Most Affordable Cities in California

Updated 2026 • Source: US Census Bureau ACS • 304 cities ranked

The cheapest cities to live in California ranked by median rent, home values, and more.

# City Median Rent Median Income Home Value Population
1 Brawley, CA $954 $60,370 $270,100 26,934
2 Wasco, CA $991 $55,521 $251,900 26,222
3 El Centro, CA $992 $56,093 $291,100 44,186
4 Calexico, CA $1,049 $50,021 $281,700 38,476
5 Barstow, CA $1,065 $51,811 $222,600 25,198
6 Porterville, CA $1,111 $59,012 $273,600 62,765
7 Delano, CA $1,111 $61,817 $270,300 50,835
8 Coachella, CA $1,115 $67,558 $341,300 42,594
9 Sanger, CA $1,131 $74,428 $346,000 26,515
10 Dinuba, CA $1,146 $59,048 $267,300 25,201
11 Eureka, CA $1,157 $60,253 $375,800 26,302
12 Ridgecrest, CA $1,178 $88,107 $235,800 28,138
13 Hanford, CA $1,196 $73,544 $323,600 59,389
14 Reedley, CA $1,198 $62,923 $311,700 25,446
15 Atwater, CA $1,219 $63,945 $340,600 32,013
16 East Niles, CA $1,219 $51,250 $228,100 28,586
17 Oildale, CA $1,220 $49,622 $225,000 34,971
18 Madera, CA $1,237 $63,619 $335,900 67,133
19 Twentynine Palms, CA $1,271 $56,000 $238,400 28,738
20 Merced, CA $1,293 $59,938 $347,700 89,766
21 Redding, CA $1,323 $69,443 $363,800 93,268
22 Fresno, CA $1,324 $66,804 $348,500 543,615
23 Desert Hot Springs, CA $1,339 $50,349 $309,300 32,786
24 Tulare, CA $1,354 $69,517 $301,200 69,984
25 Bakersfield, CA $1,371 $77,397 $347,300 408,366
26 Apple Valley, CA $1,373 $65,926 $377,300 75,478
27 Adelanto, CA $1,389 $68,419 $318,300 38,010
28 Yuba City, CA $1,391 $72,322 $405,900 69,545
29 Indio, CA $1,392 $78,709 $424,700 90,669
30 Lemoore, CA $1,394 $82,189 $319,200 27,023
31 Visalia, CA $1,397 $79,952 $340,600 142,649
32 Westmont, CA $1,413 $47,899 $617,300 34,291
33 Galt, CA $1,413 $86,327 $465,700 25,665
34 East Los Angeles, CA $1,431 $68,378 $613,600 114,617
35 Hemet, CA $1,432 $53,623 $314,200 90,646
36 San Bernardino, CA $1,433 $63,988 $384,900 221,774
37 Huntington Park, CA $1,440 $56,952 $557,600 53,658
38 Chico, CA $1,442 $67,929 $455,300 102,032
39 South Gate, CA $1,471 $71,315 $608,500 91,836
40 Palm Springs, CA $1,473 $71,979 $567,300 44,998
41 Florence-Graham, CA $1,475 $61,216 $499,100 61,723
42 Arden-Arcade, CA $1,476 $71,767 $504,400 96,319
43 Stockton, CA $1,495 $76,851 $412,900 320,470
44 Turlock, CA $1,498 $79,807 $443,900 72,400
45 Woodland, CA $1,500 $87,880 $505,200 61,256
46 Florin, CA $1,503 $66,323 $359,500 49,536
47 Beaumont, CA $1,505 $105,164 $464,000 54,817
48 Los Banos, CA $1,515 $70,893 $419,600 46,776
49 Lompoc, CA $1,516 $70,038 $433,800 43,819
50 Banning, CA $1,528 $57,699 $322,900 30,680
51 Bell, CA $1,538 $60,641 $561,400 32,830
52 Highland, CA $1,539 $77,979 $455,200 56,690
53 Cathedral City, CA $1,554 $67,031 $420,700 52,047
54 Foothill Farms, CA $1,560 $68,042 $368,500 37,332
55 Lodi, CA $1,565 $84,402 $468,800 67,008
56 Hesperia, CA $1,566 $68,971 $366,800 100,141
57 Victorville, CA $1,568 $70,663 $342,500 135,983
58 West Sacramento, CA $1,568 $90,791 $497,100 54,496
59 Ceres, CA $1,584 $76,862 $397,200 48,918
60 North Highlands, CA $1,585 $65,090 $344,900 47,900
61 Carmichael, CA $1,595 $84,376 $541,500 78,070
62 Compton, CA $1,601 $74,270 $546,700 93,525
63 Colton, CA $1,608 $69,581 $411,100 53,798
64 Modesto, CA $1,609 $77,899 $415,600 218,614
65 National City, CA $1,619 $64,248 $580,900 55,960
66 Lynwood, CA $1,625 $70,236 $569,400 65,291
67 San Jacinto, CA $1,633 $78,281 $391,600 54,756
68 Rialto, CA $1,641 $85,521 $454,400 103,866
69 Bell Gardens, CA $1,658 $55,372 $527,900 38,661
70 Yucaipa, CA $1,661 $92,401 $466,000 54,348
71 Clovis, CA $1,662 $100,360 $453,300 122,719
72 Fallbrook, CA $1,675 $87,293 $713,000 32,467
73 El Monte, CA $1,677 $64,484 $626,000 107,066
74 Jurupa Valley, CA $1,690 $96,190 $538,700 106,244
75 Sacramento, CA $1,694 $83,753 $484,600 524,802
76 Lancaster, CA $1,696 $76,083 $409,100 170,013
77 Rancho Cordova, CA $1,698 $89,120 $451,400 80,656
78 Santa Paula, CA $1,698 $77,130 $559,300 31,202
79 Palm Desert, CA $1,717 $79,508 $491,600 51,551
80 Hawthorne, CA $1,723 $72,719 $813,700 85,933
81 Inglewood, CA $1,725 $71,029 $744,300 105,575
82 Rosemead, CA $1,728 $72,248 $729,600 50,340
83 Fontana, CA $1,733 $98,187 $558,500 211,921
84 Palmdale, CA $1,736 $81,151 $435,300 165,487
85 Pomona, CA $1,738 $78,869 $569,600 148,391
86 La Quinta, CA $1,747 $97,628 $612,800 38,299
87 Montclair, CA $1,759 $76,338 $549,600 37,809
88 Loma Linda, CA $1,759 $82,824 $557,800 25,021
89 Gardena, CA $1,761 $79,291 $667,600 59,765
90 Citrus Heights, CA $1,764 $77,167 $432,100 87,036
91 Lemon Grove, CA $1,769 $79,278 $640,600 27,489
92 Bellflower, CA $1,771 $77,602 $661,100 77,396
93 Montebello, CA $1,771 $74,955 $660,700 61,376
94 Paramount, CA $1,772 $70,912 $500,400 52,546
95 Pico Rivera, CA $1,775 $86,956 $621,400 60,821
96 Watsonville, CA $1,784 $74,785 $657,700 51,968
97 La Puente, CA $1,788 $84,811 $593,200 37,404
98 El Cajon, CA $1,790 $66,478 $632,800 104,909
99 Perris, CA $1,791 $82,523 $431,900 79,349
100 La Presa, CA $1,795 $88,479 $595,400 36,669
101 Fair Oaks, CA $1,797 $111,332 $645,600 32,030
102 Long Beach, CA $1,803 $83,969 $762,200 458,491
103 Riverside, CA $1,812 $88,575 $542,100 316,241
104 Baldwin Park, CA $1,817 $79,087 $588,100 70,720
105 South Whittier, CA $1,823 $98,974 $641,700 55,201
106 Whittier, CA $1,829 $92,374 $751,700 85,925
107 Azusa, CA $1,831 $85,727 $607,400 49,318
108 Covina, CA $1,839 $94,792 $666,000 50,143
109 Santa Maria, CA $1,842 $84,617 $478,200 109,880
110 Monterey Park, CA $1,845 $77,605 $818,300 59,639
111 Hollister, CA $1,846 $101,979 $679,300 43,003
112 Lawndale, CA $1,847 $83,538 $726,000 31,113
113 Alhambra, CA $1,852 $85,189 $812,700 81,483
114 Atascadero, CA $1,855 $88,830 $673,400 29,735
115 Orangevale, CA $1,866 $98,158 $508,600 35,219
116 San Gabriel, CA $1,874 $87,592 $899,000 38,764
117 Los Angeles, CA $1,879 $80,366 $879,500 3,857,897
118 Redlands, CA $1,883 $99,158 $583,000 72,985
119 San Pablo, CA $1,890 $78,215 $516,000 31,771
120 Downey, CA $1,892 $87,400 $728,500 111,793
121 Norco, CA $1,893 $125,117 $731,900 25,211
122 Richmond, CA $1,895 $90,038 $650,100 115,396
123 Stanton, CA $1,905 $81,455 $541,000 38,639
124 San Luis Obispo, CA $1,906 $66,711 $896,500 48,039
125 Wildomar, CA $1,910 $95,677 $511,900 36,953
126 Carson, CA $1,914 $107,391 $645,600 93,523
127 Imperial Beach, CA $1,914 $79,071 $811,000 25,897
128 Lake Elsinore, CA $1,915 $96,527 $505,700 71,516
129 Ontario, CA $1,916 $82,806 $568,000 178,347
130 Oakland, CA $1,917 $97,369 $924,700 438,072
131 Escondido, CA $1,922 $84,477 $663,500 149,913
132 Salinas, CA $1,923 $89,150 $610,900 161,993
133 Rowland Heights, CA $1,929 $85,202 $812,900 46,787
134 Manteca, CA $1,934 $94,718 $561,200 86,521
135 West Whittier-Los Nietos, CA $1,939 $101,138 $607,100 25,459
136 El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles), CA $1,947 $93,098 $648,400 31,399
137 La Mesa, CA $1,958 $84,337 $738,800 60,835
138 Oxnard, CA $1,962 $93,372 $617,800 201,014
139 Garden Grove, CA $1,971 $90,166 $765,500 170,603
140 Santa Ana, CA $1,975 $88,354 $657,800 311,639
141 Upland, CA $1,976 $101,407 $688,800 78,940
142 Vineyard, CA $1,984 $108,403 $552,400 42,645
143 Monrovia, CA $2,009 $97,083 $891,700 37,553
144 Vallejo, CA $2,013 $89,496 $557,500 124,637
145 Norwalk, CA $2,014 $98,709 $616,600 100,713
146 Oakley, CA $2,031 $132,067 $632,800 44,311
147 Temple City, CA $2,034 $102,449 $930,200 35,749
148 Moreno Valley, CA $2,036 $87,477 $461,400 210,378
149 La Habra, CA $2,039 $98,158 $716,700 62,233
150 Davis, CA $2,043 $87,421 $829,000 66,801
151 Menifee, CA $2,052 $89,183 $487,200 107,020
152 La Mirada, CA $2,052 $110,177 $763,200 46,945
153 Antelope, CA $2,063 $95,102 $468,200 49,080
154 Lincoln, CA $2,081 $108,108 $628,500 51,629
155 Anaheim, CA $2,082 $90,583 $771,700 344,553
156 Santa Rosa, CA $2,084 $97,410 $685,000 177,216
157 Windsor, CA $2,087 $129,004 $763,200 26,179
158 Burbank, CA $2,089 $95,816 $1,041,100 105,165
159 Orcutt, CA $2,094 $108,682 $587,000 31,284
160 Glendale, CA $2,095 $84,262 $1,043,900 192,270
161 Roseville, CA $2,099 $117,354 $630,600 152,438
162 Westminster, CA $2,100 $82,686 $820,000 90,147
163 San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA $2,101 $100,407 $778,700 109,900
164 West Hollywood, CA $2,103 $94,844 $969,900 35,090
165 Buena Park, CA $2,112 $108,187 $771,900 83,052
166 Spring Valley CDP (San Diego County), CA $2,114 $104,808 $645,300 32,215
167 San Leandro, CA $2,115 $98,063 $813,600 88,531
168 Arcadia, CA $2,118 $116,142 $1,336,500 55,550
169 Chula Vista, CA $2,122 $105,173 $697,400 275,030
170 Fullerton, CA $2,124 $104,219 $859,600 141,278
171 Claremont, CA $2,125 $122,127 $870,800 36,553
172 Berkeley, CA $2,127 $108,558 $1,351,100 120,223
173 Corona, CA $2,136 $106,438 $656,500 158,839
174 Vista, CA $2,148 $91,854 $674,400 98,646
175 Suisun City, CA $2,151 $97,083 $551,000 29,205
176 West Covina, CA $2,153 $98,570 $712,300 107,436
177 Napa, CA $2,165 $102,231 $824,500 78,816
178 Rocklin, CA $2,178 $120,916 $673,300 72,340
179 Elk Grove, CA $2,180 $122,229 $603,400 177,221
180 Fairfield, CA $2,191 $102,321 $592,500 119,985
181 San Marcos, CA $2,191 $105,286 $792,400 94,078
182 San Lorenzo, CA $2,193 $110,495 $833,800 29,453
183 Santee, CA $2,197 $105,613 $653,400 59,485
184 Pittsburg, CA $2,201 $101,099 $583,100 75,868
185 La Verne, CA $2,204 $104,565 $793,900 30,804
186 Oceanside, CA $2,207 $93,724 $702,000 172,542
187 Chino, CA $2,208 $103,845 $641,500 91,775
188 East Palo Alto, CA $2,209 $104,832 $1,124,000 29,143
189 Rohnert Park, CA $2,211 $96,635 $634,900 44,461
190 Torrance, CA $2,214 $113,105 $1,036,600 143,499
191 Pasadena, CA $2,218 $103,778 $1,045,000 136,462
192 Glendora, CA $2,218 $111,915 $820,800 51,350
193 South Pasadena, CA $2,218 $128,105 $1,545,100 26,297
194 San Diego, CA $2,223 $104,321 $848,500 1,385,061
195 Concord, CA $2,226 $109,195 $755,900 124,260
196 Vacaville, CA $2,227 $108,580 $596,700 102,085
197 San Dimas, CA $2,232 $105,833 $756,200 34,099
198 Benicia, CA $2,234 $125,040 $778,600 26,861
199 Antioch, CA $2,241 $94,256 $607,400 115,759
200 Hacienda Heights, CA $2,247 $106,620 $778,700 54,956
201 Altadena, CA $2,250 $129,123 $1,073,500 41,921
202 Orange, CA $2,252 $116,945 $900,700 138,723
203 Poway, CA $2,261 $143,825 $971,500 48,515
204 Martinez, CA $2,265 $125,436 $824,700 36,926
205 Placentia, CA $2,267 $110,575 $871,000 52,384
206 Gilroy, CA $2,270 $131,554 $975,800 58,561
207 Morgan Hill, CA $2,275 $159,758 $1,127,600 45,152
208 Folsom, CA $2,279 $139,263 $702,200 82,140
209 Brea, CA $2,285 $124,837 $874,300 47,337
210 Rancho Cucamonga, CA $2,286 $109,511 $694,400 174,693
211 Monterey, CA $2,288 $104,110 $1,003,300 29,772
212 Temecula, CA $2,297 $117,840 $640,400 110,404
213 Santa Barbara, CA $2,302 $101,672 $1,466,400 88,024
214 Santa Cruz, CA $2,302 $111,427 $1,180,100 60,953
215 Seaside, CA $2,314 $82,303 $692,600 31,964
216 Lakewood, CA $2,324 $116,794 $774,100 80,510
217 Tracy, CA $2,325 $118,253 $653,900 95,358
218 Murrieta, CA $2,330 $109,780 $606,900 111,621
219 Santa Monica, CA $2,338 $109,739 $1,810,200 91,535
220 Tustin, CA $2,340 $108,435 $890,600 79,035
221 San Rafael, CA $2,346 $109,317 $1,246,200 60,604
222 Hayward, CA $2,360 $113,775 $820,700 159,201
223 Lathrop, CA $2,367 $118,605 $605,000 32,696
224 Petaluma, CA $2,379 $109,823 $834,900 59,321
225 Goleta, CA $2,385 $118,039 $1,002,500 32,693
226 Alameda, CA $2,394 $132,015 $1,203,900 76,876
227 Costa Mesa, CA $2,395 $110,073 $1,054,700 110,538
228 North Tustin, CA $2,397 $186,250 $1,212,400 26,038
229 San Clemente, CA $2,398 $134,735 $1,220,500 63,510
230 San Francisco, CA $2,419 $141,446 $1,380,500 836,321
231 Diamond Bar, CA $2,422 $106,602 $867,000 53,750
232 Novato, CA $2,422 $112,193 $1,007,100 52,689
233 Huntington Beach, CA $2,424 $119,885 $1,047,300 196,010
234 El Cerrito, CA $2,444 $127,475 $1,107,500 25,781
235 Cypress, CA $2,454 $124,167 $870,100 49,531
236 El Dorado Hills, CA $2,468 $163,544 $870,300 50,553
237 Rancho Santa Margarita, CA $2,481 $146,827 $907,900 47,257
238 Santa Clarita, CA $2,486 $119,926 $721,000 229,021
239 Castro Valley, CA $2,499 $138,069 $1,058,200 65,389
240 San Juan Capistrano, CA $2,500 $127,893 $929,700 34,998
241 Fountain Valley, CA $2,507 $111,797 $1,018,600 56,358
242 Brentwood, CA $2,509 $139,567 $791,600 64,609
243 Pleasant Hill, CA $2,511 $144,513 $1,040,600 34,335
244 Simi Valley, CA $2,513 $117,703 $753,500 125,769
245 Daly City, CA $2,523 $119,570 $1,092,700 102,560
246 Redondo Beach, CA $2,562 $144,588 $1,225,400 69,814
247 Thousand Oaks, CA $2,580 $134,367 $951,200 125,676
248 Walnut Creek, CA $2,613 $135,665 $1,031,100 69,790
249 Lake Forest, CA $2,616 $131,378 $876,300 85,846
250 San Jose, CA $2,617 $141,565 $1,187,800 990,054
251 Laguna Hills, CA $2,622 $122,778 $944,000 30,921
252 Livermore, CA $2,640 $153,602 $1,038,600 85,870
253 Burlingame, CA $2,643 $168,832 $2,000,001 30,526
254 Camarillo, CA $2,650 $109,390 $766,100 70,244
255 Moorpark, CA $2,657 $149,403 $852,800 35,957
256 Carlsbad, CA $2,678 $139,326 $1,156,900 114,500
257 Culver City, CA $2,683 $122,312 $1,126,900 39,993
258 San Bruno, CA $2,696 $135,976 $1,199,400 42,612
259 Mission Viejo, CA $2,713 $136,071 $946,300 92,415
260 Union City, CA $2,713 $137,194 $1,058,200 68,141
261 Encinitas, CA $2,730 $150,471 $1,466,000 61,585
262 Newark, CA $2,730 $164,909 $1,094,200 47,145
263 Chino Hills, CA $2,750 $122,600 $830,000 78,024
264 Campbell, CA $2,751 $147,128 $1,550,000 42,848
265 Aliso Viejo, CA $2,774 $137,970 $863,800 51,320
266 Yorba Linda, CA $2,779 $152,060 $1,091,700 67,407
267 Temescal Valley, CA $2,794 $119,647 $648,200 28,560
268 San Carlos, CA $2,802 $233,333 $2,000,001 29,797
269 Beverly Hills, CA $2,805 $127,979 $2,000,001 31,955
270 Laguna Niguel, CA $2,819 $140,605 $1,123,000 64,023
271 South San Francisco, CA $2,833 $135,909 $1,160,100 64,487
272 Lafayette, CA $2,855 $222,393 $2,000,001 25,277
273 Dana Point, CA $2,883 $127,246 $1,200,900 32,883
274 Irvine, CA $2,893 $129,647 $1,115,400 308,160
275 Belmont, CA $2,894 $207,609 $2,000,001 27,505
276 Fremont, CA $2,905 $176,350 $1,289,400 228,518
277 Cerritos, CA $2,909 $133,953 $908,600 48,340
278 San Ramon, CA $2,916 $197,358 $1,359,100 85,734
279 Eastern Goleta Valley, CA $2,924 $136,839 $1,192,000 29,411
280 Redwood City, CA $2,959 $150,840 $1,838,800 82,423
281 Los Gatos, CA $2,969 $207,891 $2,000,001 32,773
282 Mountain View, CA $2,975 $179,917 $1,927,400 82,363
283 Santa Clara, CA $2,985 $173,670 $1,527,900 129,239
284 Hercules, CA $3,003 $130,583 $741,200 26,245
285 French Valley, CA $3,016 $132,605 $637,800 42,550
286 Pleasanton, CA $3,017 $186,206 $1,432,300 77,500
287 Sunnyvale, CA $3,065 $181,862 $1,816,600 153,455
288 Eastvale, CA $3,065 $161,322 $752,000 70,179
289 San Mateo, CA $3,079 $152,669 $1,563,200 103,555
290 Pacifica, CA $3,080 $156,819 $1,211,700 37,527
291 Milpitas, CA $3,112 $176,822 $1,180,000 78,216
292 Walnut, CA $3,120 $133,762 $972,500 27,857
293 Newport Beach, CA $3,146 $158,461 $2,000,001 84,304
294 Menlo Park, CA $3,156 $206,588 $2,000,001 32,775
295 Dublin, CA $3,174 $205,046 $1,224,100 70,542
296 Mountain House, CA $3,232 $171,675 $859,700 25,108
297 Palo Alto, CA $3,328 $220,408 $2,000,001 67,231
298 Manhattan Beach, CA $3,492 $193,904 $2,000,001 34,584
299 Cupertino, CA $3,501 $231,139 $2,000,001 58,886
300 Danville, CA $3,501 $223,206 $1,583,300 43,426
301 Rancho Palos Verdes, CA $3,501 $175,307 $1,541,400 41,259
302 Foster City, CA $3,501 $193,633 $1,774,500 32,964
303 Los Altos, CA $3,501 $250,001 $2,000,001 30,736
304 Saratoga, CA $3,501 $241,348 $2,000,001 30,335

Key Takeaways

  • Brawley, CA ranks #1 with a median rent of $954.
  • The top 5 cities are: Brawley, CA; Wasco, CA; El Centro, CA; Calexico, CA; Barstow, CA.
  • Median household income in the #1 city is $60,370, with a population of 26,934.

Methodology

Rankings based on US Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. Only cities with population over 50,000 are included in national rankings. State rankings include all cities over 25,000. Data reflects the most recent available estimates.

Read our full methodology • Verify at data.census.gov