The typical owner-occupied home in California is worth about $346,800, 17% below the Maryland median of $419,900 and 4% above the national median of $332,700. Owners pay a median $2,963 a year in property taxes, about 0.85% of their home's value, lower than the Maryland rate of 0.97%. The median household earns $119,855 a year, so the median home costs 2.9 times the median income (4.1 times for Maryland). 63% of occupied homes here are lived in by their owners, and 74% of those owners still have a mortgage.
California at a glance
| California | Maryland | U.S. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $346,800 | $419,900 | $332,700 |
| Median property tax paid per year | $2,963 | $4,093 | $3,119 |
| Property tax as a share of value | 0.85% | 0.97% | 0.94% |
| Median household income | $119,855 | $103,678 | $80,734 |
| Homes lived in by their owners | 63% | 68% | 65% |
| Owner homes with a mortgage | 74% | 71% | 61% |
| Median monthly costs, owners with a mortgage | $1,980 | $2,347 | $1,963 |
| Those costs as a share of the owners' income | 18.4% | 20.5% | 21.0% |
| Median rent | $1,927 | $1,705 | $1,413 |
| Rent as a share of renters' income | 23.8% | 30.8% | 30.6% |
| Median year homes were built | 1994 | 1979 | 1980 |
| Vacant homes | 6.9% | 7.7% | 10.1% |
| Population | 13,136 | 6,206,011 | 334,922,499 |
What a typical home costs per month in California
At this week's average 30-year rate of 7.11%, buying the median California home of $346,800 with 20% down costs about $2,257 a month, including property taxes and insurance. With an FHA loan and 3.5% down, it's about $2,834, 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 $96,708 for the 20%-down payment. That payment is 23% of the median California household income of $119,855; at that income and 20% down, the 28% guideline points to a home of about $430,000.
The median rent here is $1,927 a month, so owning the median home costs about $330 a month more than renting, before you count the equity you build and any tax benefits.
| Down payment | $69,360 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $277,440 |
| Principal and interest | $1,866 |
| Property taxes (0.85% a year) | $246 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $144 |
| PMI | $0 |
| Total per month | $2,257 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
| Down payment | $12,138 |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | $340,519 |
| Principal and interest | $2,291 |
| Property taxes (0.85% a year) | $246 |
| Homeowners insurance (our estimate, 0.5% a year) | $144 |
| FHA mortgage insurance | $153 |
| Total per month | $2,834 |
Change the numbers in the calculator
Questions about home buying in California
What is the median home value in California?
About $346,800 for owner-occupied homes, according to the Census Bureau's 2020–2024 American Community Survey.
How much are property taxes in California?
Homeowners pay a median $2,963 a year, which is about 0.85% 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 California?
For the median home with 20% down at 7.11%, the payment is about $2,257 a month. Keeping that under 28% of gross income takes about $96,708 a year.
More about California
- Mortgage Refinance in California
- Debt Relief in California
- Home Equity Loans in California
- 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