California counties where individuals allocate the largest portion of their earnings towards housing
It’s well-known that numerous Americans are opting for renting over homeownership. In 2020, forty-three million renters in the U.S. inhabited rental properties.
The Stacker team analyzed information from a Census survey of the United States that disclosed an estimated 43,378,800 homes occupied by renters in the United States as of 2017, constituting 36.1% of all households nationwide. In 2019, renting was cheaper than purchasing a median-priced home in 59% of counties; however, in 2021, the reverse was the case: Owning became more economical than renting in 63% of counties across the U.S.
Stacker curated a list of California counties where residents allocate the highest percentage of income on rent using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Obviously, achieving savings through homeownership is beyond reach for many Americans lacking the necessary savings for a down payment, those who encounter mortgage denials, or both. Continue reading to discover where in your home state a significant portion of individuals’ net income is directed towards their monthly rent.
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#50. Glenn County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 21.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 39.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 32.1%
– Total inhabited households: 10,085
– Median household income: $49,633
– Median monthly housing expense: $876
#49. Siskiyou County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 21.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 44.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 33.2%
– Total inhabited households: 19,240
– Median household income: $45,241
– Median monthly housing expense: $806
#48. Del Norte County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 21.5%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 43.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 34.3%
– Total inhabited households: 9,945
– Median household income: $45,283
– Median monthly housing expense: $813
#47. Mariposa County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 21.7%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 40.8%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 34.4%
– Total inhabited households: 7,643
– Median household income: $48,820
– Median monthly housing expense: $882
#46. Kings County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 21.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 40.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 33.8%
– Total inhabited households: 43,452
– Median household income: $57,848
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,057
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#45. Amador County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 21.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 41.4%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 33.4%
– Total inhabited households: 14,594
– Median household income: $62,772
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,147
#44. San Francisco County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 22.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 42.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 33.0%
– Total inhabited households: 362,354
– Median household income: $112,449
– Median monthly housing expense: $2,081
#43. Tuolumne County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 22.5%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 39.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 35.9%
– Total inhabited households: 22,502
– Median household income: $60,108
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,129
#42. El Dorado County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 22.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 39.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 34.6%
– Total inhabited households: 70,974
– Median household income: $83,377
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,590
#41. Sutter County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.0%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 38.9%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 35.4%
– Total inhabited households: 32,636
– Median household income: $59,050
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,134
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#40. Santa Clara County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 39.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 35.2%
– Total inhabited households: 640,215
– Median household income: $124,055
– Median monthly housing expense: $2,404
#39. Madera County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 40.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 34.8%
– Total inhabited households: 44,881
– Median household income: $57,585
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,117
#38. Yuba County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.2%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.5%
– Total inhabited households: 26,354
– Median household income: $58,054
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,134
#37. Placer County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.5%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 38.2%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 34.5%
– Total inhabited households: 142,855
– Median household income: $89,691
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,759
#36. Shasta County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.6%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 39.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.6%
– Total inhabited households: 71,181
– Median household income: $54,667
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,074
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#35. Imperial County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.6%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 37.9%
– Total inhabited households: 44,829
– Median household income: $47,622
– Median monthly housing expense: $936
#34. Merced County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 23.8%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 35.4%
– Total inhabited households: 80,008
– Median household income: $53,672
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,066
#33. Contra Costa County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.6%
– Total inhabited households: 394,769
– Median household income: $99,716
– Median monthly housing expense: $2,013
#32. Butte County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.1%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 38.6%
– Total inhabited households: 85,320
– Median household income: $52,537
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,061
#31. Napa County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.1%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.8%
– Total inhabited households: 48,705
– Median household income: $88,596
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,791
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#30. Kern County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.8%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 37.8%
– Total inhabited households: 270,282
– Median household income: $53,350
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,080
#29. Lake County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.8%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.1%
– Total inhabited households: 25,660
– Median household income: $47,040
– Median monthly housing expense: $953
#28. San Mateo County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 39.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.3%
– Total inhabited households: 263,543
– Median household income: $122,641
– Median monthly housing expense: $2,486
#27. Alameda County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 36.2%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 37.1%
– Total inhabited households: 577,177
– Median household income: $99,406
– Median monthly housing expense: $2,018
#26. Stanislaus County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 36.9%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 37.5%
– Total inhabited households: 173,898
– Median household income: $60,704
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,235
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#25. Fresno County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.6%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 36.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 38.7%
– Total inhabited households: 307,906
– Median household income: $53,969
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,106
#24. Sacramento County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.6%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 36.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 37.9%
– Total inhabited households: 543,025
– Median household income: $67,151
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,379
#23. Yolo County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.7%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.1%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 36.1%
– Total inhabited households: 74,296
– Median household income: $70,228
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,444
#22. Tulare County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.8%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 39.4%
– Total inhabited households: 138,238
– Median household income: $49,687
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,026
#21. Mono County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 24.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.7%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 29.8%
– Total inhabited households: 4,765
– Median household income: $62,260
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,292
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#20. Solano County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.1%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 37.0%
– Total inhabited households: 149,865
– Median household income: $81,472
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,701
#19. Marin County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.1%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 37.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 39.0%
– Total inhabited households: 105,432
– Median household income: $115,246
– Median monthly housing expense: $2,412
#18. Tehama County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.8%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 38.4%
– Total inhabited households: 24,189
– Median household income: $44,514
– Median monthly housing expense: $934
#17. San Joaquin County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.1%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 38.4%
– Total inhabited households: 228,567
– Median household income: $64,432
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,355
#16. San Benito County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 33.3%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 38.2%
– Total inhabited households: 18,135
– Median household income: $86,958
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,840
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#15. Sonoma County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.8%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 38.9%
– Total inhabited households: 189,374
– Median household income: $81,018
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,717
#14. Calaveras County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.6%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 38.4%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 39.2%
– Total inhabited households: 16,942
– Median household income: $63,158
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,349
#13. San Luis Obispo County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.8%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.8%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 39.4%
– Total inhabited households: 105,981
– Median household income: $73,518
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,578
#12. Humboldt County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.8%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 34.9%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 42.0%
– Total inhabited households: 54,679
– Median household income: $48,041
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,034
#11. San Bernardino County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 34.3%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 40.5%
– Total inhabited households: 636,041
– Median household income: $63,362
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,367
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#10. Nevada County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 25.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 35.9%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 40.2%
– Total inhabited households: 40,855
– Median household income: $66,096
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,428
#9. Mendocino County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 26.1%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 36.9%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 39.3%
– Total inhabited households: 34,408
– Median household income: $51,416
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,120
#8. Orange County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 26.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 33.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 41.1%
– Total inhabited households: 1,037,492
– Median household income: $90,234
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,973
#7. Ventura County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 26.4%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 34.0%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 40.4%
– Total inhabited households: 271,040
– Median household income: $88,131
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,941
#6. Monterey County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 26.5%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 33.1%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 42.3%
– Total inhabited households: 127,155
– Median household income: $71,015
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,569
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#5. Riverside County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 26.9%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 33.6%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 40.7%
– Total inhabited households: 724,893
– Median household income: $67,005
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,502
#4. Santa Barbara County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 27.0%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 33.5%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 41.4%
– Total inhabited households: 145,856
– Median household income: $74,624
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,676
#3. Santa Cruz County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 27.2%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 34.5%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 41.5%
– Total inhabited households: 95,818
– Median household income: $82,234
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,864
#2. San Diego County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 27.3%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 31.4%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 42.6%
– Total inhabited households: 1,125,286
– Median household income: $78,980
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,797
#1. Los Angeles County
– Median percentage of income allocated for housing: 28.6%
— Proportion of households expending <20% of income on housing: 29.3%
— Proportion of households expending >30% of income on housing: 45.9%
– Total inhabited households: 3,316,795
– Median household income: $68,044
– Median monthly housing expense: $1,620
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