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Buying a home in Hercules, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Hercules is worth about $769,400, 5% above the California median of $734,700 and 2.3 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $7,580 a year in property taxes, about 0.99% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $129,397 a year, so the median home costs 5.9 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 79% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 73% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Hercules at a glance

Hercules California U.S.
Median home value $769,400 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $7,580 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.99% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $129,397 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 79% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 73% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,326 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 26.7% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,991 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.0% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1988 1976 1980
Vacant homes 2.4% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 26,302 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Hercules

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Hercules home of $769,400 with 20% down costs about $5,096 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $6,501, because the loan is bigger and FHA adds mortgage insurance.

Lenders usually want housing costs under about 28% of gross income, which means an income of roughly $218,399 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 47% of the median Hercules household income of $129,397; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $456,000.

The median rent here is $2,991 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,105 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$153,880
Loan amount$615,520
Principal and interest$4,141
Property taxes (0.99% a year)$635
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$321
PMI$0
Total per month$5,096

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$26,929
Loan amount$755,464
Principal and interest$5,082
Property taxes (0.99% a year)$635
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$321
FHA mortgage insurance$464
Total per month$6,501

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Questions about home buying in Hercules

What is the median home value in Hercules?

About $769,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Hercules?

Homeowners pay a median $7,580 a year, which is about 0.99% of the median home value. Your bill depends on your home's assessed value and local rates.

What income do you need to buy a home in Hercules?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,096 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $218,399 a year.

More about Hercules

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates; Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, week of November 12, 2026. Estimates for small places have wide margins of error. About our data