California Home Affordability Estimator
Estimate how much home you could afford in California, by county, based on your income and that county's property tax rate — then compare it against Zillow's typical home value for the area.
Select a county below to estimate home affordability.
Los Angeles CountySan Diego CountyOrange CountyRiverside CountySan Bernardino CountySanta Clara CountyAlameda CountySacramento CountyContra Costa CountyFresno CountyKern CountySan Francisco CountyVentura CountySan Joaquin CountySan Mateo CountyStanislaus CountySonoma CountyTulare CountySolano CountySanta Barbara CountyMonterey CountyPlacer CountySan Luis Obispo CountyMerced CountySanta Cruz CountyMarin CountyButte CountyYolo CountyEl Dorado CountyShasta CountyImperial CountyMadera CountyKings CountyNapa CountyHumboldt CountyNevada CountySutter CountyMendocino CountyYuba CountyLake CountyTehama CountySan Benito CountyTuolumne CountyCalaveras CountySiskiyou CountyAmador CountyLassen CountyGlenn CountyDel Norte CountyColusa CountyPlumas CountyInyo CountyMariposa CountyTrinity CountyMono CountyModoc CountySierra CountyAlpine County
Assumptions used in this estimator
- Mortgage rate assumption: 6.95%
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (30-Year FRM), as of 2026-09-17. This is a national average, not a rate quote — your actual rate will vary by credit score, loan type, and lender.
- Insurance assumption: 0.50% of home value/year
- Estimated annual homeowner's insurance (0.50% of home value)
- PMI assumption: 0.75% of loan amount/year
- Estimated annual Private Mortgage Insurance (0.75% for down payments under 20%)
- Housing-cost ratio: 36% of gross income
- A simplified rule-of-thumb applied to gross household income only. Existing debts (car loans, student loans, credit cards, etc.) are not modeled. This is not a lender underwriting calculation.
This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation. Rates last verified 2026-09-24.
Verify rates on Zillow Research ZHVI — smoothed, seasonally adjusted, all-home mid-tierCalifornia counties by typical home value — Zillow ZHVI, 2026-08-31
Source: Zillow Research ZHVI — smoothed, seasonally adjusted, all-home mid-tier.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a California home affordability calculator or an estimator?
This is an estimator, not a calculator. It applies a 36% housing-cost ratio to your gross annual income, then subtracts an assumed property tax, insurance, and (if applicable) PMI amount to work out an estimated affordable home price for the county you select. That's a simplified rule of thumb, not a lender's underwriting decision.
Why is this an estimate instead of an exact number?
Each county's effective property tax rate is real, county-specific data. The mortgage rate, insurance, and PMI figures are national assumptions, and the 36% ratio applies to gross income only — existing debts aren't factored in.
Why don't I see every California county listed?
We're rolling this out county by county rather than publishing all of them at once, prioritizing counties with the most search demand first. If your county isn't listed yet, check back — more are added over time.