Moving to San Leandro, CA — Cost, Timing, Best-For

What to know before you move: cost, market timing, who it fits.

38
Momentum score
$818,638
Median home value
-4.1%
Home YoY
86,571
Population

If you're considering a move to San Leandro, CA, the most important variables are the local housing market, the cost structure (taxes, insurance, utilities), and how well the city fits your day-to-day life. This page summarizes the housing market read; pair it with the cost of living page for the full picture.

San Leandro is a city in Alameda County, California, with an estimated population of 86,571. It anchors the San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley metro area. The population has contracted 1.2% per year on average since 2020. The median home value in San Leandro is $818,638 as of 2026-04, down 4.1% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +0.4% annual growth, and the market currently sits about 13% below its 5-year peak. Rents in San Leandro average $2,434 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+2.3%). The composite momentum score is 38 of 100 (Cooling). Buyers may find more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.

Prices have come off recent highs (-12.7% from peak). Buyers may have more room to negotiate; sellers should price realistically.

Reasons people move here

  • The data is the data: San Leandro has at least 5 years of Zillow tracking, full Census identification, and is included in the 1-criteria momentum score on this page.
  • Data is sourced from public datasets (Zillow, US Census) with full citations on the methodology page.

Things to know first

  • Net out-migration: population shrinking 1.2% per year — services, schools, and tax base will follow.
  • Expensive AND not growing: median home $818,638 with only -4.1% YoY. You're paying premium pricing for a flat trend.
  • Cooling: -4.1% over the trailing year — momentum has stalled.
  • 13% off recent peak — buyers are getting through-the-cycle pricing, not the peak.

More about San Leandro

Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.