The typical owner-occupied home in Empire is worth about $335,200, 54% below the California median of $734,700 and about the same as the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $1,353 a year in property taxes, about 0.40% of their home's value, lower than the California rate of 0.70%. The median household earns $52,563 a year, so the median home costs 6.4 times the median income (7.4 times for California). 61% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 46% of those owners still have a mortgage.
Empire at a glance
| Empire | California | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $335,200 | $734,700 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $1,353 | $5,124 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.40% | 0.70% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $52,563 | $99,122 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 61% | 56% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 46% | 67% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,462 | $2,946 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 33.6% | 24.8% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,238 | $2,036 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 33.7% | 32.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 10.2% | 7.5% | 10.1% |
| Population | 3,429 | 39,287,377 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in Empire
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median Empire home of $335,200 with 20% down costs about $2,055 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,614, 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 $88,086 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 47% of the median Empire household income of $52,563; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $200,000.
The median rent here is $1,238 a month, so owning the median home costs about $817 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $67,040 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $268,160 |
| Principal and interest | $1,804 |
| Property taxes (0.40% a year) | $112 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $140 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,055 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $11,732 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $329,129 |
| Principal and interest | $2,214 |
| Property taxes (0.40% a year) | $112 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $140 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $148 |
| Total per month | $2,614 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in Empire
What is the median home value in Empire?
About $335,200 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in Empire?
Homeowners pay a median $1,353 a year, which is about 0.40% 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 Empire?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,055 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $88,086 a year.
More about Empire
- Mortgage Refinance in Empire
- Debt Relief in Empire
- Home Equity Loans in Empire
- 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