Cost of Living in San Benito 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 San Benito County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
San Benito County ranks #3,117 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
San Benito County Median Monthly Owner Costs Reach $2,795
In San Benito County, median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units were estimated at $2,795. This value is $914 higher than the California unweighted county mean owner cost of $1,881. The official gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) in the county is 29.3%, which is 2.4 percentage points below the state unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median gross rent was recorded at $1,992, compared to the state unweighted county mean of $1,691. Median home value in San Benito County was $793,400, which is $189,288 above the California unweighted mean of $604,112. The median renter-household income was $79,940 during this period. These data points provide a statistical overview based on ACS B25071 and related tables and do not represent relocation or financial advice. 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: San Benito County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 29.3% of renter household income in San Benito County, which is below the 30% affordability benchmark. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $1,992 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,795. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $79,680 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. San Benito County's $1,992 median is 17.8% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in San Benito County
Rent Burden
20.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$2,669
per month
Owner Cost Burden
29.3%
of gross income
The median home in San Benito County may be a stretch
Median home value is $793,400. Estimated monthly cost: $6,334 vs. your max of $2,669.
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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