1st Advantage MortgageAbout 68% of Contra Costa County homes are owner-occupied, and the median household income is $127,229. A loan makes sense only if its total cost beats your alternatives and the payment fits your budget. Check the lender's California license first.
On this page
- Contra Costa County, CA: the basics
- The Contra Costa County job picture
- Income in Contra Costa County compared with California
- Housing costs in Contra Costa County
- Contra Costa County towns compared
- How Contra Costa County compares with nearby counties
- Budget math at the Contra Costa County median
- Contra Costa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Before borrowing in Contra Costa County
- Steps before you apply in Contra Costa County
- Lender oversight for Contra Costa County
- More guides for Contra Costa County
- Frequently asked questions
Contra Costa County, CA: the basics
Roughly 1,165,012 residents live in Contra Costa County, California, 9th by population among the state's 58 counties and county equivalents. Land area is 717 square miles (2024 Gazetteer), so density runs near 1,625 per square mile. For statistical purposes it belongs to the San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA metro area, as delineated by the Office of Management and Budget in July 2023. Of the 53 Census places inside Contra Costa County, Concord leads by population with about 124,035; 19 of the 53 are incorporated.
The Contra Costa County job picture
Education and health care employs 23% of working residents, the largest share; professional and administrative services is next with 18%. The sharpest difference from the state is in professional and administrative services, at 18% locally and 15% for California. Averaged over the five survey years, 6.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking. About 60% drive to work alone and 33% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 5.2% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Top industries | Contra Costa County share | +/- vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 22.7% | +0.6 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 18.1% | +3.5 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.3% | +0.2 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 7.8% | -1.6 pts |
| Construction | 7.8% | +1.1 pts |
| Finance, insurance and real estate | 7.4% | +1.8 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Income in Contra Costa County compared with California
Half of Contra Costa County households take in less than $127,229 a year and half take in more, 28% above the California median of $99,122. In the state ranking that is 6th of 58.
| Yearly household income | Contra Costa County | Gap to California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 12.7% | -5.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 27.1% | -5.6 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 30.8% | +1.7 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 29.4% | +8.9 pts |
About 13% of households earn under $35,000, while 60% clear $100,000. 8.4% of residents fall below the federal poverty line (statewide: 12.0%). Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.471 here. A household earning below the $127,229 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Housing costs in Contra Costa County
Renters in Contra Costa County pay a median of $2,375 a month, 17% above the California figure of $2,036. 56% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 28% spend half or more. Home values center on $866,800, or 6.8 years of median income. 68% of Contra Costa County households own their home and 32% rent.
| Cost | Contra Costa County | California figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $2,375/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $866,800 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 37% | 38% | n/a |
| Mobile homes | 1.4% | 3.5% | n/a |
When half or more of renters are already stretched, a new payment needs a stress test: what happens if a paycheck is a week late?
Contra Costa County towns compared
53 Census places fall mainly inside Contra Costa County; the 14 biggest are below. They account for 1,155,932 residents, leaving about 1% of the county in unincorporated, unnamed areas. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $74,972 in Bethel Island to $250,001 in Orinda. Rent is cheapest in Clyde ($1,404) and steepest in Danville ($3,501). 2 of them have a separate city guide (linked). For the rest, this is the local guide.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Concord | city | 124,035 | $108,709 | $2,274 | 5 mi |
| Antioch | city | 116,477 | $97,465 | $2,278 | 9 mi |
| Richmond | city | 115,505 | $95,391 | $1,960 | 22 mi |
| San Ramon | city | 85,993 | $196,161 | $2,968 | 11 mi |
| Pittsburg | city | 76,257 | $99,861 | $2,264 | 7 mi |
| Walnut Creek | city | 70,088 | $130,432 | $2,680 | 5 mi |
| Brentwood | city | 65,208 | $142,494 | $2,758 | 13 mi |
| Oakley | city | 45,183 | $137,677 | $1,953 | 15 mi |
| Danville | town | 43,401 | $232,216 | $3,501 | 7 mi |
| Martinez | city | 36,903 | $127,355 | $2,353 | 10 mi |
| Pleasant Hill | city | 34,235 | $145,029 | $2,533 | 7 mi |
| San Pablo | city | 31,720 | $79,478 | $2,018 | 22 mi |
| Hercules | city | 26,302 | $129,397 | $2,991 | 20 mi |
| El Cerrito | city | 25,994 | $127,876 | $2,548 | 19 mi |
How Contra Costa County compares with nearby counties
Six nearby counties, 19 to 45 miles away by the straight-line distance between their centers. 3 of the six report a higher median household income than Contra Costa County; San Mateo County is highest at $158,855 and San Joaquin County lowest at $92,179.
| Nearby county | Center to center | Household income | Gross rent | Owner-occupied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contra Costa County | - | $127,229 | $2,375/mo | 68% |
| Alameda County, CA | 19 mi | $129,367 | $2,357/mo | 54% |
| Solano County, CA | 24 mi | $100,401 | $2,163/mo | 63% |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 37 mi | $92,179 | $1,734/mo | 62% |
| San Mateo County, CA | 42 mi | $158,855 | $2,922/mo | 58% |
| Marin County, CA | 44 mi | $149,091 | $2,668/mo | 65% |
| Napa County, CA | 45 mi | $111,471 | $2,237/mo | 63% |
Budget math at the Contra Costa County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to Contra Costa County's medians:
- $10,602 a month: gross income for a household at the Contra Costa County median
- Housing at the median rent of $2,375 uses 22%
- At 36%, room after rent is $1,442 a month
If your rent is above $2,375, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Contra Costa County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 45% of the adult population. 4.6% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Contra Costa County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40.5 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 45.2% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 10.4% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 4.6% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 5.2% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 21.3% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 8.4% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 6.5% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Travel time to work | Workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 18.8% |
| 15 to 29 min | 28.3% |
| 30 to 44 min | 20.2% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.6% |
| 60+ min | 21.2% |
Before borrowing in Contra Costa County
What the Contra Costa County figures suggest, and what to check first:
- Long drives. With 33% of commutes over 45 minutes, tires and repairs are fixed costs in many Contra Costa County budgets.
- Consolidation math. With 60% at six figures, card consolidation is common; it pays only if total cost falls (guide).
- Renters under pressure. When 56% pay 30% or more for rent, the smallest loan that solves the problem is the right size.
Steps before you apply in Contra Costa County
Before you apply, wherever you live in Contra Costa County:
- Borrow the amount the job needs; extra cash adds interest.
- Collect three written offers and compare APR and total repaid.
- Only work with lenders licensed for California borrowers.
- Ask about early-payoff penalties.
Lender oversight for Contra Costa County
Consumer lenders serving Contra Costa County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. Problems with a lender can also go to the CFPB. Statewide data and rules: California guide.
More guides for Contra Costa County
City guides inside Contra Costa County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Contra Costa County household make?
About $127,229 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 28% above the California median.
What do renters pay in Contra Costa County?
$2,375 a month at the median, about 22% of median household income.
Which towns does the Contra Costa County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 53 Census places: Concord, Antioch, Richmond, San Ramon, Pittsburg.
Does my county matter to the questionnaire?
Only your state does. Whether you live in Contra Costa County or elsewhere in California, the same rules apply.
Who regulates personal lenders for Contra Costa County residents?
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation licenses consumer lenders in California; the CFPB takes complaints about any lender, and the FTC wants to hear about fee-first offers.