ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 94551

Part of Livermore, CA

Pop. 37,885·Alameda County·293rd most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$3,146/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.8%

vs US Median

+$1,214

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 94551 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 94551 · $3,146

More expensive than 92% 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

$2,350

1 BR

$2,620

2 BR

$3,200

3 BR

$4,090

4 BR+

$4,850

Research median

$3,200/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

November. Asking rents in ZIP 94551 usually run 0.4% below trend in November and 0.7% above it in June, about $35 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 94551 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 94551 changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 94551 rose 15.1% while median household income rose 22.2% ($118,967 to $145,392). Income kept ahead of rent.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 94551 is 21.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 7 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($145,392) is $3,635 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($3,200); a 3-bedroom is $4,090.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94551. 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

$37,752/yr

At $3,146/mo median

Location

CityLivermore

StateCA

CountyAlameda County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.8% YoY, +0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 94551 (Livermore, CA) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 48.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

37,885

Median income

$145,392

Median age

39.7

Renters

29.4%

Age distribution

22.3%

20.4%

30.1%

15.2%

12.1%

Under 1822.3%

18–3420.4%

35–5430.1%

55–6415.2%

65+12.1%

Gender

50.2%

49.8%

Male50.2%

Female49.8%

Race & ethnicity

50.8%

28.1%

18.2%

White50.8%

Black1.6%

Hispanic28.1%

Asian18.2%

Other1.3%

Education (25+)

14.1%

29.9%

48.1%

No HS diploma7.9%

HS diploma14.1%

Some college29.9%

Bachelor's+48.1%

Housing tenure

70.6%

29.4%

Owner70.6%

Renter29.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 94551 in Livermore, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,696 → $3,146

up 16.7%

Income

$116,269 → $145,392

up 25.0%

Population

40,552 → 37,885

down 6.6%

Renter share

31.4% → 29.4%

-2.0 pts

Bachelor's+

40.6% → 48.1%

+7.5 pts

Median age

38.7 → 39.7

+1.0 yrs

Rent in ZIP 94551 in Livermore, CA has climbed 16.7% since 2021, going from about $2,696 per month to roughly $3,146 today. Census figures show median household income at $145,392 today, compared with $116,269 five years earlier. Income growth outran rent by about 8.3 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 40,552 to 37,885 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.6% change. About 29.4% of households rent today, against 31.4% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 40.6% to 48.1%. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 94551

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 94551

About renting in ZIP 94551

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 94551 covers Livermore, CA. The median rent here is $3,146/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,620/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,200/mo.

At 26% of local median household income ($145,392/yr), ZIP 94551 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 94551?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $126,000/year (about $61/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $3,146/mo in ZIP 94551. The local median household income is $145,392/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 94551?

Rent in ZIP 94551 has risen 3.8% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 94551?

Asking rents in ZIP 94551 are usually lowest in November, about 0.4% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 0.7% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $35 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 94551?

No. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 94551 rose 15.1% while median household income rose 22.2%, from $118,967 to $145,392. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 94551 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 94551 is one of the pricier among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #293 of 898 at $3,146/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 94551 changed +3.8%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.