ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 94603

Part of Oakland, CA

Pop. 35,742·Alameda County·546th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$2,640/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.4%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

+$708

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 94603 · $2,640

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

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Compare your rent to the local median.

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 94603 is 0.3% below its high of $2,648 in July 2026, at $2,640 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 94603 changed +1.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 2 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($76,723) is $1,918 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

5th cheapest of 12 ZIP codes in Oakland.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 94601, 3 miles away, rents for 16% less ($2,216/mo), about $5,100 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 94603. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$31,680/yr

At $2,640/mo median

Location

CityOakland

StateCA

CountyAlameda County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+1.4% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 94603 (Oakland, CA) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, 14.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

35,742

Median income

$76,723

Median age

34.8

Renters

52.1%

Age distribution

25.6%

24.9%

28.2%

Under 1825.6%

18–3424.9%

35–5428.2%

55–6411.8%

65+9.6%

Gender

51.2%

48.8%

Male51.2%

Female48.8%

Race & ethnicity

22.5%

64.4%

White5.4%

Black22.5%

Hispanic64.4%

Asian5.2%

Other2.5%

Education (25+)

31.6%

30.5%

23.3%

14.7%

No HS diploma31.6%

HS diploma30.5%

Some college23.3%

Bachelor's+14.7%

Housing tenure

47.9%

52.1%

Owner47.9%

Renter52.1%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 94603 in Oakland, CA has changed in 5 years

Income

$60,068 → $76,723

up 27.7%

Population

35,996 → 35,742

down 0.7%

Renter share

56.1% → 52.1%

-4.0 pts

Bachelor's+

17.2% → 14.7%

-2.5 pts

Median age

32.6 → 34.8

+2.2 yrs

Median household income grew from $60,068 to $76,723 between 2021 and 2024, a 27.7% shift. About 52.1% of households rent today, against 56.1% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 17.2% to 14.7%.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 94603

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 94603

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 94603 covers Oakland, CA. The median rent here is $2,640/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 41% of local median household income ($76,723/yr), ZIP 94603 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 94603?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $106,000/year (about $51/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,640/mo in ZIP 94603. The local median household income is $76,723/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 94603?

Rent in ZIP 94603 has risen 1.4% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $2,648 in July 2026.

How does ZIP 94603 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 94603 is in the middle among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #546 of 898 at $2,640/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 94603 changed +1.4%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.