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Buying a home in South Gate, California

The typical owner-occupied home in South Gate is worth about $636,300, 13% below the California median of $734,700 and 91% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $3,932 a year in property taxes, about 0.62% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $74,571 a year, so the median home costs 8.5 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 45% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 67% of those owners still have a mortgage.

South Gate at a glance

South Gate California U.S.
Median home value $636,300 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $3,932 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.62% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $74,571 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 45% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 67% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $2,325 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 27.3% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $1,531 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 32.8% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1952 1976 1980
Vacant homes 2.1% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 91,483 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in South Gate

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median South Gate home of $636,300 with 20% down costs about $4,018 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $5,078, 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 $172,209 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 65% of the median South Gate household income of $74,571; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $276,000.

The median rent here is $1,531 a month, so owning the median home costs about $2,487 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$127,260
Loan amount$509,040
Principal and interest$3,424
Property taxes (0.62% a year)$329
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$265
PMI$0
Total per month$4,018

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$22,270
Loan amount$624,775
Principal and interest$4,203
Property taxes (0.62% a year)$329
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$265
FHA mortgage insurance$281
Total per month$5,078

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Questions about home buying in South Gate

What is the median home value in South Gate?

About $636,300 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in South Gate?

Homeowners pay a median $3,932 a year, which is about 0.62% 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 South Gate?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $4,018 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $172,209 a year.

More about South Gate

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