Fresno, CA metro area
The Fresno metro area, officially Fresno, CA, is home to 1.2 million people, up 18.7% since 2021. In 2025 its typical household earned $74,752, below the U.S. median of $84,780, and the median rent was $1,550 a month.
Compare Fresno with another metro ↗ See the national rent report ↗
What it takes to live here
Rent and home prices measured against what local households earn.
To keep rent at the common guideline of 30% of income, a household would need about $62,000 a year to afford the median rent in the Fresno area (U.S.: $62,300). In practice, the typical renter here spends 37.7% of household income on rent, the 14th highest share of 393 metro areas, and 63% of renter households pay 30% or more (U.S.: 52%).
For buyers, the median home value of $416,600 is 5.6 times the median household income, compared with 4.4 times nationally, which makes ownership comparatively hard to reach.
How it has changed
Change since 2021 compared with the whole United States.
Since 2021, rent in the Fresno area has risen +33.2% while household income changed +17.4%. Rents have outpaced incomes, so renting has become less affordable.
| 2021 | 2024 | 2025 | Change since 2021 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $63,656 | $74,983 | $74,752 | +17.4% |
| Median rent | $1,164 | $1,513 | $1,550 | +33.2% |
| Median home value | $331,800 | $416,200 | $416,600 | +25.6% |
| Population | 1,013,581 | 1,189,557 | 1,203,383 | +18.7% |
Who lives and works here
Education, jobs and commuting compared with the national picture.
| Fresno | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34.5 | 39.5 |
| Adults 25+ with a bachelor’s degree or higher | 22.3% | 37.4% |
| Unemployment rate | 8.6% | 4.9% |
| Poverty rate | 16.9% | 11.8% |
| Workers who work from home | 8.2% | 12.9% |
| Average one-way commute | 24.0 min | 27.4 min |
| Households that rent | 43% | 35% |
Where Fresno ranks
Position among all 393 U.S. metropolitan areas with 2025 1-year data.
| Measure | Rank among 393 U.S. metro areas |
|---|---|
| Median household income | 210th highest |
| Median rent | 101st highest |
| Median home value | 95th highest |
| Rent as share of income | 14th highest |
| Population | 48th largest |
| Population growth since 2021 | 10th fastest |
Similar-sized metro areas
The metros closest in population, side by side.
| Metro area | Income | Rent | Home value | Rent / income |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno, CA | $74,752 | $1,550 | $416,600 | 37.7% |
| Birmingham, AL | $75,472 | $1,250 | $282,200 | 31.7% |
| Grand Rapids, MI | $84,764 | $1,365 | $333,100 | 31.0% |
| Hartford, CT | $98,103 | $1,548 | $388,700 | 31.1% |
| Buffalo, NY | $77,062 | $1,196 | $266,700 | 30.0% |
| Salt Lake City, UT | $101,152 | $1,711 | $579,200 | 30.0% |
| Tucson, AZ | $74,364 | $1,320 | $352,300 | 31.6% |
Fresno at a glance
What salary do you need to live in Fresno?+
To pay the 2025 median rent of $1,550 a month while spending no more than 30% of income on rent, a household needs about $62,000 a year. The median household income in the Fresno metro area is $74,752.
How much is rent in Fresno?+
The median gross rent (rent plus utilities) in the Fresno metro area was $1,550 a month in 2025, according to the Census Bureau, compared with $1,557 nationally. It has changed +33.2% since 2021.
Is Fresno affordable?+
Renters in the Fresno area spend a median 37.7% of income on rent (U.S. 30.9%), and the median home costs 5.6 times the median income (U.S. 4.4). By both measures it is more expensive than the national average.
What is the median household income in Fresno?+
$74,752 in 2025, +17.4% since 2021. That ranks 210th of 393 U.S. metro areas.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates (released September 2026), with 2024 and 2021 for trends. Figures are survey estimates with margins of error; small differences between metros may not be meaningful. Metro areas use the official Metropolitan Statistical Area boundaries. Compiled and analyzed by Metro Research. Methodology.