Income needed to buy a home

Los Angeles County, CA

$286,836

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

The monthly math

Typical home value$873,008
Down payment (10%)$87,301
Loan$785,707
Principal and interest (7.40%)$5,440/mo
Property tax (0.67% a year)$489/mo
Homeowners insurance (estimate)$437/mo
Mortgage insurance$327/mo
Total monthly cost$6,693/mo

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

What locals earn

Out of reach

The typical household here earns $90,112 a year, 31% of what it takes.

In California

Los Angeles County ranks #47 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
Lake County$307,740$101,584

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.