Income needed to buy a home

Lake County, CA

$101,584

a year in household income to buy the typical Lake County home with 10% down.

The monthly math

Typical home value$307,740
Down payment (10%)$30,774
Loan$276,966
Principal and interest (7.40%)$1,918/mo
Property tax (0.71% a year)$183/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$154/mo
Mortgage insurance$115/mo
Total monthly cost$2,370/mo

Income needed keeps housing at 28% of gross income, the lender rule of thumb.

What locals earn

Far off

The typical household here earns $60,621 a year, 60% of what it takes.

In California

Lake County ranks #5 of 58 for the income a home takes, from least to most.

Easiest to afford in California

CountyTypical homeIncome needed
Modoc County$195,654$64,354
Lassen County$234,567$78,175
Trinity County$257,616$80,870
Siskiyou County$280,435$91,399
Tehama County$321,481$105,362

Typical home value from the Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026. Rate is the Freddie Mac 30-year average for Oct 8, 2026. Property tax rate is total taxes paid divided by total home value in the county (U.S. Census, ACS 2020-2024). How it works.