1st Advantage MortgageIn Fresno County, California, the typical household earns $74,201 a year and the typical rent is $1,392. Whatever your own numbers, compare written offers on APR, fees and total cost, and verify the lender is licensed in California before sharing details.
On this page
- Who lives in Fresno County
- What Fresno County households earn
- Jobs and commutes in Fresno County
- Renting and owning in Fresno County
- Neighboring counties at a glance
- Towns and communities in Fresno County
- Room for a loan payment in Fresno County
- Borrowing situations common in Fresno County
- Who lives in Fresno County, in numbers
- Who licenses lenders for Fresno County residents
- A Fresno County borrower's checklist
- Related local guides
- Frequently asked questions
Who lives in Fresno County
The latest five-year Census estimate puts Fresno County's population at 1,016,725; only 9 of California's 58 county-level areas are larger. It covers 5,959 square miles of land, or about 171 people per square mile. The federal metro definitions (OMB, July 2023) place it in the Fresno, CA metropolitan area. The Census Bureau counts 45 places in the county (15 incorporated, 30 census-designated); the largest is Fresno, with about 545,970 residents, or 54% of the county.
What Fresno County households earn
Half of Fresno County households take in less than $74,201 a year and half take in more, 25% below the California median of $99,122. In the state ranking that is 37th of 58.
| Household income | Fresno County | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 24.3% | +6.5 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 39.2% | +6.5 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 25.8% | -3.3 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 10.7% | -9.8 pts |
The spread is wide: 37% of Fresno County households make $100,000 or more, and 24% make less than $35,000. Census counts 18.3% of Fresno County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. Income inequality, measured by the Gini index, comes to 0.474 here. None of these numbers decides a Fresno County application. Lenders weigh your own documented income against your own debts.
Jobs and commutes in Fresno County
Education and health care employs 26% of working residents, the largest share; retail trade is next with 10%. Compared with California, the county leans toward agriculture, forestry and mining (8% against 2%). ACS puts five-year average unemployment at 8.7% in Fresno County. About 73% drive to work alone and 10% have trips of 45 minutes or more. Only 7.0% of homes here go without a vehicle.
| Sector | Fresno County | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 26.3% | +4.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 10.1% | 0.0 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 9.4% | -5.1 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.3% | -1.1 pts |
| Agriculture, forestry and mining | 7.7% | +5.7 pts |
| Transportation, warehousing and utilities | 6.9% | +0.9 pts |
A lender verifies what your own job pays. The county's industry mix tells you about the local economy, not about your application.
Renting and owning in Fresno County
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,392 in Fresno County versus $2,036 statewide. By the Census definition, 56% of Fresno County renters are cost-burdened. With a median value of $388,800, a typical Fresno County house costs 5.2 times what the median household earns in a year. Owners occupy 56% of homes. The median year built is 1982.
| Cost | Fresno County | California figure | Median county, U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,392/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $388,800 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 56% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 56% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 34% | 38% | n/a |
Rent pressure is real here, so run any payment through the debt-to-income calculator before you apply.
Neighboring counties at a glance
Nearest neighbors first, measured between county centers (31 to 80 miles). 2 of the six report a higher median household income than Fresno County; San Benito County is highest at $114,394 and Merced County lowest at $65,510.
| County | Distance | Median income | Median rent | Owners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno County | - | $74,201 | $1,392/mo | 56% |
| Madera County, CA | 31 mi | $76,627 | $1,390/mo | 67% |
| Kings County, CA | 48 mi | $70,995 | $1,331/mo | 54% |
| Mariposa County, CA | 58 mi | $68,412 | $1,305/mo | 75% |
| Tulare County, CA | 61 mi | $71,300 | $1,280/mo | 58% |
| Merced County, CA | 66 mi | $65,510 | $1,343/mo | 54% |
| San Benito County, CA | 80 mi | $114,394 | $1,992/mo | 68% |
Towns and communities in Fresno County
Here are the 14 most populous of the county's 45 Census places, with income and rent from the same 2020 to 2024 survey. About 89% of Fresno County residents live in one of the 45. Millerton has the highest median household income on the list ($207,109) and San Joaquin the lowest ($43,011), counting places with at least 500 residents. City guides exist for the linked Fresno County places; everyone else in the county can use this page.
| Community | Type | Residents | Household income (median) | Rent (median) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fresno | city | 545,970 | $70,991 | $1,421 | 8 mi |
| Clovis | city | 124,725 | $99,241 | $1,792 | 5 mi |
| Sanger | city | 26,699 | $77,500 | $1,209 | 7 mi |
| Reedley | city | 25,609 | $63,307 | $1,288 | 16 mi |
| Selma | city | 24,659 | $60,241 | $1,232 | 13 mi |
| Coalinga | city | 17,203 | $75,451 | $1,093 | 58 mi |
| Kerman | city | 16,815 | $59,799 | $1,223 | 23 mi |
| Parlier | city | 14,507 | $52,357 | $1,105 | 12 mi |
| Kingsburg | city | 12,755 | $76,913 | $1,277 | 17 mi |
| Mendota | city | 12,577 | $50,342 | $1,042 | 40 mi |
| Orange Cove | city | 9,695 | $46,629 | $1,103 | 21 mi |
| Firebaugh | city | 8,392 | $47,734 | $982 | 45 mi |
| Fowler | city | 7,094 | $66,983 | $1,218 | 10 mi |
| Huron | city | 6,519 | $52,500 | $1,054 | 46 mi |
Room for a loan payment in Fresno County
Lenders compare monthly debt payments with gross monthly income, the debt-to-income ratio. For a Fresno County household at the medians it works out like this; treat it as an illustration only.
- $74,201 a year is $6,183 of gross monthly income
- 23% goes to median rent ($1,392)
- $772: what a 35% ratio leaves once rent is paid
- With a 45% ceiling, about $1,391 remains for car, card, student and any new loan payments
If your rent is above $1,392, the room shrinks dollar for dollar.
Borrowing situations common in Fresno County
Based on the Fresno County data above, these borrowing questions are most likely to matter locally.
- Assistance before credit. With a 18% poverty rate, check no-cost options before any Fresno County loan.
- 56% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
- Debt consolidation. One fixed payment can save money only if the written APR and fees beat what you pay now (guide).
Who lives in Fresno County, in numbers
Degree holders: 24% of adults over 25. 6.7% of residents have no health coverage.
| Measure | Fresno County | California statewide | Typical U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33.5 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.3% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 20.9% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.7% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 7.0% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 10.1% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 18.3% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 8.7% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | Fresno County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 26.2% |
| 15 to 29 min | 45.9% |
| 30 to 44 min | 17.8% |
| 45 to 59 min | 4.6% |
| 60+ min | 5.6% |
Who licenses lenders for Fresno County residents
Consumer lenders serving Fresno County are licensed by the state, not the county; in California that is the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints nationwide. See the California state guide for the statewide picture.
A Fresno County borrower's checklist
Four checks before you sign anything:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- A California license check takes minutes; do it first.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Related local guides
City guides inside Fresno County, and the statewide guide:
Frequently asked questions
What does a typical Fresno County household make?
About $74,201 a year at the median (ACS 2020-24), 25% below the California median.
What do renters pay in Fresno County?
$1,392 a month at the median, about 23% of median household income.
I live in a small Fresno County town. Is this my guide?
Yes. If your town has no city guide, this county page is the local one; it covers Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Reedley, Selma and 40 more.
Is the fit check different in Fresno County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in Fresno County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.