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Buying a home in Redwood City, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Redwood City is worth about $1,801,700, 2.5 times the California median of $734,700 and 5.4 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $9,935 a year in property taxes, about 0.55% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $157,814 a year, so the median home costs 11.4 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 49% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 69% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Redwood City at a glance

Redwood City California U.S.
Median home value $1,801,700 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $9,935 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.55% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $157,814 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 49% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 69% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $4,001 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 23.8% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $2,968 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 28.4% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1968 1976 1980
Vacant homes 6.8% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 82,447 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Redwood City

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Redwood City home of $1,801,700 with 20% down costs about $11,273 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $14,564, 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 $483,112 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 86% of the median Redwood City household income of $157,814; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $589,000.

The median rent here is $2,968 a month, so owning the median home costs about $8,305 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$360,340
Loan amount$1,441,360
Principal and interest$9,696
Property taxes (0.55% a year)$826
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$751
PMI$0
Total per month$11,273

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$63,060
Loan amount$1,769,067
Principal and interest$11,901
Property taxes (0.55% a year)$826
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$751
FHA mortgage insurance$1,087
Total per month$14,564

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Questions about home buying in Redwood City

What is the median home value in Redwood City?

About $1,801,700 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Redwood City?

Homeowners pay a median $9,935 a year, which is about 0.55% 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 Redwood City?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $11,273 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $483,112 a year.

More about Redwood City

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