The most affordable cities to buy a house in California (2026)

Every California city over 10,000 residents, ranked by the gross household income it takes to buy the typical home: 20% down at 7.24% (30-yr fixed), including California property tax and insurance. Data through 2026-09.

  1. Clearlake — typical home $205K, income to buy about $55,000/yr
  2. Blythe — typical home $213K, income to buy about $57,000/yr
  3. Susanville — typical home $239K, income to buy about $64,000/yr
  4. Twentynine Palms — typical home $245K, income to buy about $66,000/yr
  5. Avenal — typical home $248K, income to buy about $66,000/yr
  6. Lamont — typical home $251K, income to buy about $67,000/yr
  7. Barstow — typical home $265K, income to buy about $71,000/yr
  8. Ridgecrest — typical home $266K, income to buy about $71,000/yr
  9. Corcoran — typical home $268K, income to buy about $72,000/yr
  10. California City — typical home $271K, income to buy about $72,000/yr
  11. Farmersville — typical home $288K, income to buy about $77,000/yr
  12. Coalinga — typical home $298K, income to buy about $80,000/yr
  13. Shasta Lake — typical home $299K, income to buy about $80,000/yr
  14. Arvin — typical home $301K, income to buy about $80,000/yr
  15. Oroville — typical home $302K, income to buy about $81,000/yr
  16. Lindsay — typical home $307K, income to buy about $82,000/yr
  17. Red Bluff — typical home $310K, income to buy about $83,000/yr
  18. Wasco — typical home $313K, income to buy about $84,000/yr
  19. Mendota — typical home $327K, income to buy about $87,000/yr
  20. Porterville — typical home $328K, income to buy about $88,000/yr
  21. Parlier — typical home $330K, income to buy about $88,000/yr
  22. Delano — typical home $332K, income to buy about $89,000/yr
  23. Anderson — typical home $336K, income to buy about $90,000/yr
  24. Yucca Valley — typical home $354K, income to buy about $95,000/yr
  25. Dinuba — typical home $355K, income to buy about $95,000/yr

At the other end, California's priciest markets: Hillsborough ($1,480,000/yr), Los Altos ($1,228,000/yr), Saratoga ($1,063,000/yr), Newport Beach ($993,000/yr), Beverly Hills ($984,000/yr).

"Income to buy" holds the typical home's payment inside the 28% lender guideline. Your own verdict depends on savings and debts — open any city and run your numbers, or see the whole country on the affordability map.

i wanna buy a house .com — type a city, see its market, find out what you can afford.