State Index · Home Affordability · California · 2023

Average Home Affordability in California

Rank #2 of 50168.1% of national averageSource: Census ACS + Zillow (ACS 2023 × ZHVI 2026)

California ranks #2 of 51 for home affordability in 2026.

California home affordability →Compare states Download image

Census ACS + Zillow, ACS 2023 × ZHVI 2026 · updated Apr 2026

Home Affordability (Price-to-Income) by State map showing 51 states. Hover or tap a state for details.

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Home Affordability (Price-to-Income) by State

Low → High

3.1 – 3.711 states
3.7 – 4.410 states
4.4 – 5.010 states
5.0 – 5.810 states
5.8 – 8.710 states

Full ranking

All 50 states ranked

Source: Census ACS + Zillow (ACS 2023 × ZHVI 2026)

Rank	State	Home Affordability (Price-to-Income)	% of US
1	Hawaii	8.738	181.1%
2	California	8.109	168.1%
3	Montana	6.595	136.7%
4	Massachusetts	6.576	136.3%
5	Washington	6.353	131.7%
6	Idaho	6.316	130.9%
7	Oregon	6.225	129.0%
8	New York	6.185	128.2%
9	Rhode Island	5.876	121.8%
10	Nevada	5.852	121.3%

Show all 50 states (41 more) ↓

11	Colorado	5.832	120.9%
12	Utah	5.757	119.3%
13	New Jersey	5.707	118.3%
14	Maine	5.528	114.6%
15	Arizona	5.475	113.5%
16	District of Columbia	5.388	111.7%
17	New Hampshire	5.239	108.6%
18	Florida	5.124	106.2%
19	New Mexico	5.087	105.4%
20	Wyoming	5.016	104.0%
21	Delaware	4.952	102.6%
22	Tennessee	4.933	102.2%
23	Vermont	4.852	100.6%
24	Connecticut	4.761	98.7%
25	North Carolina	4.751	98.5%
26	Virginia	4.586	95.1%
27	South Carolina	4.485	93.0%
28	Alaska	4.475	92.8%
29	Georgia	4.449	92.2%
30	Wisconsin	4.424	91.7%
31	South Dakota	4.416	91.5%
32	Maryland	4.355	90.3%
33	Minnesota	4.074	84.4%
34	Texas	3.971	82.3%
35	Missouri	3.837	79.5%
36	Pennsylvania	3.83	79.4%
37	Alabama	3.801	78.8%
38	Kentucky	3.794	78.6%
39	Arkansas	3.783	78.4%
40	Michigan	3.756	77.9%
41	North Dakota	3.712	76.9%
42	Nebraska	3.707	76.8%
43	Indiana	3.658	75.8%
44	Louisiana	3.635	75.3%
45	Ohio	3.573	74.1%
46	Mississippi	3.559	73.8%
47	Illinois	3.558	73.7%
48	Oklahoma	3.548	73.5%
49	Kansas	3.48	72.1%
50	Iowa	3.242	67.2%
51	West Virginia	3.117	64.6%

Updated 2026-04-25. Click any state for the full breakdown.

FAQ

California home affordability: common questions

What is the average home affordability in California?

California home affordability is 8.109 as of ACS 2023 × ZHVI 2026, according to Census ACS + Zillow. That puts California at rank #2 of 50 US states, above the national average of 4.824.

How does California compare to nearby states?

Among California's neighbors, Oregon shows 6.225, Nevada shows 5.852, Arizona shows 5.475. Use the CalcFi compare view to line all of them up: /maps/compare?cat=affordability&states=ca,or,nv,az. Nearby states share labor markets and housing corridors, so the comparison is usually the most relevant one.

Which California metros have the highest home affordability?

Top California metros include Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego. City-level home affordability data drops in Q3 2026 once BLS releases its metro-area tables for the year. Sacramento is the state capital. Until then, the state-level number is the best available read.

Top California cities · Home Affordability (Price-to-Income) by State

15 cities ranked by home affordability (price-to-income) by state. Lower is better.

Compare top 3 →

Note: Median home price divided by median household income. State map uses Zillow ZHVI ÷ ACS B19013; city uses Census/Zillow seed — same formula, different vintage.

Methodology

Price-to-income ratio computed as Zillow ZHVI (state median home value, all homes, smoothed seasonally adjusted) divided by Census ACS 1-year median household income (B19013). Higher ratio = harder to afford. Both inputs are state aggregates — county and metro variance can be substantial.