelor's+74.4%

Housing tenure

49.6%

50.4%

Owner49.6%

Renter50.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 92121 in San Diego, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$117,200 → $135,938

up 16.0%

Population

4,213 → 3,974

down 5.7%

Renter share

46% → 50.4%

+4.4 pts

Bachelor's+

78.6% → 74.4%

-4.2 pts

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 92121 in San Diego, CA now reports about $135,938, up from $117,200 in 2021. The population has contracted by 5.7% since 2021, moving from about 4,213 residents to roughly 3,974. Renters now make up 50.4% of households, compared with 46% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 74.4% of adults here, versus 78.6% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 92121

About renting in ZIP 92121

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 92121 covers San Diego, CA. The median rent here is $3,835/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,880/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,520/mo.

At 34% of local median household income ($135,938/yr), ZIP 92121 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 92121?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $153,000/year (about $74/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,835/mo in ZIP 92121. The local median household income is $135,938/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.