The 93555 zip code in Ridgecrest tops our ranking of the most affordable places to live in California.
We looked at 1002 zip codes in the state, evaluating home values, rental costs, energy rates, property taxes, and five other affordability indicators. We used the data we gathered to calculate our proprietary Affordability Score for each zip code.
Top 10 most affordable places to live in California
| Rank | City | Affordability Score | Median home value | Rental costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ridgecrest 🥇 | 100.0 | $265,528 | $1,321 |
| 2 | Susanville 🥈 | 78.3 | $228,116 | $2,814 |
| 3 | Taft 🥉 | 77.7 | $203,632 | $1,246 |
| 4 | Oroville | 74.7 | $298,404 | $1,476 |
| 5 | Red Bluff | 70.9 | $305,484 | $1,403 |
| 6 | Redding | 69.9 | $370,758 | $1,479 |
| 7 | Cottonwood | 69.1 | $358,809 | $1,823 |
| 8 | Barstow | 68.9 | $267,793 | $1,406 |
| 9 | Lakeport | 68.5 | $352,560 | $1,406 |
| 10 | Clearlake | 65.9 | $200,995 | $2,814 |
Buy in California and get cash back
Get matched with a top agent in Ridgecrest or any other affordable place in the state. Compare your money-saving options until you find the perfect fit, or walk away with no obligation.
1. Ridgecrest
Here's why the 93555 zip code in Ridgecrest is California's most affordable place to live.
🔎 Key data about Ridgecrest
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 100.0 | No. 1 | N/A |
| Median home value | $265,528[1] | No. 13 | -$664,530.75 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.2 | No. 1 | -6.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 32.5%[2] | No. 235 | -6.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.6%[3] | No. 953 | 1.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,321[4] | No. 7 | -$1,492 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 1.61% | No. 13 | -1.2% |
| Median household income | $81,824[5] | No. 632 | -$16,565 |
| Property taxes | $2,142[6] | No. 51 | -$3,220 |
| Energy costs | $0.20 kWh[7] | No. 3 | -$0.03 |
Ridgecrest's 93555 zip code is the cheapest place to live in California, leading the 1002 markets we evaluated.
The median home value is $265,528, making it the 13th-cheapest housing market in the state. Forecasts project a 1.6% change in home values in the next year. Rent in the zip code averages $1,321 per month, which is the 13th cheapest amount in California.
The median property tax for homeowners in Ridgecrest is $2,142 per household, the No. 51 ranked market in California.
Residents pay $0.20 per kWh of electricity, which ranks No. 3 among California markets.
2. Susanville
The 96130 zip code is the 2nd-cheapest place to live in California.
🔎 Key data about Susanville
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 78.3 | No. 2 | N/A |
| Median home value | $228,116[8] | No. 3 | -$701,942.89 |
| Home affordability ratio | 3.418746677 | No. 2 | -6.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.2262528553[9] | No. 109 | -16.4% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.9%[10] | No. 151 | -1.8% |
| Rental costs | $2,814[11] | No. 424 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.86% | No. 434 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 66725[12] | No. 815 | -$31,664 |
| Property taxes | $1,889[13] | No. 30 | -$3,473 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[14] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
Susanville's 96130 zip code has a median home value of $228,116, which is the 151st-cheapest housing market in California. You can rent for an average of $2,814 per month. That's the 424th-cheapest price in the state.
The average household income in the zip code is 66725, which ranks 815th-highest in the state.
Homeowners in Susanville pay a median property tax of $1,889 per year, making it the 30th-most affordable market in California.
Susanville ranks No. 530 among California energy markets. You'll pay 0.2533071458 per kWh of electricity.
3. Taft
The 3rd-cheapest place to live in California is Taft's 93268 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Taft
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 77.7 | No. 3 | N/A |
| Median home value | $203,632[15] | No. 2 | -$726,426.82 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.056090035 | No. 3 | -5.4 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.5582398705[16] | No. 854 | 16.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.9%[17] | No. 980 | 2.0% |
| Rental costs | $1,246[18] | No. 3 | -$1,568 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.48% | No. 243 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | 50204[19] | No. 969 | -$48,185 |
| Property taxes | $2,192[20] | No. 56 | -$3,170 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[21] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
The No. 2 cheapest housing market in California is Taft's 93268 zip code, with a median home value of $203,632. Rents in the market average $1,246 per month, making it the 3rd-most affordable rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Taft is $2,192, which makes it the 56th-cheapest place in California. Taft ranks No. 530 among California markets by energy costs. Residents pay 0.2533071458 per kWh of electricity.
4. Oroville
The 95966 zip code in Oroville comes in at No. 4 on our list of the cheapest places to live in California.
🔎 Key data about Oroville
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 74.7 | No. 4 | N/A |
| Median home value | $298,404[22] | No. 29 | -$631,654.44 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.773018055 | No. 25 | -4.7 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.1558482898[23] | No. 63 | -23.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.3%[24] | No. 9 | -3.2% |
| Rental costs | $1,476[25] | No. 16 | -$1,338 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.36% | No. 187 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | 62519[26] | No. 857 | -$35,870 |
| Property taxes | $2,079[27] | No. 44 | -$3,283 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[28] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
The No. 29 cheapest housing market in California is Oroville's 95966 zip code, where the median home value is $298,404. Renters here pay an average of $1,476 per month.
When it comes to energy costs, Oroville ranks 530th among California markets. Residents pay 0.2533071458 per kWh of electricity.
The median property tax for households in the zip code is $2,079, which makes it the 44th-cheapest market in California.
5. Red Bluff
The 96080 zip code in Red Bluff ranks No. 5 among California's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Red Bluff
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 70.9 | No. 5 | N/A |
| Median home value | $305,484[29] | No. 32 | -$624,574.35 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.208245183 | No. 46 | -4.2 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.2850956136[30] | No. 168 | -10.6% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.4%[31] | No. 211 | -1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,403[32] | No. 10 | -$1,411 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.39% | No. 197 | -0.5% |
| Median household income | 58654[33] | No. 889 | -$39,735 |
| Property taxes | $2,134[34] | No. 50 | -$3,228 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[35] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
Red Bluff's 96080 zip code has a median home value of $305,484, the 32nd-cheapest market in the state. Forecasts project a -1.4% change in home values in the next year.
The median property tax per household in Red Bluff is $2,134. It's the 50th-cheapest market by tax rate in California.
6. Redding
The No. 6 most affordable place to live in California is the 96002 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Redding
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 69.9 | No. 6 | N/A |
| Median home value | $370,758[36] | No. 71 | -$559,300.67 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.177607076 | No. 44 | -4.3 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.3240261519[37] | No. 233 | -6.7% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -0.9%[38] | No. 237 | -0.8% |
| Rental costs | $1,479[39] | No. 17 | -$1,335 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.07% | No. 86 | -0.8% |
| Median household income | 71608[40] | No. 752 | -$26,781 |
| Property taxes | $2,400[41] | No. 76 | -$2,962 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[42] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
The back half of our top 10 kicks off with Redding's 96002 zip code, which has the 71st-cheapest home values in California. The median home value is $370,758. Rents average $1,479 per month, making it the 17th-most affordable rental market in the state.
Residents pay 0.2533071458 per kWh of electricity. It's the 530th-cheapest energy market.
7. Cottonwood
Cottonwood's 96022 zip code is the 7th-cheapest place to live in California.
🔎 Key data about Cottonwood
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 69.1 | No. 7 | N/A |
| Median home value | $358,809[43] | No. 62 | -$571,249.49 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.421556035 | No. 11 | -5.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.2924652456[44] | No. 173 | -9.8% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -1.4%[45] | No. 211 | -1.3% |
| Rental costs | $1,823[46] | No. 46 | -$991 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.25% | No. 150 | -0.6% |
| Median household income | 81150[47] | No. 644 | -$17,239 |
| Property taxes | $2,384[48] | No. 71 | -$2,978 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[49] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
You'll find the 62nd-cheapest home values in California in Cottonwood's 96022 zip code. The median value: $358,809. Renters in Cottonwood pay an average of $1,823 per month.
Homeowners in Cottonwood pay a median property tax of $2,384 per year, which is California's 71st-most affordable market.
The average household income is 81150, which ranks 644th-highest in the state.
8. Barstow
The 8th-cheapest place to live in California is Barstow's 92311 zip code.
🔎 Key data about Barstow
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 68.9 | No. 8 | N/A |
| Median home value | $267,793[50] | No. 15 | -$662,266.04 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.642167523 | No. 20 | -4.8 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.6933317441[51] | No. 976 | 30.3% |
| Home value one-year forecast | 1.6%[52] | No. 953 | 1.7% |
| Rental costs | $1,406[53] | No. 11 | -$1,408 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.44% | No. 221 | -0.4% |
| Median household income | 57687[54] | No. 904 | -$40,702 |
| Property taxes | $1,432[55] | No. 7 | -$3,930 |
| Energy costs | 0.2045678749 kWh[56] | No. 3 | -$0.03 |
The 15th-cheapest housing market in California is Barstow's 92311 zip code, with a median home value of $267,793. Renters pay an average of $1,406 per month, the No. 11 rental market in the state.
The median property tax for households in Barstow is $1,432, which makes it the 7th-cheapest place in California. The average household income of 57687 ranks 904th.
9. Lakeport
Lakeport's 95453 zip code sneaks into the top ten of California's most affordable places to live.
🔎 Key data about Lakeport
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 68.5 | No. 9 | N/A |
| Median home value | $352,560[57] | No. 56 | -$577,498.69 |
| Home affordability ratio | 5.422999839 | No. 62 | -4.0 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.1504550382[58] | No. 60 | -24.0% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3%[59] | No. 13 | -2.9% |
| Rental costs | $1,406[60] | No. 12 | -$1,408 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.16% | No. 118 | -0.7% |
| Median household income | 65012[61] | No. 828 | -$33,377 |
| Property taxes | $3,035[62] | No. 178 | -$2,327 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[63] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
The 56th-cheapest housing market in California is Lakeport's 95453 zip code, where the median home value is $352,560. Renters pay an average of $1,406 per month. It's the state's 12th-cheapest rental market.
The median property tax for households within the zip code is $3,035, which makes it the 178th-cheapest property tax rate in California.
10. Clearlake
The final spot on our list of the most affordable places to live in California goes to the 95422 zip code in Clearlake.
🔎 Key data about Clearlake
| Data point | Value | Rank (out of 1002 markets) | Difference from median or average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Affordability Score | 65.9 | No. 10 | N/A |
| Median home value | $200,995[64] | No. 1 | -$729,063.81 |
| Home affordability ratio | 4.85166925 | No. 26 | -4.6 |
| Home value five-year change | 0.2157244795[65] | No. 103 | -17.5% |
| Home value one-year forecast | -3.3%[66] | No. 9 | -3.2% |
| Rental costs | $2,814[67] | No. 424 | $0 |
| Rent affordability ratio | 2.86% | No. 434 | 0.0% |
| Median household income | 41428[68] | No. 991 | -$56,961 |
| Property taxes | $1,476[69] | No. 10 | -$3,886 |
| Energy costs | 0.2533071458 kWh[70] | No. 530 | $0.02 |
The 1st-most affordable market in California is Clearlake's 95422 zip code. The median home value is $200,995. Rent in the market costs $2,814 per month on average, making it the 424th-most affordable rental market in California.
The median property tax for households in Clearlake is $1,476, which is the 10th-cheapest property tax rate in the state.
Clearlake ranks No. 530 among California markets by energy costs, with households paying 0.2533071458 per kWh of electricity.
How we ranked the most affordable places in California
We evaluated 1002 zip codes in California with a population over 10,000 on nine metrics. We then assigned each market an Affordability Score based on its weighted and combined rankings.
Our proprietary Affordability Score is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the affordability of a particular zip code. It takes into account these key data points for each zip code.
- Median home value: The median home value for each zip code comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. The lower the median home value relative to the median value in California, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 23.8% to median home value.
- Home affordability ratio. The home affordability ratio is the typical median home value divided by the median household income in the zip code, which reveals the number of years of household income needed to afford a home in that zip code. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 23.8% to the home affordability ratio.
- Home value five-year change: The home value five-year change is the amount that the median home value in the zip code has risen or fallen during the last five years. Our data comes from the Zillow Home Value Index. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value five-year change.
- Home value one-year forecast: The home value one-year forecast comes from Zillow Forecast data. It projects how much home values in the zip code are forecasted to change in the next year. We assign a weight of 4.8% to the home value one-year forecast.
- Rental costs. The rental costs are the observed rents in the zip code, sourced from the Zillow Observed Rent Index. The index includes "listed rents that fall into the 40th to 60th percentile range for all homes and apartments in a given region." We assign a weight of 11.9% to rental costs.
- Median household income: The inflation-adjusted median household income figures for the zip code comes from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 4.8% to median household income.
- Rent affordability ratio. The rent affordability ratio is the ratio of rental costs divided by median household income, which provides the percentage of household income needed to pay a typical month’s rent in the zip code. The data comes from the Zillow Observed Rent Index and the U.S. Census American Community Survey. We assign a weight of 11.9% to the rent affordability ratio.
- Property taxes: The property tax figures are the median real estate taxes paid in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Census American Community Survey. The lower the property tax rate relative to the California average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to property taxes.
- Energy costs: The energy costs are the costs of a kilowatt hour (kWh) of residential electricity in the zip code, sourced from the U.S. Department of Energy. The lower the cost of electricity relative to the California average, the higher our score on this component. We assign a weight of 7.1% to energy costs.
✍️ Editor’s note: Our Affordability Score identifies the most affordable places in a state by zip code. Often the zip code we identify will represent an entire city or portion of a city.
Occasionally the zip code we identify will encompass an area that includes one or more small towns. In these cases, the data we’ve gathered applies to the entire zip code, not just the single town we’re using to help identify the zip code's location.
If you’re looking to move to one of these affordable places, we recommend doing additional research to make sure the costs in the area — and the quality of life it offers — meet your specific needs.
