Counties with the most renters in California

All cities are made up of a mix of homeowners and renters, with 58.6% of Americans owning their own homes and 30.4% rending in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to the American Census Bureau. In cities, there tend to be higher rates of renters due to high property values and influxes of young people who flock to urban areas after college to enter the workforce.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with most renters in California using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by percent of housing units occupied by renters as of 2019 5-year estimates. Keep reading to see if your county made the list.

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#30. Solano County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 38.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,592 (+23.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #14 highest rent among counties in California, #38 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 43.4%
--- #34 most common among counties in California, #466 among all counties nationwide

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#29. Sonoma County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 38.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,621 (+22.8% change in rent since 2015)
--- #13 highest rent among counties in California, #34 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.7%
--- #26 most common among counties in California, #353 among all counties nationwide

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#28. Colusa County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 39.0%
- 2019 median gross rent: $889 (+2.3% change in rent since 2015)
--- #50 highest rent among counties in California, #651 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.3%
--- #50 most common among counties in California, #1,245 among all counties nationwide

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#27. Yuba County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 39.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,002 (+13.2% change in rent since 2015)
--- #38 highest rent among counties in California, #396 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 41.5%
--- #42 most common among counties in California, #656 among all counties nationwide

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#26. San Mateo County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 39.8%
- 2019 median gross rent: $2,316 (+34.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #1 highest rent among counties in California, #1 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 40.3%
--- #46 most common among counties in California, #814 among all counties nationwide

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#25. Santa Cruz County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 39.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,717 (+19.2% change in rent since 2015)
--- #9 highest rent among counties in California, #23 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 50.4%
--- #4 most common among counties in California, #112 among all counties nationwide

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#24. Mendocino County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 40.1%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,146 (+19.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #30 highest rent among counties in California, #222 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 47.4%
--- #12 most common among counties in California, #201 among all counties nationwide

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#23. San Bernardino County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 40.2%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,283 (+15.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #23 highest rent among counties in California, #127 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 48.1%
--- #9 most common among counties in California, #168 among all counties nationwide

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#22. Glenn County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 40.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $835 (+15.2% change in rent since 2015)
--- #54 highest rent among counties in California, #835 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 40.7%
--- #44 most common among counties in California, #751 among all counties nationwide

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#21. Butte County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 41.0%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,060 (+17.1% change in rent since 2015)
--- #32 highest rent among counties in California, #318 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 49.6%
--- #5 most common among counties in California, #128 among all counties nationwide

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#20. Imperial County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 41.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $830 (+8.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #55 highest rent among counties in California, #861 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.8%
--- #24 most common among counties in California, #344 among all counties nationwide

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#19. Kern County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 41.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $978 (+10.1% change in rent since 2015)
--- #42 highest rent among counties in California, #449 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 45.8%
--- #19 most common among counties in California, #286 among all counties nationwide

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#18. Stanislaus County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 42.2%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,155 (+16.8% change in rent since 2015)
--- #29 highest rent among counties in California, #210 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.8%
--- #24 most common among counties in California, #344 among all counties nationwide

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#17. Sutter County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 42.3%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,033 (+14.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #34 highest rent among counties in California, #355 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 40.4%
--- #45 most common among counties in California, #794 among all counties nationwide

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#16. Orange County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 42.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,854 (+19.8% change in rent since 2015)
--- #5 highest rent among counties in California, #9 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 46.3%
--- #18 most common among counties in California, #261 among all counties nationwide

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#15. Tulare County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 42.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $942 (+13.5% change in rent since 2015)
--- #46 highest rent among counties in California, #515 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 46.5%
--- #16 most common among counties in California, #252 among all counties nationwide

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#14. Humboldt County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 43.2%
- 2019 median gross rent: $981 (+10.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #41 highest rent among counties in California, #444 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 51.4%
--- #1 most common among counties in California, #81 among all counties nationwide

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#13. San Joaquin County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 43.4%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,208 (+18.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #27 highest rent among counties in California, #166 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.7%
--- #26 most common among counties in California, #353 among all counties nationwide

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#12. Sacramento County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 43.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,252 (+20.8% change in rent since 2015)
--- #26 highest rent among counties in California, #144 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 45.2%
--- #21 most common among counties in California, #323 among all counties nationwide

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#11. Santa Clara County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 43.6%
- 2019 median gross rent: $2,268 (+33.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #2 highest rent among counties in California, #2 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 37.1%
--- #51 most common among counties in California, #1,285 among all counties nationwide

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#10. Alameda County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 46.5%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,797 (+31.5% change in rent since 2015)
--- #7 highest rent among counties in California, #12 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 40.3%
--- #46 most common among counties in California, #814 among all counties nationwide

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#9. Fresno County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 46.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $998 (+12.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #39 highest rent among counties in California, #405 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 47.5%
--- #11 most common among counties in California, #191 among all counties nationwide

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#8. San Diego County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 46.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,658 (+23.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #11 highest rent among counties in California, #30 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 46.5%
--- #16 most common among counties in California, #252 among all counties nationwide

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#7. Kings County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 47.7%
- 2019 median gross rent: $990 (+12.4% change in rent since 2015)
--- #40 highest rent among counties in California, #423 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 38.0%
--- #48 most common among counties in California, #1,118 among all counties nationwide

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#6. Merced County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 47.8%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,021 (+17.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #35 highest rent among counties in California, #371 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 41.8%
--- #41 most common among counties in California, #633 among all counties nationwide

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#5. Santa Barbara County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 47.9%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,643 (+20.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #12 highest rent among counties in California, #31 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 46.8%
--- #15 most common among counties in California, #239 among all counties nationwide

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#4. Yolo County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 48.4%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,324 (+20.1% change in rent since 2015)
--- #22 highest rent among counties in California, #104 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 45.0%
--- #22 most common among counties in California, #334 among all counties nationwide

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#3. Monterey County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 49.0%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,495 (+21.0% change in rent since 2015)
--- #17 highest rent among counties in California, #56 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 44.5%
--- #28 most common among counties in California, #365 among all counties nationwide

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#2. Los Angeles County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 54.2%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,460 (+18.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #19 highest rent among counties in California, #64 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 48.1%
--- #9 most common among counties in California, #168 among all counties nationwide

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#1. San Francisco County

- Housing units occupied by renters: 62.4%
- 2019 median gross rent: $1,895 (+21.6% change in rent since 2015)
--- #4 highest rent among counties in California, #5 among all counties nationwide
- Renters paying over 35% of household income: 28.9%
--- #55 most common among counties in California, #2,422 among all counties nationwide

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