Porterville has been identified as the most affordable place to live in California, according to a new report by real estate platform Houzeo. The city earned an overall affordability score of 8.7 out of 10, with a median home value of $325,000 and a median rent of $1,358. Its cost of living is approximately 12% lower than the California average.
Houzeo's report evaluated cities based on median home value, median house rent, and cost of living relative to the state average. The list primarily features cities in the Central Valley, with one coastal outlier.
Fresno ranked second with an affordability score of 8.5. The city's median home value is $388,567, and median rent is $1,975. Its cost of living is about 22% lower than the state average.
Bakersfield secured the third spot with an affordability score of 8.4. It has a median home price of $441,009 and a median rent of $1,995, with its cost of living 18% below the state average. Bakersfield is located approximately two hours by car from Los Angeles.
Tulare also scored an 8.4 for affordability. The median home price is $458,693 and median rent is $1,650. The cost of living in Tulare is 27% lower than the state's average. Houzeo described Tulare as having a small-town vibe, a strong farming community, but noted drawbacks such as high temperatures and poor air quality in areas near Highway 99.
Eureka, the only coastal city on the list, ranked fifth with an affordability score of 8.3. Its median home value is $418,081, and the median rent is $1,600. The cost of living in this northern California city is 21% lower than the state average. Eureka is recognized for its Victorian-era homes in the Old Town district.
Visalia earned an affordability score of 8.2, with a median home value of $511,736 and a median rent of $2,400. The city's cost of living is 24% below the state average. Visalia is noted for its proximity to Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Stockton received an affordability score of 7.9. The median home price is $317,272, and the median rent is $1,595. While its cost of living is 25% lower than the state average, the report highlighted that its crime rate is 82% higher than the national average.
Chico scored a 7.4 on the affordability scale, with a median home price of $340,290 and median rent of $1,850. The cost of living in Chico is 8% lower than the state's average. The report described it as a "college-town energy" city.
Sacramento, the state's capital, scored a 7.3. Its cost of living is 14% lower than the state average, and the median home price is $385,163. The city was noted for its government-focused job market and numerous parks, though traffic congestion and theft rates were mentioned as downsides.
Clovis rounded out the top 10 with an affordability score of 6.7. The cost of living is 11% lower than the state average, with a median home price of $479,880 and median rent of $1,955. Clovis is known for its proximity to the Sierra Nevada mountain range.