Home / Home Buying by state / California / San Diego County / San Clemente

Buying a home in San Clemente, California

The typical owner-occupied home in San Clemente is worth about $1,398,400, 90% above the California median of $734,700 and 4.2 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $8,160 a year in property taxes, about 0.58% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $140,062 a year, so the median home costs 10.0 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 66% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 73% of those owners still have a mortgage.

San Clemente at a glance

San Clemente California U.S.
Median home value $1,398,400 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $8,160 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.58% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $140,062 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 66% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 73% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,976 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 23.6% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,460 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 33.6% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1983 1976 1980
Vacant homes 10.0% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 63,273 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in San Clemente

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median San Clemente home of $1,398,400 with 20% down costs about $8,784 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $11,339, 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 $376,468 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 75% of the median San Clemente household income of $140,062; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $520,000.

The median rent here is $2,460 a month, so owning the median home costs about $6,324 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$279,680
Loan amount$1,118,720
Principal and interest$7,526
Property taxes (0.58% a year)$676
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$583
PMI$0
Total per month$8,784

Change the numbers in the calculator

3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$48,944
Loan amount$1,373,071
Principal and interest$9,237
Property taxes (0.58% a year)$676
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$583
FHA mortgage insurance$843
Total per month$11,339

Change the numbers in the calculator

Questions about home buying in San Clemente

What is the median home value in San Clemente?

About $1,398,400 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in San Clemente?

Homeowners pay a median $8,160 a year, which is about 0.58% 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 San Clemente?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $8,784 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $376,468 a year.

More about San Clemente

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