San Diego, California Rental Market Trends

Disclaimer:

Any shifts in rent prices brought forth by the COVID-19 pandemic are not yet reflected in the statistics on this page. Please bear this in mind when referencing the data below, as it may not accurately describe the current context of the San Diego, California rental market.

San Diego, California

Average Apartment Rent

$3,001

Y-o-Y Change in Average
Apartment Rent

-0.9%

As of November 2024

Compared to a year ago, San Diego, California apartments have recorded a -0.9% rent decrease.

San Diego, California Average apartment rent trend

Median Rent Nov 2021 Mar 2022 Jul 2022 Nov 2022 Mar 2023 Jul 2023 Nov 2023 Mar 2024 Jul 2024 Nov 2024
San Diego $2,610 $2,756 $2,916 $2,989 $2,917 $3,016 $2,997 $2,934 $2,995 $3,001
National $1,596 $1,635 $1,708 $1,726 $1,714 $1,739 $1,733 $1,727 $1,752 $1,748
San Diego
National
Nov 2021
$2,610
$1,596
Mar 2022
$2,756
$1,635
Jul 2022
$2,916
$1,708
Nov 2022
$2,989
$1,726
Mar 2023
$2,917
$1,714
Jul 2023
$3,016
$1,739
Nov 2023
$2,997
$1,733
Mar 2024
$2,934
$1,727
Jul 2024
$2,995
$1,752
Nov 2024
$3,001
$1,748

San Diego, California Average Apartment Rent

San Diego, California Apartment rent ranges

Under $500
$500 - $700
$700 - $1000
$1,000 - $1,500
$1,500 - $2,000
Over $2,000

At 92.05%, apartments priced Over $2,000 represent the bulk of San Diego, California rentals, while condos priced Under $500 hold the lowest share of the market – 0.02%.

San Diego, California Housing tenure**

Renter occupied housing units 270,152
Owner occupied housing units 245,323

Renters take up 52% of San Diego, California real estate, occupying a total of 270,152 units, while homeowners live in 245,323 properties.

Median number of rooms of renter-occupied housing units**

3.7

Renter median household income**

$75,291

Average household size of renter-occupied housing units**

2.45

Rental vacancy rate**

4.3%

San Diego, California Renter-occupied housing units by no. of bedrooms**

No bedrooms 25,222
1 bed 79,833
2 beds 106,253
3 beds 42,472
4 beds 13,814
5 or more beds 2,558

There are 106,253 rentals in San Diego, California with 2 beds making up the highest share of the market, at 39%. Units with 5 or more beds, on the other hand, hold the lowest percentage (1%), amounting to 2,558 units. Overall, the median number of rooms in San Diego, California homes for rent is 3.7.

San Diego, California Renter-occupied units by age of householder**

15 - 24 years 20,912
25 - 34 years 88,545
35 - 44 years 58,803
45 - 54 years 41,088
55 - 59 years 15,565
60 - 64 years 13,589
65 - 74 years 19,039
75 - 84 years 8,616
85 years and over 3,995

Most condos for rent in San Diego, California are occupied by residents in the 25 - 34 years age group (33%), followed by those in the 35 - 44 years age group (22%). At the same time, people in the 85 years and over age group make up the lowest share of the local rental market – 1%.

San Diego, California Renter-occupied housing units by family type**

Family households 132,380
Non-Family Households 137,772

San Diego, California Renter-occupied housing units by the presence of own children**

With related children of the householder under 18 70,221
No related children of the householder under 18 199,931

A total of 132,380 apartments for rent in San Diego, California, or 49% of all rentals are family households. Additionally, 26% of rental homes include children under the age of 18 – that’s 70,221 units. All in all, the median size of a renter-occupied household in San Diego, California is 2.45.

San Diego, California Renter-occupied housing units by educational attainment**

Less than high school graduate 25,656
High school graduate (including equivalency) 39,215
Some college or associate's degree 79,389
Bachelor's degree or higher 125,892

In terms of education, renters holding bachelor degrees or higher make up 47% of the rental market. In contrast, residents with less than a high school degree reside in 9% of the homes for rent in San Diego, California.

San Diego, California Renter-occupied units by year structure built**

Built 2010 - 2019 23,301
Built 2000 - 2009 27,326
Built 1990 - 1999 33,620
Built 1980 - 1989 47,292
Built 1970 - 1979 56,494
Built 1960 - 1969 31,265
Built 1950 - 1959 24,199
Built 1940 - 1949 9,215
Built 1939 or earlier 16,789

The highest share of San Diego, California apartment rentals, namely 21% or 56,494 units, were Built 1970 - 1979, followed by those Built 1980 - 1989 (18%, 47,292 units), and the ones Built 1990 - 1999 (12%, 33,620 units).

San Diego, California Renter-occupied units by year householder moved in**

Moved in 2021 or later 26,290
Moved in 2018 to 2020 96,802
Moved in 2010 to 2017 112,806
Moved in 2000 to 2009 24,021
Moved in 1990 to 1999 7,175
Moved in 1989 or earlier 3,058

Median year renter moved into unit 2017

Most San Diego, California renters (42%) moved in 2010 to 2017, while only 1% of them moved in 1989 or earlier. Overall, the median year renters have occupied their San Diego, California condos for rent is 2017.

San Diego, California Renter-occupied housing units by vehicles available**

No vehicle available 26,033
1 vehicle available 114,415
2 vehicles available 97,360
3 vehicles available 22,425
4 vehicles available 6,827
5 or more vehicles available 3,092

When it comes to transportation options, 42% of San Diego, California renters have 1 vehicle available per household, 36% of them have 2 vehicles available, and 10% have No vehicle available.

San Diego, California Means of transportation to work of householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Car, truck, or van - drove alone 247,576
Car, truck, or van - carpooled 32,116
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) 15,440
Walked 12,327
Taxicab, motorcycle, bicycle, or other means 9,757
Worked at home 55,291

San Diego, California Geographical mobility in the past year for householders living in renter-occupied housing units**

Same house as 1 year ago 509,207
Moved within same county 87,579
Moved from different county within same state 18,238
Moved from different state 28,781
Moved from abroad 9,945

San Diego, California Average apartment rent by zip codes


The rental statistics on this page were compiled using data provided by our sister company, Yardi Matrix, an apartment market intelligence solution which offers comprehensive information on all San Diego, California apartment buildings 50 units or larger. Yardi Matrix covers ~80% of the U.S. metro area population, including over 80,000 properties and 15.2 million apartments across 124 U.S. markets.

*Average single-family rent calculated from point2homes.com data.

**Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2022 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

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