California households earn a median $99,122 a year and pay a median $2,036 in rent, according to the Census Bureau. Before borrowing, confirm the lender's state license, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and walk away from any upfront fee.
On this page
- California by the numbers
- What the numbers mean for California borrowers
- Largest places in California
- The next 20 places in California
- Counties with the most residents
- How California earns a living
- More context for California budgets
- Checking a lender in California
- Can California residents use the questionnaire?
- Local guides in California
- Frequently asked questions
California by the numbers
Start with the numbers. These Census Bureau estimates (five-year ACS, 2020 to 2024) cover what California households earn, what they pay for housing and how they get to work.
| Measure | California | U.S. | Place among 51 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $99,122 | $80,734 | 6th |
| Age, median | 37.9 | 38.9 | 40th |
| Income inequality (Gini index) | 0.489 | 0.483 | 5th |
| Households earning under $35,000 | 18% | 21% | 42nd |
| Households earning $100,000 or more | 50% | 41% | 6th |
| People below the poverty line | 12.0% | 12.5% | 23rd |
| Jobless rate, 5-year ACS | 6.6% | 5.2% | 2nd |
| Rent, median gross (monthly) | $2,036 | $1,413 | 1st |
| Renters paying 30%+ of income on rent | 55% | 51% | 4th |
| Home value, median | $734,700 | $332,700 | 3rd |
| Homes owner-occupied | 56% | 65% | 49th |
| Mortgaged owners paying 30%+ on housing | 38% | 28% | 2nd |
| Home value to income ratio | 7.4x | 4.1x | 2nd |
| Workers commuting 45+ minutes | 19% | 17% | 7th |
| Workers who work from home | 17% | 15% | 11th |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 37% | 36% | 16th |
What the numbers mean for California borrowers
California posts an ACS unemployment rate of 6.6% and a poverty rate of 12.0%, compared with 5.2% and 12.5% for the country. If your job is seasonal or hourly, lenders may ask for more months of statements to see a steady pattern.
At $99,122, median household income in California ranks 6th of 51 jurisdictions; the national median is $80,734. A lender never sees the state median, only your own documented income, but the median tells you what a typical payment has to fit inside.
On commuting, California ranks 7th: 19% of workers need 45 minutes or more to get to work (U.S. 17%). Remote and self-employed workers should expect lenders to ask for bank statements or tax returns in place of a simple pay stub.
Roughly one in 2 California households earns six figures (50%), and 21% clear $200,000, while 18% live on less than $35,000. A wide spread like this is why one-size borrowing advice fails; size the loan to your own pay, not to the state's.
Largest places in California
Where most California residents live: the 12 largest cities, towns and census-designated places, with the latest five-year Census figures.
| Place | County | People | Household income (median) | Median gross rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Los Angeles County | 3,857,263 | $81,939 | $1,933 | $921,200 |
| San Diego | San Diego County | 1,389,526 | $108,077 | $2,313 | $906,700 |
| San Jose | Santa Clara County | 990,138 | $146,427 | $2,669 | $1,233,200 |
| San Francisco | San Francisco County | 830,235 | $140,970 | $2,476 | $1,394,500 |
| Fresno | Fresno County | 545,970 | $70,991 | $1,421 | $374,800 |
| Sacramento | Sacramento County | 528,706 | $87,321 | $1,779 | $506,300 |
| Long Beach | Los Angeles County | 455,548 | $87,430 | $1,871 | $806,600 |
| Oakland | Alameda County | 439,418 | $101,600 | $1,979 | $929,900 |
| Bakersfield | Kern County | 411,986 | $80,540 | $1,472 | $371,700 |
| Anaheim | Orange County | 344,521 | $95,227 | $2,175 | $831,200 |
| Stockton | San Joaquin County | 322,326 | $79,907 | $1,577 | $440,900 |
| Riverside | Riverside County | 319,069 | $91,045 | $1,914 | $584,800 |
Los Altos ($250,001) and Calexico ($49,783) mark the high and low ends of median household income among California places with at least 20,000 residents. 498 places top 10,000 people; 188 top 50,000. Cupertino renters pay the most ($3,501 at the median) and Brawley renters the least ($988).
The next 20 places in California
20 more California places, largest first.
| City or town | Residents | Median income | Median rent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Ana | 312,534 | $93,999 | $2,082 |
| Irvine | 311,690 | $136,719 | $2,997 |
| Chula Vista | 276,375 | $108,032 | $2,229 |
| Santa Clarita | 230,221 | $123,062 | $2,544 |
| Fremont | 228,295 | $181,506 | $2,933 |
| San Bernardino | 222,724 | $67,415 | $1,508 |
| Modesto | 219,215 | $79,891 | $1,690 |
| Fontana | 214,169 | $102,821 | $1,839 |
| Moreno Valley | 211,666 | $93,222 | $2,135 |
| Oxnard | 200,928 | $96,212 | $2,032 |
| Huntington Beach | 195,240 | $120,919 | $2,510 |
| Glendale | 190,748 | $88,393 | $2,182 |
| Ontario | 180,547 | $88,941 | $2,030 |
| Elk Grove | 179,155 | $125,924 | $2,262 |
| Santa Rosa | 177,090 | $99,060 | $2,152 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 175,411 | $111,895 | $2,357 |
| Oceanside | 172,242 | $97,737 | $2,303 |
| Garden Grove | 170,964 | $92,174 | $2,012 |
| Lancaster | 169,169 | $81,511 | $1,764 |
| Palmdale | 164,634 | $81,770 | $1,802 |
Measured as a year of median rent against median household income, housing weighs most in Glendale (30%) and least in Fremont (19%) among these 20 places.
Counties with the most residents
Of 58 counties in California, these 16 have the most people.
| County | Population | Median household income | Median rent | Median home value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles County | 9,808,667 | $90,112 | $1,954 | $834,200 |
| San Diego County | 3,288,774 | $106,268 | $2,246 | $854,700 |
| Orange County | 3,165,820 | $116,289 | $2,434 | $962,600 |
| Riverside County | 2,478,600 | $93,074 | $1,901 | $557,300 |
| San Bernardino County | 2,197,104 | $85,478 | $1,801 | $505,000 |
| Santa Clara County | 1,902,047 | $164,281 | $2,857 | $1,490,600 |
| Alameda County | 1,649,473 | $129,367 | $2,357 | $1,090,100 |
| Sacramento County | 1,594,006 | $92,175 | $1,790 | $534,200 |
| Contra Costa County | 1,165,012 | $127,229 | $2,375 | $866,800 |
| Fresno County | 1,016,725 | $74,201 | $1,392 | $388,800 |
| Kern County | 915,075 | $70,210 | $1,300 | $338,300 |
| Ventura County | 837,469 | $109,797 | $2,317 | $822,700 |
| San Francisco County | 830,235 | $140,970 | $2,476 | $1,394,500 |
| San Joaquin County | 797,334 | $92,179 | $1,734 | $530,700 |
| San Mateo County | 742,340 | $158,855 | $2,922 | $1,559,600 |
| Stanislaus County | 553,990 | $81,468 | $1,623 | $450,100 |
Across all 58 counties, median household income ranges from $53,002 in Trinity County to $164,281 in Santa Clara County. Lenders price your own file, not your county, but local costs decide how much payment your budget can carry.
How California earns a living
The table lists the four industries that employ the most California residents, as a share of employed people 16 and older, next to the national share.
| Sector | Share of California workers | U.S. share | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, health care and social assistance | 22% | 24% | -1.4 pts |
| Professional, scientific and administrative services | 15% | 13% | +1.9 pts |
| Retail trade | 10% | 11% | -0.8 pts |
| Arts, entertainment, lodging and food service | 9% | 9% | +0.8 pts |
California's signature sector, measured against the U.S., is professional, scientific and administrative services at 15% of employed residents. If your income comes from self-employment or gig work, gather two years of tax returns and recent bank statements before you compare offers.
More context for California budgets
About 56% of California homes are owner-occupied (49th of 51; U.S. 65%), and the median home is valued at $734,700, or 7.4 times the median household income. Among owners with a mortgage, 38% spend 30 percent or more of income on housing (U.S.: 28%). Before using equity, read how a HELOC compares with a personal loan: the line is secured by the home, the loan usually is not.
Median gross rent in California is $2,036 a month, ranking 1st, and 55% of renters are cost-burdened by the Census definition, compared with 51% nationally. When rent rises at renewal, a fixed loan payment can collide with it, so leave room for the next increase.
The median California resident is 37.9. Four-year degrees: 37% of adults. Income inequality (Gini): 0.489, 5th of 51.
Checking a lender in California
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is California's state banking agency in the CSBS directory. Start there, or with NMLS Consumer Access, whenever a lender you have not heard of reaches out.
- If a lender stops answering, the CFPB complaint form usually gets a response within weeks.
- Ask for the lender's license number and look it up on NMLS Consumer Access.
- Never pay a fee before the money arrives; the FTC calls that an advance-fee loan scam.
Can California residents use the questionnaire?
Coverage is added state by state. A California resident who picks the state on step two learns immediately whether a partner is available, and can join the waitlist if not.
Local guides in California
Open a local guide for a closer look at your own city (64 in California):
- Anaheim
- Arcadia
- Bakersfield
- Berkeley
- Burbank
- Camarillo
- Carlsbad
- Carson
- Chino
- Chula Vista
- Corona
- Costa Mesa
- Cupertino
- Cypress
- Delano
- Encinitas
- Folsom
- Fountain Valley
- Fremont
- Fresno
- Gardena
- Glendale
- Irvine
- Livermore
- Lodi
- Long Beach
- Los Angeles
- Milpitas
- Mountain View
- Newport Beach
- Oakland
- Ontario
- Orange
- Oxnard
- Palm Desert
- Palo Alto
- Pasadena
- Pleasanton
- Rancho Cordova
- Redlands
- Redwood City
- Riverside
- Roseville
- Sacramento
- San Bernardino
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- San Mateo
- San Rafael
- San Ramon
- Santa Ana
- Santa Clara
- Santa Monica
- South San Francisco
- Stockton
- Sunnyvale
- Temecula
- Thousand Oaks
- Torrance
- Tustin
- Ventura
- Walnut Creek
- West Sacramento
Frequently asked questions
Where do I check a lender's license in California?
In California, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation is the banking agency named by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors. You can also search a lender on NMLS Consumer Access and file complaints with the CFPB.
What do households in California earn?
About $99,122. Half of California households earn more and half less; nationally the midpoint is $80,734.
Is rent high in California?
$2,036 a month at the median, 1st of 51. 55% of California renters are cost-burdened, against 51% nationwide.
Do home values in California change how I should borrow?
The median home in California is valued at $734,700, about 7.4 times the median household income of $99,122. Where housing takes a big share of income, keep new payments modest and compare total cost rather than stretching the term.