1st Advantage MortgageIn San Benito County, California, the typical household earns $114,394 a year and the typical rent is $1,992. Your income, debts and credit decide what you qualify for. Get offers in writing, compare the total repaid, and never pay a fee up front.
On this page
- San Benito County at a glance
- Paychecks and income spread in San Benito County
- Employment and commuting in San Benito County
- San Benito County housing compared with California
- Towns and communities in San Benito County
- Counties near San Benito County
- Budget math at the San Benito County median
- Borrowing situations common in San Benito County
- San Benito County residents: age, schooling, coverage
- Who licenses lenders for San Benito County residents
- Steps before you apply in San Benito County
- Nearby and statewide guides
- Frequently asked questions
San Benito County at a glance
With an estimated 67,290 residents (ACS 2020 to 2024), San Benito County ranks 41st of 58 in California for population. It covers 1,389 square miles of land, or about 48 people per square mile. It is one of the counties that make up the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metropolitan statistical area (OMB, 2023). Of the 5 Census places inside San Benito County, Hollister leads by population with about 43,811; 2 of the 5 are incorporated.
Paychecks and income spread in San Benito County
Half of San Benito County households take in less than $114,394 a year and half take in more, 15% above the California median of $99,122.
| Band | San Benito County | Compared with California |
|---|---|---|
| Under $35,000 | 10.6% | -7.1 pts |
| $35,000 to $99,999 | 31.7% | -1.0 pts |
| $100,000 to $199,999 | 35.9% | +6.8 pts |
| $200,000 or more | 21.8% | +1.3 pts |
About 11% of households earn under $35,000, while 58% clear $100,000. Census counts 6.7% of San Benito County residents in poverty, against 12.0% across California. The Gini index of income inequality is 0.414 (0 is perfect equality). A household earning below the $114,394 median should test any payment carefully; one earning above it should still pick the shortest term it can manage.
Employment and commuting in San Benito County
By the Census industry count, 19% of employed San Benito County residents work in education and health care and 11% in professional and administrative services. The sharpest difference from the state is in agriculture, forestry and mining, at 7% locally and 2% for California. The survey's unemployment rate for San Benito County averages 5.4% over 2020 to 2024 (state: 6.6%). Long commutes are common here: 37% of workers spend 45 minutes or longer getting to work.
| Industry | Share of San Benito County workers | vs California |
|---|---|---|
| Education and health care | 18.7% | -3.4 pts |
| Professional and administrative services | 11.4% | -3.1 pts |
| Manufacturing | 10.9% | +2.0 pts |
| Construction | 9.8% | +3.2 pts |
| Retail trade | 9.8% | -0.3 pts |
| Arts, lodging and food service | 8.4% | -1.0 pts |
If your hours swing with the season or with overtime, size a loan payment against your base pay, not your best month.
San Benito County housing compared with California
Median gross rent, utilities included, comes to $1,992 in San Benito County versus $2,036 statewide. 48% of renting households spend 30% or more of income on rent, and 23% spend half or more. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $793,400, about 6.9 times the median household income. Owners occupy 68% of homes. Half the housing stock was built before 1989.
| Measure | San Benito County | California | Median U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median gross rent | $1,992/mo | $2,036/mo | $877/mo |
| Median home value | $793,400 | $734,700 | $185,300 |
| Owners | 68% | 56% | 75% |
| Rent-burdened renters | 48% | 55% | 45% |
| Burdened owners | 43% | 38% | n/a |
| Vacant units | 4% | 7% | n/a |
Towns and communities in San Benito County
The table lists the 5 largest of 5 Census places in San Benito County, by population. Together all 5 hold about 53,393 people, so roughly 21% of residents live outside any named place. Among places of 500 or more people, median income runs from $111,834 in Hollister to $148,438 in Aromas. Median rent ranges from $1,889 in San Juan Bautista to $3,412 in Ridgemark. None of the 5 has its own city guide, so this page covers all of them.
| Town or CDP | Type | People | Median household income | Median gross rent | Miles from center |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollister | city | 43,811 | $111,834 | $1,914 | 24 mi |
| Ridgemark | CDP | 3,403 | $129,744 | $3,412 | 20 mi |
| Aromas | CDP | 3,245 | $148,438 | $2,638 | 35 mi |
| San Juan Bautista | city | 2,033 | $115,833 | $1,889 | 30 mi |
| Tres Pinos | CDP | 901 | n/a | n/a | 18 mi |
Counties near San Benito County
Monterey County is closest, 29 miles from center to center; the sixth, Kings County, is 80 miles off. Santa Clara County leads the group on income ($164,281), Merced County trails ($65,510), and San Benito County out-earns 5 of the six.
| Neighbor | Distance | Income | Rent | Own |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Benito County | - | $114,394 | $1,992/mo | 68% |
| Monterey County, CA | 29 mi | $97,230 | $2,055/mo | 52% |
| Merced County, CA | 45 mi | $65,510 | $1,343/mo | 54% |
| Santa Clara County, CA | 54 mi | $164,281 | $2,857/mo | 55% |
| Santa Cruz County, CA | 58 mi | $111,093 | $2,264/mo | 60% |
| Stanislaus County, CA | 66 mi | $81,468 | $1,623/mo | 61% |
| Kings County, CA | 80 mi | $70,995 | $1,331/mo | 54% |
Budget math at the San Benito County median
The debt-to-income ratio is the main affordability test lenders use. Applied to San Benito County's medians:
- Start: $9,533 gross per month ($114,394 / 12)
- Housing at the median rent of $1,992 uses 21%
- Under a 36% cap, $3,432 total minus rent leaves $1,440
Two-income households and single earners in San Benito County land in very different places on this math, so run it for your own budget.
Borrowing situations common in San Benito County
The county's numbers point to a few situations that come up often for San Benito County borrowers.
- Commuter costs. 37% drive 45 minutes or more. Compare shop financing with a loan, and keep a small repair fund.
- Six-figure budgets. For the 58% earning $100,000 or more, lifestyle creep, not approval, is the usual problem.
- 48% rent-burdened. A payment on top of high rent needs a cushion; size it with the calculator.
San Benito County residents: age, schooling, coverage
College graduates make up 24% of the adult population. 6.0% of residents have no health coverage.
| Residents | San Benito County | California | Middle U.S. county |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36.1 | 37.9 | 41.5 |
| Bachelor's or higher | 24.1% | 37.1% | 22.2% |
| No high school diploma | 16.6% | 15.3% | n/a |
| No health insurance | 6.0% | 6.6% | 7.8% |
| No vehicle | 3.0% | 7.1% | 5.4% |
| Work from home | 11.8% | 17.2% | 8.7% |
| Poverty rate | 6.7% | 12.0% | 13.2% |
| Unemployment (ACS) | 5.4% | 6.6% | 4.4% |
| Minutes to work | San Benito County workers |
|---|---|
| Under 15 min | 28.3% |
| 15 to 29 min | 19.1% |
| 30 to 44 min | 15.7% |
| 45 to 59 min | 11.3% |
| 60+ min | 25.6% |
Who licenses lenders for San Benito County residents
Consumer lenders serving San Benito 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. The California guide covers state rules in more detail.
Steps before you apply in San Benito County
Quick steps for San Benito County:
- Know the exact dollar figure you need before talking to a lender.
- Prequalify with soft pulls where offered, then compare in writing.
- Confirm the lender is licensed in California.
- Lock paid-off cards after consolidating so balances stay at zero.
Nearby and statewide guides
The California guide covers the whole state.
Frequently asked questions
How much do households in San Benito County earn?
The median is $114,394; 58% earn $100,000 or more and 11% under $35,000. A lender uses your own documented income, not this figure.
How much is rent in San Benito County?
Median gross rent, utilities included, is $1,992 a month; 48% of renters spend 30% or more of income on it.
Which towns does the San Benito County guide cover?
Every community in the county, unincorporated areas included. The largest of its 5 Census places: Hollister, Ridgemark, Aromas, San Juan Bautista, Tres Pinos.
Is the fit check different in San Benito County?
No. It is identical everywhere, and it never looks at your neighborhood.
Who do I complain to about a lender in San Benito County?
Start with the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation, then the CFPB complaint portal. Keep copies of every message.