ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 94601

Part of Oakland, CA

Pop. 53,259·Alameda County·745th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$2,216/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.9%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$284

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 94601 · $2,216

More expensive than 71% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,750

1 BR

$1,990

2 BR

$2,420

3 BR

$3,090

4 BR+

$3,670

Research median

$2,420/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 94601 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2019.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 94601 changed +5.9% 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 94601 is 12.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($72,359) is $1,809 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($1,750); a 1-bedroom is $1,990.

Rank in Oakland

1st cheapest of 12 ZIP codes in Oakland.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94601. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$26,592/yr

At $2,216/mo median

Location

CityOakland

StateCA

CountyAlameda County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.9% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 94601 (Oakland, CA) is majority renter-occupied, 26.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

53,259

Median income

$72,359

Median age

36.1

Renters

63.6%

Age distribution

22.5%

25.5%

28.4%

12.5%

Under 1822.5%

18–3425.5%

35–5428.4%

55–6411.2%

65+12.5%

Gender

52.3%

47.7%

Male52.3%

Female47.7%

Race & ethnicity

14.8%

13.5%

52.3%

17.3%

White14.8%

Black13.5%

Hispanic52.3%

Asian17.3%

Other2%

Education (25+)

28.6%

22.3%

23%

26.1%

No HS diploma28.6%

HS diploma22.3%

Some college23%

Bachelor's+26.1%

Housing tenure

36.4%

63.6%

Owner36.4%

Renter63.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 94601 in Oakland, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,994 → $2,216

up 11.1%

Income

$54,972 → $72,359

up 31.6%

Population

52,950 → 53,259

up 0.6%

Renter share

67.3% → 63.6%

-3.7 pts

Bachelor's+

21.6% → 26.1%

+4.5 pts

Median age

34.3 → 36.1

+1.8 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 94601 in Oakland, CA has climbed by $222 per month, settling near $2,216 after starting the period at $1,994. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $54,972 in 2021 to $72,359 more recently. Income growth outran rent by about 20.5 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. About 63.6% of households rent today, against 67.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 21.6% to 26.1%. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 94601 in Oakland, CA market of 2021.

Community

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About renting in ZIP 94601

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 94601 covers Oakland, CA. The median rent here is $2,216/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,990/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,420/mo.

At 37% of local median household income ($72,359/yr), ZIP 94601 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 94601?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $89,000/year (about $43/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,216/mo in ZIP 94601. The local median household income is $72,359/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 94601?

Rent in ZIP 94601 has risen 5.9% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in March 2019.

How does ZIP 94601 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 94601 is one of the more affordable among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #745 of 898 at $2,216/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 94601 changed +5.9%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.