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Buying a home in Solvang, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Solvang is worth about $949,600, 29% above the California median of $734,700 and 2.9 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $6,987 a year in property taxes, about 0.74% of their home's value, higher than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $109,091 a year, so the median home costs 8.7 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 57% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 54% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Solvang at a glance

Solvang California U.S.
Median home value $949,600 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $6,987 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.74% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $109,091 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 57% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 54% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $3,836 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 27.5% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $1,666 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 26.8% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1982 1976 1980
Vacant homes 3.1% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 6,034 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Solvang

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Solvang home of $949,600 with 20% down costs about $6,092 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $7,826, 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 $261,072 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 67% of the median Solvang household income of $109,091; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $397,000.

The median rent here is $1,666 a month, so owning the median home costs about $4,426 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$189,920
Loan amount$759,680
Principal and interest$5,110
Property taxes (0.74% a year)$586
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$396
PMI$0
Total per month$6,092

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$33,236
Loan amount$932,400
Principal and interest$6,272
Property taxes (0.74% a year)$586
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$396
FHA mortgage insurance$573
Total per month$7,826

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Questions about home buying in Solvang

What is the median home value in Solvang?

About $949,600 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Solvang?

Homeowners pay a median $6,987 a year, which is about 0.74% 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 Solvang?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $6,092 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $261,072 a year.

More about Solvang

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