ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 93455

Part of Santa Maria, CA

Pop. 44,611·Santa Barbara County·269th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,221/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.1%

Month-over-Month

-0.4%

vs US Median

+$1,289

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 93455 · $3,221

More expensive than 93% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,680

1 BR

$3,000

2 BR

$3,410

3 BR

$4,450

4 BR+

$5,070

Research median

$3,410/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 93455 is 0.4% below its high of $3,234 in August 2026, at $3,221 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 93455 changed +4.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($110,661) is $2,767 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($2,680); a 1-bedroom is $3,000.

Rank in Santa Maria

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Santa Maria.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 93458, 9 miles away, rents for 32% less ($2,186/mo), about $12,400 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 93455. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$38,652/yr

At $3,221/mo median

Location

CitySanta Maria

StateCA

CountySanta Barbara County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, -0.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 93455 (Santa Maria, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 32.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

44,611

Median income

$110,661

Median age

38.6

Renters

23.7%

Age distribution

24.8%

20.5%

23.8%

19.1%

Under 1824.8%

18–3420.5%

35–5423.8%

55–6411.8%

65+19.1%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

51.9%

44.2%

White51.9%

Black1.9%

Hispanic44.2%

Asian5%

Education (25+)

12.6%

18.6%

36.7%

32.1%

No HS diploma12.6%

HS diploma18.6%

Some college36.7%

Bachelor's+32.1%

Housing tenure

76.3%

23.7%

Owner76.3%

Renter23.7%

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

2023 vs 2026

How ZIP 93455 in Santa Maria, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,877 → $3,221

up 12.0%

Income

$99,418 → $110,661

up 11.3%

Population

44,091 → 44,611

up 1.2%

Renter share

24% → 23.7%

-0.3 pts

Bachelor's+

29.8% → 32.1%

+2.3 pts

Rent in ZIP 93455 in Santa Maria, CA has increased 12.0% since 2023, going from about $2,877 per month to roughly $3,221 today. Census figures show median household income at $110,661 today, compared with $99,418 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 44,091 to 44,611 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.2% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 29.8% to 32.1%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2023.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 93455

About renting in ZIP 93455

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 93455 covers Santa Maria, CA. The median rent here is $3,221/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,000/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,410/mo.

At 35% of local median household income ($110,661/yr), ZIP 93455 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 93455?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $129,000/year (about $62/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,221/mo in ZIP 93455. The local median household income is $110,661/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 93455?

Rent in ZIP 93455 has risen 4.1% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.4% below its high of $3,234 in August 2026.

How does ZIP 93455 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 93455 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #269 of 898 at $3,221/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 93455 changed +4.1%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.