City · 19,414 residents · Alameda County, California
Albany, California
In Albany, a typical home is worth $1,202,200 and typical rent is $2,445 a month. Compared with all of Alameda County, typical household income is 11% higher and the typical home value is 10% higher.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $1,186,172 to $1,237,577.
Typical rent
$2,694a month
▲ 5.8% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, June 2022 to September 2026: from $2,325 to $2,694.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Albany 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
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: 50% less than in Albany ($1,202,200).
2
According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Albany rose 6.2%; in California, it rose 0.6%.
3
Nearby, in Richmond, the typical rent is $1,960: 20% less than in Albany ($2,445).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data
The homes here
Housing in Albany
What homes there are in Albany, 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
Detached houseAttached houseBuilding of 2 to 4Apartments (5 or more)Mobile homeBoat, RV and otherUnreliable estimate
Albany
Alameda County
California
United States
Kind of home: Albany and its comparisons
Measure
Albany
Alameda County
California
United States
Detached house
50%
51%
57%
61%
Attached house
5%
9%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
10%
10%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
35%
29%
24%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
1%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
The detached house is the most common home in Albany: 50% of homes, near the figure in Alameda County (51%).
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Albany
Alameda County
California
United States
Year built: Albany and its comparisons
Measure
Albany
Alameda County
California
United States
Before 1960
59%
39%
27%
26%
1960–1979
20%
27%
29%
24%
1980–1999
11%
19%
25%
25%
2000–2009
6%
7%
11%
14%
2010 or later
5%
8%
8%
11%
The typical home in Albany was built in 1951, 18 years before the typical one in Alameda County.
There are fewer big homes in Albany than in Alameda County: 37% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 50%.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100KUnreliable
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K5%
$500K–$750K12%
$750K–$1M13%
$1M or more68%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Albany and its comparisons
Measure
Albany
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable
$300K–$500K
5%
$500K–$750K
12%
$750K–$1M
13%
$1M or more
68%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,499Unreliable
$1,500–$1,99917%
$2,000–$2,49934%
$2,500–$2,99924%
$3,000 or more22%
Monthly rent with utilities: Albany and its comparisons
Measure
Albany
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
Unreliable estimate
$1,500–$1,999
17%
$2,000–$2,499
34%
$2,500–$2,999
24%
$3,000 or more
22%
With a mortgage
$3,965 a month
Alameda County: $3,810 a month
Without a mortgage
$1,247 a month
Alameda County: $1,000 a month
Owners with a mortgage
63%
Alameda County: 70%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Albany is $3,965 a month, near the figure in Alameda County ($3,810).
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Albany+36%
Alameda County+42%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Albany+32%
Alameda County+31%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Albany+51%
Alameda County+30%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Albany and its comparisons
Measure
Albany
Alameda County
California
United States
Typical home value
+36%
+42%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+32%
+31%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+51%
+30%
+32%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Albany rose 36%; in Alameda County, it rose 42%.
The typical rent in Albany rose 32% since 2015–2019, about the same as in Alameda County (31%).
Here income gained ground: typical income rose 51%, against +36% for home values and +32% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Albany and its comparisons
Measure
Albany
Alameda County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
5.7%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.8%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
3.6%
7.3%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.44
2.70
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
37%
53%
66%
69%
Carpool
3%
8%
10%
9%
Public transit
12%
8%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
10%
4%
3%
3%
Work from home
38%
26%
17%
15%
Other means
1%
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Fewer households are short on space in Albany: 3.6% have more than one person per room; in Alameda County, 7.3%.
Households in Albany are smaller: 2.44 people on average; in Alameda County, 2.70.
In Albany, 38% of workers work from home, more than in Alameda County (26%).
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Albany?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Albany, worth $1,202,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 84% of the typical household income in Albany, which is $144,107 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $430,891 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Alameda County.
Change the price, the down payment or the loan: the payment updates right away.
Your numbers
Local data
$
Starts at the typical home value in Albany. Change it to the price you have in mind.
Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.
Down payment
%
That is $42,077 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.
This week's average ± a quarter or half point.
National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.
Adjust advanced details⌄
Estimated monthly payment
Local data
$10,054
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$1,180,425
Total interest
$1,698,355
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $20,302 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $3,362 a month
Tight
$3,362 to $4,323 a month
Hard
more than $4,323 a month
Your payment · 84%
Compared with the typical household income in Albany ($144,107 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$7,997
Property tax
$832
Home insurance
$501
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$725
You need at least $42,077 for the down payment, plus closing costs.
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.
Total monthly payment $10,054; principal and interest $7,997.
The city and its county
Albany and Alameda County
Albany 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).
Albany
Map of Alameda County, California, with Albany marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Albany
Alameda County
Other cities with a page
Albany's own numbers
Typical home value
$1,202,200
Typical monthly rent
$2,445
Typical yearly household income
$144,107
Households that own their home
53%
Effective property tax rate
0.83%
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.
A typical home in Albany is worth $1,202,200: 10% above the county and 64% above California. With the typical household income in Albany ($144,107 a year), a typical home costs 8.3 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.
Albany8.3 years
Alameda8.4 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 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.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Alameda County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +11.4% +11.4% 2016
2017: +7.0% +7.0% 2017
2018: +9.0% +9.0% 2018
2019: +1.2% +1.2% 2019
2020: 0.0% 0.0% 2020
2021: +9.8% +9.8% 2021
2022: +13.2% +13.2% 2022
2023: −0.3% −0.3% 2023
2024: +1.4% +1.4% 2024
2025: −1.9% −1.9% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Alameda County, California and the United States
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
Albany 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
Albany$1,202,200
Alameda$1,090,100
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Albany$2,445
Alameda$2,357
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Albany$144,107
Alameda$129,367
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Albany next to Alameda County and California
Measure
Albany
Alameda County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$1,202,200 ▲10% above the county
$1,090,100
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,445 ▲4% above the county
$2,357
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$144,107 ▲11% above the county
$129,367
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
53% ▼1 points below the county
54%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$10,001 ▲18% above the county
$8,474
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.83% ▲0.05 points above the county
0.78%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
46% ▼5 points below the county
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 Albany
For a typical $1,202,200 home in Albany, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Albany's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$10,054a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$42,077
Cash to close
$78,143
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $725
Conventional, 5% down$9,640a month
Down payment
$60,110
Cash to close
$96,176
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $571
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$7,848a month
Down payment
$240,440
Cash to close
$276,506
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$8,959a month
Down payment
$180,330
Cash to close
$216,396
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Albany
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$10,054
$42,077
$1,180,425
7.18%
FHA MIP · $725
$78,143
580
Conventional, 5% down
$9,640
$60,110
$1,142,090
7.18%
PMI · $571
$96,176
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$7,848
$240,440
$961,760
7.18%
None
$276,506
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$8,959
$180,330
$1,021,870
8.18%
None
$216,396
Set by the lender
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.
Typical rent in Albany is $2,445 a month: 4% above the county. In Albany, 46% 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.
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Alameda County (Fiscal year 2027)
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 Albany
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Albany is in ZIP code 94706.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,960: $155 more than the fair market rent for Alameda County ($2,805).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Albany, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
94706
$2,200
$2,420
$2,960
$3,790
$4,480
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
94706 $2,960$3,790
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Albany 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 2027Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (external site)Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship fileData from 2020 dataCensus Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (external site)
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.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Albany or Alameda County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Albany the same as in the rest of the state.
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).
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).
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).
No legal help resource on our list is for Albany or Alameda County in particular.
If you have a problem with your landlord, an eviction notice or a scam, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) search shows the free legal aid offices that serve your area.
Short answers with the numbers for Albany 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 Albany?
The typical home value in Albany is $1,202,200, 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 Albany?
Typical rent in Albany is $2,445 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 Albany?
Albany 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 Albany?
The typical homeowner in Albany pays $10,001 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.83% of the home’s value; in Alameda County, the rate is 0.78%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Albany?
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.
