Renters Are Taking Over  CA Suburbs, New Study Finds

SAN DIEGO, CA — Moving to the suburbs meant putting down roots and putting down a mortgage, but things have changed, according to a new report.

A new study from Point2Homes showed that 203 suburbs across the country's 20 largest metros now have more renters than homeowners.  With more people leasing their homes than owning them in these communities, the line between city and suburb continues to blur.

The blurred line is driven by affordability, changing lifestyles and mobility, according to Andra Hopulele, the author of the study. Hopulele said the change is largely due to "a fundamental shift in how Americans live and think about housing."

"Suburbs across California are quietly redefining norms around who rents and where," Hopulele told Patch. "Places once defined by homeownership, like Huntington Beach or Escondido, are now seeing renters take up more space. And it's no longer just about affordability in the face of long-term financial burden. Californians are seeking more room, greater flexibility, and a break from the high-pressure housing grind. Enter the suburb: With lifestyle perks that rival city living, suburban renting isn't just a temporary detour, but a long-term plan for many."

Los Angeles metropolitan area suburbs are seeing significant renter growth, according to the report.

A total of 31 suburbs in the Los Angeles metro are renter-majority, with Cudahy leading the way. Nearly 90% of households are renters in the city in southeastern Los Angeles County.

Additionally, six Los Angeles suburbs each added more than 1,000 renter households between 2018 and 2023. Huntington Beach and West Covina led the region with surges of more than 1,800 new renter households.

In the Riverside metro area, four suburbs are renter-majority, with Twentynine Palms at the top at 62.6%. Chino Hills saw the largest renter increase in the metro between 2018 and 2023, adding over 1,500 renter households.

In the San Diego area, seven suburbs are now renter-majority, the report found. Camp Pendleton South, home to the Marine Corps' boot camp, leads with 99.1% renter households, followed by Imperial Beach at 69.3%.

Furthermore, in just five years, two San Diego suburbs added over 1,000 renter households each. Camp Pendleton South and Escondido each added over 1,000 renter households between 2018 and 2023.

The trend is happening in Northern California as well.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, seven suburbs are now renter-majority, with Emeryville topping the list at nearly 70%, according to the report.

Dublin leads suburban renter growth in the San Francisco metro area, adding over 1,500 renter households between 2018 and 2023. Two other suburbs, Emeryville and Foster City, also crossed the 1,000 threshold.

View the full report on Point2Homes.com.