Cost of Living in Santa Clara 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 Santa Clara County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Santa Clara County ranks #3,142 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Santa Clara County Renter Median Income Exceeds 122,000 Dollars
Santa Clara County's renter median income is $122,974 according to the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates. The official ACS B25071 gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 27.7%, which is 4.0 percentage points below the California unweighted county mean of 31.7%. The median gross rent in the county is $2,857 per month, which is $1,166 higher than the state unweighted county mean of $1,691. The median home value was estimated at $1,490,600, while the state unweighted county mean for home values is $604,112. Median selected monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $3,323, exceeding the state unweighted county mean of $1,881. These statistics describe the housing landscape during the five-year survey period. 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: Santa Clara County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 27.7% of renter household income in Santa Clara 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 $2,857 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $3,323. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $114,280 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. Santa Clara County's $2,857 median is 69.0% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Santa Clara County
Rent Burden
20.9%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,833
per month
Owner Cost Burden
24.3%
of gross income
The median home in Santa Clara County may be a stretch
Median home value is $1,490,600. Estimated monthly cost: $11,900 vs. your max of $3,833.
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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