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Buying a home in Modoc County, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Modoc County is worth about $224,700, 69% below the California median of $734,700 and 32% below the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,561 a year in property taxes, about 0.69% of their home's value, close to the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $59,455 a year, so the median home costs 3.8 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 77% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 42% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Modoc County at a glance

Modoc County California U.S.
Median home value $224,700 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $1,561 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.69% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $59,455 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 77% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 42% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $1,551 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 23.9% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $836 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.4% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1976 1976 1980
Vacant homes 31.4% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 8,600 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Modoc County

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Modoc County home of $224,700 with 20% down costs about $1,432 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $1,806, 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 $61,375 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 29% of the median Modoc County household income of $59,455; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $218,000.

The median rent here is $836 a month, so owning the median home costs about $596 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$44,940
Loan amount$179,760
Principal and interest$1,209
Property taxes (0.69% a year)$129
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$94
PMI$0
Total per month$1,432

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$7,864
Loan amount$220,630
Principal and interest$1,484
Property taxes (0.69% a year)$129
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$94
FHA mortgage insurance$99
Total per month$1,806

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Questions about home buying in Modoc County

What is the median home value in Modoc County?

About $224,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Modoc County?

Homeowners pay a median $1,561 a year, which is about 0.69% 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 Modoc County?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $1,432 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $61,375 a year.

More about Modoc County

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