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 7.03% (30-yr fixed), including California property tax and insurance. Data through 2026-08.

  1. Clearlake — typical home $210K, income to buy about $55,000/yr
  2. Blythe — typical home $217K, income to buy about $57,000/yr
  3. Susanville — typical home $241K, income to buy about $63,000/yr
  4. Twentynine Palms — typical home $247K, income to buy about $65,000/yr
  5. Avenal — typical home $250K, income to buy about $66,000/yr
  6. Lamont — typical home $254K, income to buy about $67,000/yr
  7. Barstow — typical home $266K, income to buy about $70,000/yr
  8. Ridgecrest — typical home $268K, income to buy about $71,000/yr
  9. Corcoran — typical home $269K, income to buy about $71,000/yr
  10. California City — typical home $275K, income to buy about $72,000/yr
  11. Farmersville — typical home $289K, income to buy about $76,000/yr
  12. Coalinga — typical home $297K, income to buy about $78,000/yr
  13. Shasta Lake — typical home $300K, income to buy about $79,000/yr
  14. Arvin — typical home $301K, income to buy about $79,000/yr
  15. Oroville — typical home $308K, income to buy about $81,000/yr
  16. Lindsay — typical home $313K, income to buy about $82,000/yr
  17. Red Bluff — typical home $315K, income to buy about $83,000/yr
  18. Wasco — typical home $317K, income to buy about $83,000/yr
  19. Porterville — typical home $330K, income to buy about $87,000/yr
  20. Parlier — typical home $331K, income to buy about $87,000/yr
  21. Mendota — typical home $333K, income to buy about $87,000/yr
  22. Delano — typical home $334K, income to buy about $88,000/yr
  23. Anderson — typical home $339K, income to buy about $89,000/yr
  24. Dinuba — typical home $356K, income to buy about $94,000/yr
  25. Tulare — typical home $357K, income to buy about $94,000/yr

At the other end, California's priciest markets: Hillsborough ($1,437,000/yr), Los Altos ($1,190,000/yr), Saratoga ($1,038,000/yr), Newport Beach ($971,000/yr), Beverly Hills ($964,000/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.