ZIP Code · CA

ZIP 95116

Part of San Jose, CA

Pop. 48,042·Santa Clara County·374th most expensive ZIP in California

Median rent (all units)

$2,929/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.7%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$997

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 95116 · $2,929

More expensive than 89% 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

$2,120

1 BR

$2,410

2 BR

$2,820

3 BR

$3,730

4 BR+

$4,060

Research median

$2,820/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

January. Asking rents in ZIP 95116 usually run 1.6% below trend in January and 1% above it in July, about $76 a month apart at today's median. Based on 6 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 95116 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2020.

Past year vs. the rest of California

Rent in ZIP 95116 changed +5.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 10 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($85,818) is $2,145 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a studio ($2,120); a 1-bedroom is $2,410.

Rank in San Jose

1st cheapest of 25 ZIP codes in San Jose.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 95116. 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

$35,148/yr

At $2,929/mo median

Location

CitySan Jose

StateCA

CountySanta Clara County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (5.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.7% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 95116 (San Jose, CA) is majority renter-occupied, 21.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

48,042

Median income

$85,818

Median age

37.5

Renters

57.6%

Age distribution

21.9%

24.7%

28.1%

14.9%

Under 1821.9%

18–3424.7%

35–5428.1%

55–6410.4%

65+14.9%

Gender

50.7%

49.3%

Male50.7%

Female49.3%

Race & ethnicity

58.6%

29.6%

White11.8%

Black1.5%

Hispanic58.6%

Asian29.6%

Education (25+)

30.7%

26.2%

21.9%

21.2%

No HS diploma30.7%

HS diploma26.2%

Some college21.9%

Bachelor's+21.2%

Housing tenure

42.4%

57.6%

Owner42.4%

Renter57.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 95116 in San Jose, CA has changed in 5 years

Rent

$2,179 → $2,929

up 34.4%

Income

$76,339 → $85,818

up 12.4%

Population

52,245 → 48,042

down 8.0%

Renter share

60.4% → 57.6%

-2.8 pts

Bachelor's+

19.2% → 21.2%

+2.0 pts

Median age

34.2 → 37.5

+3.3 yrs

The median rent in ZIP 95116 in San Jose, CA stood at $2,179 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,929, reflecting a 34.4% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $76,339 to $85,818 across the same window, up 12.4% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 8.0% since 2021, moving from about 52,245 residents to roughly 48,042. Renters now make up 57.6% of households, compared with 60.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 21.2% of adults here, versus 19.2% in 2021. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 95116 in San Jose, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 95116

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 95116 covers San Jose, CA. The median rent here is $2,929/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,410/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,820/mo.

At 41% of local median household income ($85,818/yr), ZIP 95116 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 95116?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $117,000/year (about $56/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,929/mo in ZIP 95116. The local median household income is $85,818/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 95116?

Rent in ZIP 95116 has risen 5.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2020.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 95116?

Asking rents in ZIP 95116 are usually lowest in January, about 1.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in July, about 1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $76 a month. This pattern comes from 6 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 95116 compare to other ZIPs in California?

ZIP 95116 is in the middle among California ZIP codes for rent, ranking #374 of 898 at $2,929/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 95116 changed +5.7%, against a typical +3.2% across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks.