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Buying a home in Richmond, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Richmond is worth about $668,200, 9% below the California median of $734,700 and 2.0 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,291 a year in property taxes, about 0.94% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $95,391 a year, so the median home costs 7.0 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 55% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 68% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Richmond at a glance

Richmond California U.S.
Median home value $668,200 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $6,291 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.94% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $95,391 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 55% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 68% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,822 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 25.8% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $1,960 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 34.5% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1966 1976 1980
Vacant homes 4.0% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 115,505 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Richmond

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Richmond home of $668,200 with 20% down costs about $4,398 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,511, 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 $188,480 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 55% of the median Richmond household income of $95,391; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $338,000.

The median rent here is $1,960 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,438 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$133,640
Loan amount$534,560
Principal and interest$3,596
Property taxes (0.94% a year)$523
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$278
PMI$0
Total per month$4,398

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$23,387
Loan amount$656,097
Principal and interest$4,414
Property taxes (0.94% a year)$523
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$278
FHA mortgage insurance$296
Total per month$5,511

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Questions about home buying in Richmond

What is the median home value in Richmond?

About $668,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Richmond?

Homeowners pay a median $6,291 a year, which is about 0.94% 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 Richmond?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,398 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $188,480 a year.

More about Richmond

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