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Buying a home in Lakewood, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Lakewood is worth about $827,200, 13% above the California median of $734,700 and 2.5 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $5,318 a year in property taxes, about 0.64% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $119,177 a year, so the median home costs 6.9 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 71% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 70% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Lakewood at a glance

Lakewood California U.S.
Median home value $827,200 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $5,318 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.64% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $119,177 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 71% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 70% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,951 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 24.1% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,347 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 31.4% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1957 1976 1980
Vacant homes 2.4% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 79,850 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Lakewood

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Lakewood home of $827,200 with 20% down costs about $5,238 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $6,749, 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 $224,466 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 53% of the median Lakewood household income of $119,177; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $439,000.

The median rent here is $2,347 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,891 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$165,440
Loan amount$661,760
Principal and interest$4,452
Property taxes (0.64% a year)$441
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$345
PMI$0
Total per month$5,238

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$28,952
Loan amount$812,217
Principal and interest$5,464
Property taxes (0.64% a year)$441
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$345
FHA mortgage insurance$499
Total per month$6,749

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Questions about home buying in Lakewood

What is the median home value in Lakewood?

About $827,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Lakewood?

Homeowners pay a median $5,318 a year, which is about 0.64% 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 Lakewood?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,238 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $224,466 a year.

More about Lakewood

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