25 Small Towns in California With the Cheapest Rent

Ranked by median rent among 358 towns of 500–10,000 people in California. #1 is Needles, CA (median rent $745/mo).

1. 25East Porterville, California

   Median rent $1,044/mo

   East Porterville is a community of 5,549 people in Tulare County, California. The median home is worth $257,700 and the median household earns $41,061, so homes cost 6.3× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $1,044.

   5,549 people · Tulare County · median home $257,700 · income $41,061 · Jan low 40°F · 0 in snow

   Full East Porterville, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

2. 24Rio Dell, California

   Median rent $1,042/mo

   Rio Dell is a city of 3,379 people in Humboldt County, California. The median home is worth $301,700 and the median household earns $42,753, so homes cost 7.1× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $1,042.

   3,379 people · Humboldt County · median home $301,700 · income $42,753 · Jan low 43°F · 1 in snow

   Full Rio Dell, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

3. 23Planada, California

   Median rent $1,036/mo

   Planada is a community of 4,164 people in Merced County, California. The median home is worth $266,400 and the median household earns $42,727, so homes cost 6.2× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $1,036.

   4,164 people · Merced County · median home $266,400 · income $42,727 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

   Full Planada, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

4. 22Cottonwood, California

   Median rent $1,029/mo

   Cottonwood is a community of 3,971 people in Kern County, California. The median home is worth $321,600 and the median household earns $44,247, so homes cost 7.3× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $1,029.

   3,971 people · Kern County · median home $321,600 · income $44,247 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

   Full Cottonwood, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

5. 21Live Oak, California

   Median rent $1,014/mo

   Live Oak is a city of 9,106 people in Sutter County, California. The median home is worth $350,700 and the median household earns $73,571, so homes cost 4.8× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $1,014.

   9,106 people · Sutter County · median home $350,700 · income $73,571 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

   Full Live Oak, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

6. 20Borrego Springs, California

   Median rent $1,004/mo

   

   Borrego Springs is a community of 3,073 people in San Diego County, California. The median home is worth $402,700 and the median household earns $86,078, so homes cost 4.7× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $1,004.

   3,073 people · San Diego County · median home $402,700 · income $86,078 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

   Full Borrego Springs, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

7. 19Yreka, California

   Median rent $987/mo

   Yreka is a city of 7,807 people in Siskiyou County, California. The median home is worth $263,200 and the median household earns $43,982, so homes cost 6.0× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $987.

   7,807 people · Siskiyou County · median home $263,200 · income $43,982 · Jan low 27°F · 12 in snow

   Full Yreka, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

8. 18Thermal, California

   Median rent $986/mo

   

   Thermal is a community of 2,676 people in Riverside County, California. The median home is worth $187,000 and the median household earns —, so homes cost —× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $986.

   2,676 people · Riverside County · median home $187,000 · income — · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

   Full Thermal, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

9. 17Firebaugh, California

   Median rent $982/mo

   Firebaugh is a city of 8,096 people in Fresno County, California. The median home is worth $242,400 and the median household earns $47,734, so homes cost 5.1× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $982.

   8,096 people · Fresno County · median home $242,400 · income $47,734 · Jan low 39°F · 0 in snow

   Full Firebaugh, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

10. 16Woodlake, California

    Median rent $968/mo

    Woodlake is a city of 7,419 people in Tulare County, California. The median home is worth $300,200 and the median household earns $46,266, so homes cost 6.5× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $968.

    7,419 people · Tulare County · median home $300,200 · income $46,266 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full Woodlake, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

11. 15San Joaquin, California

    Median rent $967/mo

    San Joaquin is a city of 3,701 people in Fresno County, California. The median home is worth $266,300 and the median household earns $43,011, so homes cost 6.2× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $967.

    3,701 people · Fresno County · median home $266,300 · income $43,011 · Jan low 37°F

    Full San Joaquin, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

12. 14Earlimart, California

    Median rent $965/mo

    Earlimart is a community of 7,679 people in Tulare County, California. The median home is worth $264,200 and the median household earns $52,881, so homes cost 5.0× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $965.

    7,679 people · Tulare County · median home $264,200 · income $52,881 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full Earlimart, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

13. 13Corning, California

    Median rent $961/mo

    Corning is a city of 8,244 people in Tehama County, California. The median home is worth $313,100 and the median household earns $56,627, so homes cost 5.5× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $961.

    8,244 people · Tehama County · median home $313,100 · income $56,627 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full Corning, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

14. 12Jamestown, California

    Median rent $944/mo

    Jamestown is a community of 3,478 people in Tuolumne County, California. The median home is worth $374,600 and the median household earns $57,276, so homes cost 6.5× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $944.

    3,478 people · Tuolumne County · median home $374,600 · income $57,276 · Jan low 33°F · 0 in snow

    Full Jamestown, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

15. 11Calipatria, California

    Median rent $919/mo

    Calipatria is a city of 6,515 people in Imperial County, California. The median home is worth $197,200 and the median household earns $53,299, so homes cost 3.7× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $919.

    6,515 people · Imperial County · median home $197,200 · income $53,299 · Jan low 41°F · 0 in snow

    Full Calipatria, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

16. 10Mecca, California

    Median rent $916/mo

    Mecca is a community of 8,219 people in Riverside County, California. The median home is worth $224,300 and the median household earns $48,312, so homes cost 4.6× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $916.

    8,219 people · Riverside County · median home $224,300 · income $48,312 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full Mecca, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

17. 9Desert Edge, California

    Median rent $903/mo

    Desert Edge is a community of 4,180 people in Riverside County, California. The median home is worth $76,300 and the median household earns $37,429, so homes cost 2.0× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $903.

    4,180 people · Riverside County · median home $76,300 · income $37,429 · Jan low 48°F · 0 in snow

    Full Desert Edge, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

18. 8Hoopa, California

    Median rent $887/mo

    Hoopa is a community of 3,167 people in Humboldt County, California. The median home is worth $248,500 and the median household earns $64,643, so homes cost 3.8× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $887.

    3,167 people · Humboldt County · median home $248,500 · income $64,643 · Jan low 37°F · 3 in snow

    Full Hoopa, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

19. 7Strathmore, California

    Median rent $871/mo

    Strathmore is a community of 2,830 people in Tulare County, California. The median home is worth $213,200 and the median household earns $43,387, so homes cost 4.9× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $871.

    2,830 people · Tulare County · median home $213,200 · income $43,387 · Jan low 37°F · 0 in snow

    Full Strathmore, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

20. 6Ivanhoe, California

    Median rent $870/mo

    Ivanhoe is a community of 4,468 people in Tulare County, California. The median home is worth $228,100 and the median household earns $52,179, so homes cost 4.4× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $870.

    4,468 people · Tulare County · median home $228,100 · income $52,179 · Jan low 38°F · 0 in snow

    Full Ivanhoe, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

21. 5Oasis, California

    Median rent $862/mo

    Oasis is a community of 4,468 people in Riverside County, California. The median home is worth $34,800 and the median household earns $38,769, so homes cost 0.9× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $862.

    4,468 people · Riverside County · median home $34,800 · income $38,769 · Jan low 44°F · 0 in snow

    Full Oasis, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

22. 4Holtville, California

    Median rent $861/mo

    

    Holtville is a city of 5,605 people in Imperial County, California. The median home is worth $310,100 and the median household earns $65,039, so homes cost 4.8× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $861.

    5,605 people · Imperial County · median home $310,100 · income $65,039 · Jan low 43°F · 0 in snow

    Full Holtville, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

23. 3Alturas, California

    Median rent $833/mo

    Alturas is a city of 2,715 people in Modoc County, California. The median home is worth $170,100 and the median household earns $59,896, so homes cost 2.8× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $833.

    2,715 people · Modoc County · median home $170,100 · income $59,896 · Jan low 21°F · 51 in snow

    Full Alturas, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

24. 2Weed, California

    Median rent $788/mo

    Weed is a city of 2,862 people in Siskiyou County, California. The median home is worth $259,600 and the median household earns $38,854, so homes cost 6.7× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $788.

    2,862 people · Siskiyou County · median home $259,600 · income $38,854 · Jan low 29°F · 89 in snow

    Full Weed, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

25. 1Needles, California

    Median rent $745/mo

    Needles is a city of 4,931 people in San Bernardino County, California. The median home is worth $157,200 and the median household earns $38,243, so homes cost 4.1× income (typical California town: 6.4×). Median rent is $745.

    4,931 people · San Bernardino County · median home $157,200 · income $38,243 · Jan low 46°F · 0 in snow

    Full Needles, California profile: weather, storms, schools, jobs →

More California rankings

• The 25 Best Small Towns to Retire in California
• The 25 Quietest Small Towns in California
• The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in California
• The 25 Best Quiet, Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Cheapest Homes
• 25 Small Towns in California With the Mildest Winters
• The 25 Most Walkable Small Towns in California
• The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in California
• The 10 Best Affordable Small Towns to Retire in California With Mild Winters

Same ranking, other places

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• 25 Small Towns in Michigan With the Cheapest Rent
• 25 Small Towns in Texas With the Cheapest Rent
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