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Buying a home in Occidental, California

The typical owner-occupied home in Occidental is worth about $1,167,800, 59% above the California median of $734,700 and 3.5 times the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $7,057 a year in property taxes, about 0.60% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $108,207 a year, so the median home costs 10.8 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 74% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 60% of those owners still have a mortgage.

Occidental at a glance

Occidental California U.S.
Median home value $1,167,800 $734,700 $332,700
Median property tax paid per year $7,057 $5,124 $3,119
Property tax as a share of value 0.60% 0.70% 0.94%
Median household income $108,207 $99,122 $80,734
Homes lived in by their owners 74% 56% 65%
Owner homes with a mortgage 60% 67% 61%
Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage $4,001 $2,946 $1,963
Those costs as a share of the owners' income 17.2% 24.8% 21.0%
Median rent $1,063 $2,036 $1,413
Rent as a share of renters' income 14.1% 32.8% 30.6%
Median year homes were built 1968 1976 1980
Vacant homes 29.2% 7.5% 10.1%
Population 1,225 39,287,377 334,922,499

What a typical home costs per month in Occidental

At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Occidental home of $1,167,800 with 20% down costs about $7,355 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $9,488, 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 $315,222 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 82% of the median Occidental household income of $108,207; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $401,000.

The median rent here is $1,063 a month, so owning the median home costs about $6,292 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.

20% down, 30-year conventional loan
Down payment$233,560
Loan amount$934,240
Principal and interest$6,285
Property taxes (0.60% a year)$584
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$487
PMI$0
Total per month$7,355

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3.5% down, 30-year FHA loan
Down payment$40,873
Loan amount$1,146,648
Principal and interest$7,714
Property taxes (0.60% a year)$584
Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year)$487
FHA mortgage insurance$704
Total per month$9,488

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Questions about home buying in Occidental

What is the median home value in Occidental?

About $1,167,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.

How much are property taxes in Occidental?

Homeowners pay a median $7,057 a year, which is about 0.60% 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 Occidental?

For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $7,355 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $315,222 a year.

More about Occidental

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