Homes as low as $210K? See California counties with cheapest housing prices
Housing doesn’t come cheap in California.
The statewide median home price reached $883,640 in September, according to the latest report from the California Association of Realtors.
That’s down nearly 2% from $899,130 in August, but still about 2% higher than $868,150 in September 2024.
“With prices stabilizing and mortgage rates hovering in the low 6 percent range, some sidelined buyers may be encouraged to return to the market once economic uncertainty begins to ease,” the Realtors Group said in its Oct. 15 news release
Heather Ozur, California Association of Realtors president, said this trend “should help keep the market steady through the end of the year.”
If you’re looking to buy a home before the year ends, here’s a look at current mortgage rates, average home values and where you can find homes priced below California’s median.
Are mortgage rates dropping in California?
Though the Federal Reserve recently cut its key interest rate by a quarter point, experts say most borrowers won’t notice much of a difference.
That’s because mortgage rates aren’t directly tied to the Fed’s key interest rate, according to experts. Instead, they’re shaped by factors such as bond markets.
The Fed’s target rate dropped from 4.25% and 4.5% to 4% and 4.25%, which could slightly ease mortgage rates — but experts warn not to expect big changes.
“There’s no guarantee,” Matt Schulz, chief consumer finance analyst at LendingTree, previously told The Sacramento Bee. “Unlike credit cards, mortgage rates aren’t directly tied to Fed moves. Anyone who claims to know exactly how they’ll respond is just guessing.”
According to the California Association of Realtors, mortgage rates have steadily fallen since early 2025.
“Mortgage rates hit their lowest point since last October,” Ozur said in the news release.
As of Tuesday, Oct. 28, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate in California was about 5.9%, according to Zillow.
Where can I find lowest home prices in California?
According to the California Association of Realtors’ latest report, the most affordable homes in the state are mostly in Northern California and the Central Valley.
Based on September home sales data released Oct. 15, these 10 counties had median home prices below the state’s $883,640 average:
1. Trinity County — Median sold price of existing single-family homes was $210,000
2. Lassen County — $260,000
3. Siskiyou County — $305,000
4. Tehama County — $311,500
5. Lake County — $356,500
6. Kings County — $374,000
7. Glenn County — $377,500
8. Tulare County — $380,000
9. Shasta County — $385,000
10. Kern County — $405,000
Which California counties have highest home prices?
According to the California Association of Realtors, the priciest homes in the state are mostly in the Bay Area.
Their latest data shows that in September 2025, the median price for a single-family home there was $1,300,000.
These five counties had the highest median prices for existing single-family homes:
1. San Mateo County — Median sold price of existing single-family homes was $2,150,000
2. Santa Clara County — $2,000,000
3. San Francisco County — $1, 750,000
4. Marin County — $1,650,000
5. Orange County — $1,401,250
How much do homes cost in my California county?
Find the full list of home prices by county on the California Association of Realtors website.
This story was originally published October 29, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Homes as low as $210K? See California counties with cheapest housing prices."
