Cost of Living in Humboldt County, California
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Humboldt County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Humboldt County ranks #2,694 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 14%)
Sourced county brief
Humboldt County GRAPI Measures 37.1 Percent of Household Income
The median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in Humboldt County is 37.1%, based on the ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates. This official B25071 metric is 5.4 percentage points higher than the California unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 31.7%. The median gross rent in the county is $1,287 per month, which is below the state unweighted county mean of $1,691. For owner-occupied properties, the median home value was estimated at $446,900, while the unweighted county mean for California is $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for all units are $1,297. Renter households in the county have a median income of $41,604, compared to a median income of $61,160 for all households combined. These figures offer a statistical snapshot from the U.S. Census Bureau. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Humboldt County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 37.1% of renter household income in Humboldt County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,287 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $1,297. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $51,480 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The California unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,691 per month. Humboldt County's $1,287 median is 23.9% below that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Humboldt County
Rent Burden
25.3%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$1,427
per month
Owner Cost Burden
25.4%
of gross income
The median home in Humboldt County may be a stretch
Median home value is $446,900. Estimated monthly cost: $3,568 vs. your max of $1,427.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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