The typical owner-occupied home in San Marcos is worth about $868,000, 18% above the California median of $734,700 and 2.6 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,608 a year in property taxes, about 0.76% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $109,377 a year, so the median home costs 7.9 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 64% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 75% of those owners still have a mortgage.
San Marcos at a glance
| San Marcos | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $868,000 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $6,608 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.76% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $109,377 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 64% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 75% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $3,357 | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 24.6% | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $2,348 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 37.0% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1996 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 3.7% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 94,882 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in San Marcos
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median San Marcos home of $868,000 with 20% down costs about $5,583 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,168, 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 $239,257 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 61% of the median San Marcos household income of $109,377; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $397,000.
The median rent here is $2,348 a month, so owning the median home costs about $3,235 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $173,600 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $694,400 |
| Principal and interest | $4,671 |
| Property taxes (0.76% a year) | $550 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $362 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $5,583 |
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| Down payment | $30,380 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $852,278 |
| Principal and interest | $5,733 |
| Property taxes (0.76% a year) | $550 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $362 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $524 |
| Total per month | $7,168 |
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Questions about home buying in San Marcos
What is the median home value in San Marcos?
About $868,000 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in San Marcos?
Homeowners pay a median $6,608 a year, which is about 0.76% 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 Marcos?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $5,583 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $239,257 a year.
More about San Marcos
- Mortgage Refinance in San Marcos
- Debt Relief in San Marcos
- Home Equity Loans in San Marcos
- Guides and quotes for mortgage refinance on our sister site, MortgageRefinance.com
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