ZIP 95126
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
November. Asking rents in ZIP 95126 usually run 1.2% below trend in November and 1.2% above it in August, about $81 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 95126 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in April 2017.
Rent in ZIP 95126 changed +8.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 819 California ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 95126 rose 6.7% while median household income rose 30.1% ($99,160 to $128,983). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in ZIP 95126 is 19.9% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 12 months in a row, and rose in 12 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($128,983) is $3,225 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($2,910); a 2-bedroom is $3,400.
6th cheapest of 25 ZIP codes in San Jose.
ZIP 95117, 3 miles away, rents for 11% less ($3,012/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 95126. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 95126 (San Jose, CA) is majority renter-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 54.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 95126 in San Jose, CA has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 95126 in San Jose, CA has increased from $2,596 to $3,372, a 29.9% change over five years. Household income in the area moved from $116,063 to $128,983 across the same window, up 11.1% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 5.1% since 2021, moving from about 36,457 residents to roughly 38,327. Renters now make up 67.1% of households, compared with 65% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in ZIP 95126 in San Jose, CA look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 95126
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 95126 covers San Jose, CA. The median rent here is $3,372/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,910/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,400/mo.
At 31% of local median household income ($128,983/yr), ZIP 95126 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 8.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 95126 compare to the rest of San Jose?
At $3,372/mo, rent takes ~31% of ZIP 95126's median household income ($128,983/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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