The Cost of Buying a California Dream Home
The median sales price for homes in California is approx. $400,000
and the household income to buy it is around $78,000 per year. California median home prices have risen by $120,000 in the last three
years, putting them out of reach of most households in the state. Approx.
60% of households make less than what's required to own a home with an
affordable mortgage, assuming a 20 percent down payment. Almost two thirds
of the state's households make less than $78,000, according to the U.S.
Census Bureau.
The household income needed to afford a median-priced home ranges wildly.
How much income would need to buy the median-priced home in California
cities?
| City over 30,000 pop. | Home Price | Income Needed | Monthly Payment1 |
| Alameda | $677,950 | $134,000 | $3,239 |
| Alhambra | $476,200 | $94,000 | $2,275 |
| Aliso Viejo | $492,925 | $98,000 | $2,355 |
| Anaheim | $456,625 | $90,000 | $2,182 |
| Antioch | $311,000 | $62,000 | $1,486 |
| Apple Valley | $188,450 | $37,000 | $900 |
| Arcadia | $992,000 | $196,000 | $4,740 |
| Arden-Arcade | $249,875 | $49,000 | $1,194 |
| Azusa | $344,250 | $68,000 | $1,645 |
| Bakersfield | $201,500 | $40,000 | $963 |
| Baldwin Park | $310,150 | $61,000 | $1,482 |
| Banning | $186,000 | $37,000 | $889 |
| Beaumont | $247,000 | $49,000 | $1,180 |
| Bellflower | $401,154 | $79,000 | $1,917 |
| Berkeley | $810,250 | $160,000 | $3,871 |
| Beverly Hills | $2,200,000 | $435,000 | $10,511 |
| Brea | $604,000 | $119,000 | $2,886 |
| Brentwood | $439,050 | $87,000 | $2,098 |
| Buena Park | $479,400 | $95,000 | $2,290 |
| Burbank | $588,750 | $116,000 | $2,813 |
| Calexico | $192,000 | $38,000 | $917 |
| California | $393,850 | $78,000 | $1,882 |
| Camarillo | $496,350 | $98,000 | $2,371 |
| Campbell | $910,000 | $180,000 | $4,348 |
| Carlsbad | $661,250 | $131,000 | $3,159 |
| Carmichael | $300,100 | $59,000 | $1,434 |
| Carson | $389,600 | $77,000 | $1,861 |
| Castro Valley | $584,750 | $116,000 | $2,794 |
| Cathedral City | $229,250 | $45,000 | $1,095 |
| Ceres | $193,000 | $38,000 | $922 |
| Cerritos | $592,750 | $117,000 | $2,832 |
| Chico | $256,550 | $51,000 | $1,226 |
| Chino | $411,000 | $81,000 | $1,964 |
| Chino Hills | $529,625 | $105,000 | $2,530 |
| Chula Vista | $416,000 | $82,000 | $1,988 |
| Citrus Heights | $233,125 | $46,000 | $1,114 |
| Claremont | $576,000 | $114,000 | $2,752 |
| Clovis | $271,500 | $54,000 | $1,297 |
| Coachella | $155,000 | $31,000 | $741 |
| Colton | $224,850 | $44,000 | $1,074 |
| Compton | $279,700 | $55,000 | $1,336 |
| Concord | $434,250 | $86,000 | $2,075 |
| Corona | $427,250 | $85,000 | $2,041 |
| Costa Mesa | $610,250 | $121,000 | $2,916 |
| Covina | $422,600 | $84,000 | $2,019 |
| Culver City | $511,000 | $101,000 | $2,441 |
| Cupertino | $1,497,750 | $296,000 | $7,156 |
| Cypress | $488,050 | $97,000 | $2,332 |
| Daly City | $637,550 | $126,000 | $3,046 |
| Dana Point | $709,000 | $140,000 | $3,387 |
| Danville | $986,750 | $195,000 | $4,714 |
| Davis | $511,750 | $101,000 | $2,445 |
| Delano | $160,000 | $32,000 | $764 |
| Diamond Bar | $575,000 | $114,000 | $2,747 |
| Downey | $442,200 | $87,000 | $2,113 |
| Dublin | $609,000 | $120,000 | $2,910 |
| East Los Angeles | $309,154 | $61,000 | $1,477 |
| El Cajon | $380,100 | $75,000 | $1,816 |
| El Centro | $190,000 | $38,000 | $908 |
| El Monte | $426,824 | $84,000 | $2,039 |
| Elk Grove | $310,025 | $61,000 | $1,481 |
| Encinitas | $828,350 | $164,000 | $3,958 |
| Escondido | $376,500 | $74,000 | $1,799 |
| Eureka | $225,250 | $45,000 | $1,076 |
| Fairfield | $315,925 | $62,000 | $1,509 |
| Fallbrook | $466,850 | $92,000 | $2,231 |
| Florence-Graham | $190,000 | $38,000 | $908 |
| Folsom | $397,500 | $79,000 | $1,899 |
| Fontana | $321,625 | $64,000 | $1,537 |
| Foster City | $884,000 | $175,000 | $4,224 |
| Fountain Valley | $598,750 | $118,000 | $2,861 |
| Fremont | $711,250 | $141,000 | $3,398 |
| Fresno | $198,275 | $39,000 | $947 |
| Fullerton | $555,250 | $110,000 | $2,653 |
| Garden Grove | $442,600 | $88,000 | $2,115 |
| Gardena | $387,700 | $77,000 | $1,852 |
| Gilroy | $558,750 | $111,000 | $2,670 |
| Glendale | $597,650 | $118,000 | $2,855 |
| Glendora | $490,350 | $97,000 | $2,343 |
| Goleta | $679,000 | $134,000 | $3,244 |
| Hacienda Heights | $523,750 | $104,000 | $2,502 |
| Hanford | $182,875 | $36,000 | $874 |
| Hawthorne | $454,000 | $90,000 | $2,169 |
| Hayward | $412,700 | $82,000 | $1,972 |
| Hemet | $194,500 | $38,000 | $929 |
| Hesperia | $182,150 | $36,000 | $870 |
| Highland | $252,500 | $50,000 | $1,206 |
| Hollister | $418,000 | $83,000 | $1,997 |
| Huntington Beach | $630,750 | $125,000 | $3,014 |
| Huntington Park | $268,000 | $53,000 | $1,280 |
| Indio | $251,125 | $50,000 | $1,200 |
| Inglewood | $293,450 | $58,000 | $1,402 |
| Irvine | $713,800 | $141,000 | $3,410 |
| La Habra | $392,625 | $78,000 | $1,876 |
| La Mesa | $397,000 | $79,000 | $1,897 |
| La Mirada | $460,150 | $91,000 | $2,198 |
| La Puente | $345,000 | $68,000 | $1,648 |
| La Quinta | $392,000 | $78,000 | $1,873 |
| La Verne | $554,000 | $110,000 | $2,647 |
| Laguna Hills | $537,000 | $106,000 | $2,566 |
| Laguna Niguel | $712,000 | $141,000 | $3,402 |
| Lake Elsinore | $276,500 | $55,000 | $1,321 |
| Lake Forest | $532,700 | $105,000 | $2,545 |
| Lakewood | $445,650 | $88,000 | $2,129 |
| Lancaster | $203,500 | $40,000 | $972 |
| Lincoln | $337,750 | $67,000 | $1,614 |
| Livermore | $599,575 | $119,000 | $2,865 |
| Lodi | $234,225 | $46,000 | $1,119 |
| Lompoc | $264,850 | $52,000 | $1,265 |
| Long Beach | $440,300 | $87,000 | $2,104 |
| Los Angeles | $539,150 | $107,000 | $2,576 |
| Los Banos | $195,000 | $39,000 | $932 |
| Los Gatos | $1,200,000 | $237,000 | $5,733 |
| Lynwood | $300,000 | $59,000 | $1,433 |
| Madera | $198,300 | $39,000 | $947 |
| Manhattan Beach | $1,700,000 | $336,000 | $8,122 |
| Manteca | $284,250 | $56,000 | $1,358 |
| Martinez | $435,550 | $86,000 | $2,081 |
| Menifee | $304,000 | $60,000 | $1,452 |
| Menlo Park | $1,500,000 | $297,000 | $7,167 |
| Merced | $187,400 | $37,000 | $895 |
| Milpitas | $659,300 | $130,000 | $3,150 |
| Mission Viejo | $588,250 | $116,000 | $2,811 |
| Modesto | $207,250 | $41,000 | $990 |
| Monrovia | $545,000 | $108,000 | $2,604 |
| Montclair | $333,000 | $66,000 | $1,591 |
| Montebello | $385,350 | $76,000 | $1,841 |
| Monterey Park | $491,500 | $97,000 | $2,348 |
| Moorpark | $530,000 | $105,000 | $2,532 |
| Moreno Valley | $246,800 | $49,000 | $1,179 |
| Morgan Hill | $667,000 | $132,000 | $3,187 |
| Mountain View | $970,000 | $192,000 | $4,634 |
| Murrieta | $338,350 | $67,000 | $1,617 |
| Napa | $459,000 | $91,000 | $2,193 |
| National City | $279,412 | $55,000 | $1,335 |
| Newark | $575,000 | $114,000 | $2,747 |
| Newport Beach | $1,367,250 | $270,000 | $6,532 |
| Norwalk | $362,225 | $72,000 | $1,731 |
| Novato | $647,150 | $128,000 | $3,092 |
| Oakland | $438,900 | $87,000 | $2,097 |
| Oakley | $324,000 | $64,000 | $1,548 |
| Oceanside | $406,375 | $80,000 | $1,942 |
| Ontario | $309,850 | $61,000 | $1,480 |
| Orange | $535,200 | $106,000 | $2,557 |
| Oroville | $153,125 | $30,000 | $732 |
| Oxnard | $390,925 | $77,000 | $1,868 |
| Pacifica | $669,000 | $132,000 | $3,196 |
| Palm Desert | $306,125 | $61,000 | $1,463 |
| Palm Springs | $305,500 | $60,000 | $1,460 |
| Palmdale | $226,100 | $45,000 | $1,080 |
| Palo Alto | $2,235,000 | $442,000 | $10,678 |
| Paramount | $240,000 | $47,000 | $1,147 |
| Pasadena | $606,175 | $120,000 | $2,896 |
| Perris | $235,300 | $47,000 | $1,124 |
| Petaluma | $493,350 | $98,000 | $2,357 |
| Pico Rivera | $363,000 | $72,000 | $1,734 |
| Pittsburg | $293,750 | $58,000 | $1,403 |
| Placentia | $560,750 | $111,000 | $2,679 |
| Pleasant Hill | $552,000 | $109,000 | $2,637 |
| Pleasanton | $794,750 | $157,000 | $3,797 |
| Pomona | $315,950 | $62,000 | $1,510 |
| Porterville | $171,125 | $34,000 | $818 |
| Poway | $561,750 | $111,000 | $2,684 |
| Rancho Cordova | $260,000 | $51,000 | $1,242 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | $399,750 | $79,000 | $1,910 |
| Rancho Palos Verdes | $1,000,000 | $198,000 | $4,778 |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | $469,000 | $93,000 | $2,241 |
| Redding | $219,950 | $44,000 | $1,051 |
| Redlands | $310,300 | $61,000 | $1,483 |
| Redondo Beach | $769,500 | $152,000 | $3,677 |
| Redwood City | $892,000 | $176,000 | $4,262 |
| Rialto | $273,400 | $54,000 | $1,306 |
| Richmond | $311,000 | $62,000 | $1,486 |
| Riverside | $295,000 | $58,000 | $1,409 |
| Rocklin | $372,850 | $74,000 | $1,781 |
| Rohnert Park | $424,000 | $84,000 | $2,026 |
| Rosemead | $488,000 | $97,000 | $2,332 |
| Roseville | $359,500 | $71,000 | $1,718 |
| Sacramento | $225,700 | $45,000 | $1,078 |
| Salinas | $353,000 | $70,000 | $1,687 |
| San Bernardino | $193,750 | $38,000 | $926 |
| San Bruno | $678,000 | $134,000 | $3,239 |
| San Clemente | $784,800 | $155,000 | $3,750 |
| San Diego | $463,050 | $92,000 | $2,212 |
| San Dimas | $478,000 | $95,000 | $2,284 |
| San Francisco | $963,250 | $191,000 | $4,602 |
| San Gabriel | $701,300 | $139,000 | $3,351 |
| San Jacinto | $207,000 | $41,000 | $989 |
| San Jose | $635,200 | $126,000 | $3,035 |
| San Juan Capistrano | $586,000 | $116,000 | $2,800 |
| San Leandro | $434,325 | $86,000 | $2,075 |
| San Luis Obispo | $561,375 | $111,000 | $2,682 |
| San Marcos | $490,000 | $97,000 | $2,341 |
| San Mateo | $856,200 | $169,000 | $4,091 |
| San Pablo | $295,825 | $59,000 | $1,413 |
| San Rafael | $758,001 | $150,000 | $3,622 |
| San Ramon | $783,000 | $155,000 | $3,741 |
| Santa Ana | $383,150 | $76,000 | $1,831 |
| Santa Barbara | $906,550 | $179,000 | $4,331 |
| Santa Clara | $768,700 | $152,000 | $3,673 |
| Santa Clarita | $421,800 | $83,000 | $2,015 |
| Santa Cruz | $684,575 | $135,000 | $3,271 |
| Santa Maria | $314,225 | $62,000 | $1,501 |
| Santa Monica | $1,293,750 | $256,000 | $6,181 |
| Santa Paula | $332,000 | $66,000 | $1,586 |
| Santa Rosa | $409,000 | $81,000 | $1,954 |
| Santee | $391,350 | $77,000 | $1,870 |
| Saratoga | $1,600,000 | $317,000 | $7,644 |
| Seaside | $375,000 | $74,000 | $1,792 |
| Simi Valley | $474,875 | $94,000 | $2,269 |
| South Gate | $332,538 | $66,000 | $1,589 |
| South San Francisco | $644,700 | $128,000 | $3,080 |
| South Whittier | $390,050 | $77,000 | $1,864 |
| Spring Valley | $382,000 | $76,000 | $1,825 |
| Stanton | $306,000 | $61,000 | $1,462 |
| Stockton | $200,025 | $40,000 | $956 |
| Sunnyvale | $935,750 | $185,000 | $4,471 |
| Temecula | $361,950 | $72,000 | $1,729 |
| Temple City | $661,000 | $131,000 | $3,158 |
| Thousand Oaks | $637,500 | $126,000 | $3,046 |
| Torrance | $641,050 | $127,000 | $3,063 |
| Tracy | $373,265 | $74,000 | $1,783 |
| Tulare | $135,200 | $27,000 | $646 |
| Turlock | $237,150 | $47,000 | $1,133 |
| Tustin | $572,750 | $113,000 | $2,736 |
| Union City | $552,500 | $109,000 | $2,640 |
| Upland | $463,650 | $92,000 | $2,215 |
| Vacaville | $327,250 | $65,000 | $1,564 |
| Vallejo | $264,500 | $52,000 | $1,264 |
| Ventura | $450,050 | $89,000 | $2,150 |
| Victorville | $179,150 | $35,000 | $856 |
| Visalia | $192,000 | $38,000 | $917 |
| Vista | $417,050 | $82,000 | $1,993 |
| Walnut Creek | $607,450 | $120,000 | $2,902 |
| Watsonville | $405,250 | $80,000 | $1,936 |
| West Covina | $443,100 | $88,000 | $2,117 |
| West Hollywood | $636,000 | $126,000 | $3,039 |
| West Sacramento | $284,800 | $56,000 | $1,361 |
| Westminster | $538,050 | $106,000 | $2,571 |
| Whittier | $450,750 | $89,000 | $2,154 |
| Wildomar | $325,000 | $64,000 | $1,553 |
| Woodland | $293,525 | $58,000 | $1,402 |
| Yorba Linda | $701,250 | $139,000 | $3,350 |
| Yuba City | $215,450 | $43,000 | $1,029 |
| Yucaipa | $301,150 | $60,000 | $1,439 |