How much do California Homeowners with a Mortgage Spend on Housing?
By: Kevin Pryor May. 02, 2018
Gavop, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, analyzed housing costs as a percentage of income for mortgaged homeowners in California. In this study, all the counties in California were ranked from the highest to the lowest values.
The figures show that homeowners with a mortgage in California paid 39 percent of their income towards housing costs compared to 31 percent at the national level. Homeowners in California with a mortgage had a median yearly housing cost of $26,256 in 2016, which is $8,424 more than the national value. When the state’s median income of $67,739 is factored in, those with a mortgage had to allocate 39 percent of their annual income to their housing costs.
The following table shows California's mortgage cost figures and how they preformed above national values. California is ranked number one in the country with the highest median percentage of income spent towards housing costs for homeowners with a mortgage.
| Location | Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage as a % of Income | Annualized Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage | Median Income | Median Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 39% | $26,256 | $67,739 | $477,500 |
| United States | 31% | $17,832 | $57,617 | $205,000 |
Residents living in Mendocino County had the highest median cost in the state, where homeowners allocated 46 percent of their income to housing costs. Los Angeles County had the second highest proportion of income spent on housing costs at 45 percent followed by Humboldt County at 44 percent, Lake County at 42 percent, and Santa Cruz County at 41 percent.
The Top 5 Counties with the Highest Housing Costs as a Percentage of Income
| Rank By Homeowners costs as a % of Income (Highest to Lowest) | Location | Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage as a % of Income | Annualized Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage | Median Income | Median Home Value | Number of Housing Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mendocino County | 46% | $19,992 | $43,909 | $333,900 | 40842 |
| 2 | Los Angeles County | 45% | $27,816 | $61,338 | $537,900 | 3520811 |
| 3 | Humboldt County | 44% | $19,188 | $43,130 | $298,300 | 62645 |
| 4 | Lake County | 42% | $17,544 | $42,029 | $217,400 | 35664 |
| 5 | Santa Cruz County | 41% | $32,076 | $77,613 | $712,800 | 105635 |
Conversely, Placer County had the lowest median housing costs as a proportion of income at 30 percent. The next lowest county was Kings County at 31 percent followed by Imperial County at 32 percent, Solano county at 33 percent, and, lastly, Contra Costa County at 33 percent.
The 5 Counties with the Lowest Housing Costs as a Percentage of Income
| Rank By Homeowners costs as a % of Income (Lowest to Highest) | Location | Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage as a % of Income | Annualized Housing Costs for Homeowners with a Mortgage | Median Income | Median Home Value | Number of Housing Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Placer County | 30% | $25,956 | $85,426 | $442,300 | 410814 |
| 2 | Kings County | 31% | $16,656 | $53,234 | $190,500 | 156826 |
| 3 | Imperial County | 32% | $15,876 | $49,095 | $170,900 | 57386 |
| 4 | Solano County | 33% | $24,108 | $73,900 | $377,900 | 45763 |
| 5 | Contra Costa County | 33% | $30,024 | $91,045 | $577,000 | 1614422 |
All Counties In California From Highest to Lowest Housing Costs as a Percentage of Income
| Rank By Homeowners costs as a % of Income (Highest to Lowest) | Location Name | Median Homeowners Costs as a % of Income for People with a Mortgage | Median Homeowner Costs with a Mortgage (Annual) | Median Income | Median Home Value | Total Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mendocino County, California | 46% | $19,992 | $43,809 | $333,900 | 40842 |
| 2 | Los Angeles County, California | 45% | $27,816 | $61,338 | $537,900 | 3520811 |
| 3 | Humboldt County, California | 44% | $19,188 | $43,130 | $298,300 | 62645 |
| 4 | Lake County, California | 42% | $17,544 | $42,029 | $217,400 | 35664 |
| 5 | Santa Cruz County, California | 41% | $32,076 | $77,613 | $712,800 | 105635 |
| 6 | San Diego County, California | 40% | $28,500 | $70,824 | $527,600 | 1202397 |
| 7 | Santa Barbara County, California | 40% | $27,000 | $67,436 | $531,200 | 155962 |
| 8 | Yolo County, California | 39% | $25,488 | $64,904 | $408,500 | 77166 |
| 9 | Marin County, California | 39% | $40,416 | $103,845 | $974,600 | 112885 |
| 10 | Yuba County, California | 39% | $19,140 | $49,259 | $253,800 | 28360 |
| 11 | Butte County, California | 39% | $17,496 | $45,177 | $256,500 | 98439 |
| 12 | San Francisco County, California | 39% | $40,080 | $103,801 | $1,024,000 | 392823 |
| 13 | Orange County, California | 38% | $31,416 | $81,837 | $654,400 | 1090121 |
| 14 | Monterey County, California | 38% | $24,456 | $63,876 | $481,000 | 140819 |
| 15 | Napa County, California | 38% | $28,392 | $75,077 | $599,300 | 55535 |
| 16 | Shasta County, California | 38% | $17,616 | $46,724 | $237,200 | 78303 |
| 17 | Sutter County, California | 38% | $19,296 | $51,397 | $254,200 | 34294 |
| 18 | Fresno County, California | 37% | $18,048 | $48,715 | $238,100 | 327812 |
| 19 | Riverside County, California | 37% | $22,068 | $60,134 | $329,600 | 831404 |
| 20 | Sonoma County, California | 36% | $26,868 | $73,929 | $565,200 | 208153 |
| 21 | Alameda County, California | 36% | $32,532 | $89,979 | $713,600 | 599780 |
| 22 | San Mateo County, California | 36% | $39,240 | $108,627 | $1,002,400 | 275947 |
| 23 | San Bernardino County, California | 36% | $20,256 | $56,337 | $302,600 | 714364 |
| 24 | Nevada County, California | 36% | $21,216 | $59,022 | $381,100 | 53538 |
| 25 | Merced County, California | 36% | $17,088 | $47,739 | $231,300 | 84432 |
| 26 | Stanislaus County, California | 36% | $19,380 | $54,305 | $274,300 | 180822 |
| 27 | San Joaquin County, California | 35% | $21,120 | $59,518 | $316,000 | 240618 |
| 28 | San Luis Obispo County, California | 35% | $24,972 | $70,564 | $547,200 | 120866 |
| 29 | Sacramento County, California | 35% | $21,084 | $59,780 | $326,800 | 565813 |
| 30 | Ventura County, California | 35% | $28,260 | $80,135 | $561,400 | 286905 |
| 31 | Kern County, California | 35% | $17,316 | $49,903 | $204,200 | 295240 |
| 32 | Madera County, California | 34% | $17,400 | $51,657 | $235,400 | 50205 |
| 33 | Santa Clara County, California | 34% | $37,224 | $111,069 | $925,700 | 665098 |
| 34 | El Dorado County, California | 34% | $25,392 | $75,772 | $426,800 | 89468 |
| 35 | Tulare County, California | 34% | $15,372 | $45,881 | $186,600 | 147537 |
| 36 | Contra Costa County, California | 33% | $30,024 | $91,045 | $577,000 | 410814 |
| 37 | Solano County, California | 33% | $24,108 | $73,900 | $377,900 | 156826 |
| 38 | Imperial County, California | 32% | $15,876 | $49,095 | $170,900 | 57386 |
| 39 | Kings County, California | 31% | $16,656 | $53,234 | $190,500 | 45763 |
| 40 | Placer County, California | 30% | $25,956 | $85,426 | $442,300 | 161422 |
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin Pryor
Kevin Pryor currently works as a data analyst and public relations associate where he takes pride in analyzing data and sharing the amazing insights it presents to various target audiences. Kevin graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in communication and has a passion for the results that can come from effective communications. While at school, he interned with Total Mortgage, Stafford Motor Speedway and UConn Community Outreach. In his free time, Kevin enjoys outdoor activities, cinema, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
