Home values in these cities far exceed the national median, driven by coastal proximity, strong tech and finance economies, and constrained housing supply. Buying in these markets typically requires high income, significant savings, or both. The gap between home values and local incomes continues to be a defining challenge in these areas.
| # | City | Median Home Value | Median Rent | Median Income | Rent-to-Income | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport Beach, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,146 | $158,461 | 23.8% | 84,304 |
| 2 | Palo Alto, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,328 | $220,408 | 18.1% | 67,231 |
| 3 | Cupertino, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,501 | $231,139 | 18.2% | 58,886 |
| 4 | Manhattan Beach, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,492 | $193,904 | 21.6% | 34,584 |
| 5 | Menlo Park, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,156 | $206,588 | 18.3% | 32,775 |
| 6 | Los Gatos, CA | $2,000,001 | $2,969 | $207,891 | 17.1% | 32,773 |
| 7 | Beverly Hills, CA | $2,000,001 | $2,805 | $127,979 | 26.3% | 31,955 |
| 8 | Los Altos, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,501 | $250,001 | 16.8% | 30,736 |
| 9 | Burlingame, CA | $2,000,001 | $2,643 | $168,832 | 18.8% | 30,526 |
| 10 | Saratoga, CA | $2,000,001 | $3,501 | $241,348 | 17.4% | 30,335 |
| 11 | San Carlos, CA | $2,000,001 | $2,802 | $233,333 | 14.4% | 29,797 |
| 12 | Belmont, CA | $2,000,001 | $2,894 | $207,609 | 16.7% | 27,505 |
| 13 | Lafayette, CA | $2,000,001 | $2,855 | $222,393 | 15.4% | 25,277 |
| 14 | Mountain View, CA | $1,927,400 | $2,975 | $179,917 | 19.8% | 82,363 |
| 15 | Mercer Island, WA | $1,884,200 | $2,464 | $202,359 | 14.6% | 25,282 |
| 16 | Redwood City, CA | $1,838,800 | $2,959 | $150,840 | 23.5% | 82,423 |
| 17 | Sunnyvale, CA | $1,816,600 | $3,065 | $181,862 | 20.2% | 153,455 |
| 18 | Santa Monica, CA | $1,810,200 | $2,338 | $109,739 | 25.6% | 91,535 |
| 19 | Foster City, CA | $1,774,500 | $3,501 | $193,633 | 21.7% | 32,964 |
| 20 | University Park, TX | $1,766,700 | $2,940 | $250,001 | 14.1% | 25,104 |
| 21 | Danville, CA | $1,583,300 | $3,501 | $223,206 | 18.8% | 43,426 |
| 22 | San Mateo, CA | $1,563,200 | $3,079 | $152,669 | 24.2% | 103,555 |
| 23 | Campbell, CA | $1,550,000 | $2,751 | $147,128 | 22.4% | 42,848 |
| 24 | South Pasadena, CA | $1,545,100 | $2,218 | $128,105 | 20.8% | 26,297 |
| 25 | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA | $1,541,400 | $3,501 | $175,307 | 24% | 41,259 |
| 26 | Santa Clara, CA | $1,527,900 | $2,985 | $173,670 | 20.6% | 129,239 |
| 27 | Wellesley, MA | $1,513,400 | $2,849 | $250,001 | 13.7% | 29,906 |
| 28 | Santa Barbara, CA | $1,466,400 | $2,302 | $101,672 | 27.2% | 88,024 |
| 29 | Encinitas, CA | $1,466,000 | $2,730 | $150,471 | 21.8% | 61,585 |
| 30 | Pleasanton, CA | $1,432,300 | $3,017 | $186,206 | 19.4% | 77,500 |
| 31 | San Francisco, CA | $1,380,500 | $2,419 | $141,446 | 20.5% | 836,321 |
| 32 | San Ramon, CA | $1,359,100 | $2,916 | $197,358 | 17.7% | 85,734 |
| 33 | Berkeley, CA | $1,351,100 | $2,127 | $108,558 | 23.5% | 120,223 |
| 34 | Arcadia, CA | $1,336,500 | $2,118 | $116,142 | 21.9% | 55,550 |
| 35 | McLean, VA | $1,304,900 | $3,376 | $250,001 | 16.2% | 50,232 |
| 36 | Fremont, CA | $1,289,400 | $2,905 | $176,350 | 19.8% | 228,518 |
| 37 | San Rafael, CA | $1,246,200 | $2,346 | $109,317 | 25.8% | 60,604 |
| 38 | Sammamish, WA | $1,240,300 | $2,728 | $227,273 | 14.4% | 66,375 |
| 39 | Kailua CDP (Honolulu County), HI | $1,239,000 | $3,068 | $146,615 | 25.1% | 39,762 |
| 40 | Brookline, MA | $1,233,100 | $2,804 | $140,631 | 23.9% | 62,822 |
| 41 | Redondo Beach, CA | $1,225,400 | $2,562 | $144,588 | 21.3% | 69,814 |
| 42 | Dublin, CA | $1,224,100 | $3,174 | $205,046 | 18.6% | 70,542 |
| 43 | San Clemente, CA | $1,220,500 | $2,398 | $134,735 | 21.4% | 63,510 |
| 44 | North Tustin, CA | $1,212,400 | $2,397 | $186,250 | 15.4% | 26,038 |
| 45 | Pacifica, CA | $1,211,700 | $3,080 | $156,819 | 23.6% | 37,527 |
| 46 | Alameda, CA | $1,203,900 | $2,394 | $132,015 | 21.8% | 76,876 |
| 47 | Bellevue, WA | $1,203,100 | $2,505 | $161,300 | 18.6% | 151,199 |
| 48 | Newton, MA | $1,202,500 | $2,388 | $184,989 | 15.5% | 88,504 |
| 49 | Dana Point, CA | $1,200,900 | $2,883 | $127,246 | 27.2% | 32,883 |
| 50 | San Bruno, CA | $1,199,400 | $2,696 | $135,976 | 23.8% | 42,612 |
Key Takeaways
- Newport Beach, CA ranks #1 with median home value of $2,000,001.
- The top 5 cities are: Newport Beach, CA; Palo Alto, CA; Cupertino, CA; Manhattan Beach, CA; Menlo Park, CA.
- The gap between #1 ($2,000,001) and #50 ($1,199,400) shows significant variation even within the top 50.
- Median household income in the top-ranked city is $158,461, with a population of 84,304.
Methodology
Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. All cities with valid data and populations above 25,000 are included. Rent-to-income ratio is calculated as (median gross rent x 12) / median household income. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.