ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 94544

Part of Hayward, CA

Pop. 76,947·Alameda County·548th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$2,637/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.0%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

+$705

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 94544 · $2,637

More expensive than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,100

1 BR

$2,330

2 BR

$2,850

3 BR

$3,640

4 BR+

$4,320

Research median

$2,850/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

Cheapest month to sign

March. Asking rents in ZIP 94544 usually run 0.7% below trend in March and 0.6% above it in July, about $34 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 94544 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2019.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 94544 changed +3.0% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 94544 is 16.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($107,785) is $2,695 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,330); a 2-bedroom is $2,850.

Rank in Hayward

2nd cheapest of 4 ZIP codes in Hayward.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94544. 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.

Annual cost

$31,644/yr

At $2,637/mo median

Location

CityHayward

StateCA

CountyAlameda County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.0% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.0% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 94544 (Hayward, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 29.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

76,947

Median income

$107,785

Median age

Renters

43.8%

Age distribution

20.2%

25.3%

28.1%

12.8%

13.5%

Under 1820.2%

18–3425.3%

35–5428.1%

55–6412.8%

65+13.5%

Gender

49.8%

50.2%

Male49.8%

Female50.2%

Race & ethnicity

15.2%

44.8%

29.1%

White15.2%

Black6.6%

Hispanic44.8%

Asian29.1%

Other4.3%

Education (25+)

20.9%

26.1%

23.6%

29.4%

No HS diploma20.9%

HS diploma26.1%

Some college23.6%

Bachelor's+29.4%

Housing tenure

56.2%

43.8%

Owner56.2%

Renter43.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 94544 in Hayward, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,225 → $2,637

up 18.5%

Income

$95,744 → $107,785

up 12.6%

Population

77,692 → 76,947

down 1.0%

Renter share

48.5% → 43.8%

-4.7 pts

Bachelor's+

24.8% → 29.4%

+4.6 pts

Median age

35.8 → 38

+2.2 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 94544 in Hayward, CA paid around $2,225 a month. That figure now sits near $2,637, up 18.5% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $107,785 today, compared with $95,744 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 94544 in Hayward, CA losing about 745 residents over the five-year window, down 1.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 48.5% to 43.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 24.8% to 29.4% across the same window. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 94544

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 94544 covers Hayward, CA. The median rent here is $2,637/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,330/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,850/mo.

At 29% of local median household income ($107,785/yr), ZIP 94544 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.0% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 94544?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $105,000/year (about $50/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,637/mo in ZIP 94544. The local median household income is $107,785/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 94544?

Rent in ZIP 94544 has risen 3.0% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2019.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 94544?

Asking rents in ZIP 94544 are usually lowest in March, about 0.7% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 0.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $34 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 94544 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 94544 is in the middle among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #548 of 898 at $2,637/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 94544 changed +3.0%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.