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City · 77,238 residents · Alameda County, California

Alameda , California

In Alameda, a typical home is worth $1,235,700 and typical rent is $2,474 a month. Compared with all of Alameda County, the typical home value is 13% higher and typical household income is 6% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $1,235,700

    13% above the county

    68% above California

    • Alameda
    • County
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $2,474a month

    5% above the county

    22% above California

    • Alameda
    • County
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $137,697a year

    6% above the county

    39% above California

    • Alameda
    • County
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    51%

    4 points below the county

    5 points below California

    • Alameda
    • County
    • California

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$1,145,869
2.1% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,876 a month
5.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Alameda is in Alameda County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Alameda County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Alameda apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Nearby, in Emeryville, the typical home value is $604,800: 51% less than in Alameda ($1,235,700).

  2. Nearby, in Oakland, the typical rent is $1,979: 20% less than in Alameda ($2,474).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Alameda

What homes there are in Alameda, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

No kind of home is the majority in Alameda; the largest group, detached houses, adds up to 43%, less than in Alameda County (51%).

Year built

In Alameda, half of the homes were built before 1965; in Alameda County, before 1969.

In Alameda, 23% of homes have 1 bedroom or none (studios); 46% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 50% in Alameda County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Alameda County is $2,805: about 63% of rents in Alameda are below it.

With a mortgage

$3,933 a month

Alameda County: $3,810 a month

Without a mortgage

$1,038 a month

Alameda County: $1,000 a month

Owners with a mortgage

68%

Alameda County: 70%

Owning costs about the same in Alameda as in Alameda County: with a mortgage, $3,933 a month; without one, $1,038.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

Much as in Alameda County, the typical home value in Alameda rose 44% since 2015–2019.

Rents in Alameda rose faster than in Alameda County: 35% since 2015–2019, against 31%.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 31%, while home values changed +44% and rent +35%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureAlamedaAlameda CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy 6.2%5.7%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.8%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 4.5%7.3%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.532.702.842.53
Drive alone 44%53%66%69%
Carpool 7%8%10%9%
Public transit 10%8%3%3%
Walk or bike 5%4%3%3%
Work from home 33%26%17%15%
Other means 1%2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Alameda County, the rental vacancy rate in Alameda is 6.2%.

In Alameda, 4.5% of households live with more than one person per room, against 7.3% in Alameda County.

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.53 on average, against 2.70 in Alameda County.

In Alameda, 33% of workers work from home, more than in Alameda County (26%).

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Alameda?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Alameda, worth $1,235,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 90% of the typical household income in Alameda, which is $137,697 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $442,016 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Alameda County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Alameda. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $43,250 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$10,314

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$1,213,318
Total interest
$1,745,680
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $20,868 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $3,213 a month

  • Tight

    $3,213 to $4,131 a month

  • Hard

    more than $4,131 a month

    Your payment · 90%

Compared with the typical household income in Alameda ($137,697 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$10,314
Principal & interest$8,219
Property tax$834
Home insurance$515
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$745

You need at least $43,250 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Alameda and Alameda County

Alameda is in Alameda County, California. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Alameda's own numbers

Typical home value
$1,235,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,474
Typical yearly household income
$137,697
Households that own their home
51%
Effective property tax rate
0.81%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Alameda County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,805
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+23%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.7%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Alameda County.

Everything about Alameda County

Buying

Buying a home in Alameda

A typical home in Alameda is worth $1,235,700: 13% above the county and 68% above California. With the typical household income in Alameda ($137,697 a year), a typical home costs 9.0 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Alameda 9.0 years
  • County 8.4 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Alameda County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Alameda County rose 62% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Alameda County.

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −1.9% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +23% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +62% +80% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Alameda next to Alameda County, California and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Alameda $1,235,700
  • County $1,090,100
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Alameda $2,474
  • County $2,357
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Alameda $137,697
  • County $129,367
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Alameda next to Alameda County and California
Measure Alameda Alameda County California U.S.
Typical home value $1,235,700 $1,090,100 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $2,474 $2,357 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $137,697 $129,367 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 51% 54% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $9,949 $8,474 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.81% 0.78% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 45% 50% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Alameda County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Alameda

For a typical $1,235,700 home in Alameda, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Alameda's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $10,314a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $43,250
    Cash to close
    $80,321
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $745

  • Conventional, 5% down $9,888a month

    Down payment
    $61,785
    Cash to close
    $98,856
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $587

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $8,046a month

    Down payment
    $247,140
    Cash to close
    $284,211
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $9,188a month

    Down payment
    $185,355
    Cash to close
    $222,426
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Alameda and for Alameda County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Alameda

0.81%of the home’s value each year

$9,949 a year for the typical owner in Alameda.

  • Alameda 0.81%
  • County 0.78%
  • California 0.7%

What California publishes Homeowners' exemption (California State Board of Equalization (BOE))

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Alameda County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Alameda County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.7%
6,841
Of those, with NFIP insurance
36%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.7% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 36% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Alameda

Typical rent in Alameda is $2,474 a month: 5% above the county. In Alameda, 45% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Alameda County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,805 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $53.94 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Alameda County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $2,088 $40.15 $83,520
1 bedroom $2,290 $44.04 $91,600
2 bedrooms $2,805 $53.94 $112,200
3 bedrooms $3,592 $69.08 $143,680
4 bedrooms $4,250 $81.73 $170,000

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Alameda

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Alameda has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $3,050 in 94501 to $3,060 in 94502.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Alameda County ($2,805).

  • 94501 $3,050$3,910
  • 94502 $3,060$3,900

A ZIP code counts for Alameda when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Alameda

HUD lists 10 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Alameda. These are the largest.

  • Alameda Islander 2428 Central Ave, Alameda 94501 62 homes, 61 low-income · Studio: 61 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2012
  • Alameda Point Senior 171 W Atlantic Ave, Alameda 94501 60 homes, 59 low-income · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2020 · For older adults, people experiencing homelessness
  • Breakers at Bayport 459 Neptune Gardens Ave, Alameda 94501 52 homes, 51 low-income · 2 bd: 34 · 3 bd: 18 · In service since 2006 · For families
  • Playa del Alameda 142 Crolls Garden Ct, Alameda 94501 40 low-income homes · For families (510) 521-6919
  • Playa del Alameda Apts 148 Crolls Garden Ct, Alameda 94501 40 homes, 39 low-income · 2 bd: 22 · 3 bd: 18 · In service since 2000 · For families

See all 336 buildings in Alameda County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Alameda

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There are 7 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Alameda County; 7 say they serve in Spanish.

A pregnant woman reads paperwork on the sofa while the grandmother plays with the girl on the floor.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Alameda

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Alameda or Alameda County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Alameda the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in California

  • MyHome Assistance Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers in California. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • California Dream For All Shared Appreciation Loan

    Statewide in California

    Closed, per the source

    CalHFA down payment loan for first-generation buyers in California; when you sell, you repay the loan plus a share of the home's appreciation. Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Shared appreciation

    See the program Official page

  • MyAccess Program

    Statewide in California

    CalHFA second loan with deferred payments for the down payment or closing costs of first-time buyers who use the CalPLUS Access mortgage (FHA or conventional). Offered by California Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Alameda

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Alameda, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Nid-Hca Oakland Main Branch

    7677 Oakport St, Oakland · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 8 more
    (510) 268-9792

  • Nid-Housing Counseling Agency (nid-Hca)

    7677 Oakport St Ste 510, Oakland · 3 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in Creole.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 9 more
    (510) 268-9792

  • Money Management International - Oakland

    1901 Harrison St Ste 1100, Oakland · 4 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (866) 232-9080

Every agency in Alameda County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Alameda

3 of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Alameda

HUD’s record names them for Alameda or Alameda County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • City of Alameda Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (510) 747-4300
  • Housing Authority of the County of Alameda Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (510) 538-8876

4 other authorities have an office in Alameda County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Alameda County

These cities are also in Alameda County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Alameda County Housing in California
See 6 more cities in Alameda County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Alameda, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Alameda County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Alameda.

All guides
A family walks a boardwalk trail in the forest; one of them uses a wheelchair.

Questions

Housing questions about Alameda

Short answers with the numbers for Alameda and all of Alameda County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Alameda?

The typical home value in Alameda is $1,235,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Alameda County it is $1,090,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Alameda?

Typical rent in Alameda is $2,474 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Alameda County is $2,805.

What is the FHA loan limit in Alameda?

Alameda uses the FHA limit for all of Alameda County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Alameda?

The typical homeowner in Alameda pays $9,949 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.81% of the home’s value; in Alameda County, the rate is 0.78%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Alameda?

There are 7 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Alameda County. 7 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).