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City · 16,659 residents · Lake County, California

Clearlake , California

In Clearlake, a typical home is worth $214,200 and typical rent is $1,240 a month. Compared with all of Lake County, the typical home value is 34% lower, typical household income is 31% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 13 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $214,200

    34% below the county

    71% below California

    • Clearlake
    • Lake
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,240a month

    9% below the county

    39% below California

    • Clearlake
    • Lake
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $41,867a year

    31% below the county

    58% below California

    • Clearlake
    • Lake
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    59%

    13 points below the county

    4 points above California

    • Clearlake
    • Lake
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$204,702
2.7% less than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,478 a month

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

Clearlake is in Lake County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Lake County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Clearlake apart

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

  1. Clearlake has the 5th lowest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($214,200).

  2. Clearlake has the 7th lowest typical household income of the 659 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($41,867).

  3. Clearlake has the 18th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 616 cities in California with more than 5,000 people (74%).

  4. 59% of households in Clearlake own their home, against 72% in Lake County.

  5. According to Zillow, in the 12 months to September 2026 the typical home value in Clearlake fell 2.7%; in California, it rose 0.6%.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024); Zillow (September 2026 data). Zillow data

The homes here

Housing in Clearlake

What homes there are in Clearlake, 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

The detached house is still the most common home in Clearlake, but it weighs less than in Lake County: 63% against 70%.

Mobile homes are 23% of homes in Clearlake, more than in Lake County (20%).

Year built

The typical home in Clearlake was built in 1976, 4 years before the typical one in Lake 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

With an FHA limit of $541,287, at least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Clearlake sit below it: they are worth less than $500,000.

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,536 a month

Lake County: $1,952 a month

Without a mortgage

$505 a month

Lake County: $680 a month

Owners with a mortgage

53%

Lake County: 53%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Clearlake is $1,536 a month, less than in Lake County ($1,952); without one, $505.

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

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Clearlake rose 94%; in Lake County, it rose 48%.

The typical rent in Clearlake rose 44% over the same time; in Lake County, it rose 40%.

The typical household income in Clearlake rose 33%: less than home values (+94%) and rent (+44%).

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

MeasureClearlakeLake CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate2.4%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 7.4%5.0%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.712.492.842.53
Drive alone 69%71%66%69%
Carpool 12%10%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home 12%14%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

More than one person per room: that is how 7.4% of households in Clearlake live, more than in Lake County (5.0%).

On average, a household in Clearlake has 2.71 people, more than in Lake County (2.49).

To get to work, 69% of workers in Clearlake drive alone; in Lake County, 71%.

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 Clearlake?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Clearlake, worth $214,200, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 50% of the typical household income in Clearlake, which is $41,867 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $74,149 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Clearlake. 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 $7,497 (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

$1,730

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$210,320
Total interest
$302,602
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,617 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $977 a month

  • Tight

    $977 to $1,256 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,256 a month

    Your payment · 50%

Compared with the typical household income in Clearlake ($41,867 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,730
Principal & interest$1,425
Property tax$121
Home insurance$89
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$95

You need at least $7,497 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

Clearlake and Lake County

Clearlake is in Lake 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).

Clearlake's own numbers

Typical home value
$214,200
Typical monthly rent
$1,240
Typical yearly household income
$41,867
Households that own their home
59%
Effective property tax rate
0.68%

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

Numbers for all of Lake County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,616
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+22%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
15%

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 Lake County.

Everything about Lake County

Buying

Buying a home in Clearlake

A typical home in Clearlake is worth $214,200: 34% below the county and 71% below California. With the typical household income in Clearlake ($41,867 a year), a typical home costs 5.1 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.

  • Clearlake 5.1 years
  • Lake 5.3 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Lake County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Lake County rose 70% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) −1.2% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +22% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +70% +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

Clearlake next to Lake 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
  • Clearlake $214,200
  • Lake $324,300
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Clearlake $1,240
  • Lake $1,368
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Clearlake $41,867
  • Lake $60,621
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Clearlake next to Lake County and California
Measure Clearlake Lake County California U.S.
Typical home value $214,200 $324,300 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,240 $1,368 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $41,867 $60,621 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 59% 72% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,457 $2,369 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.68% 0.73% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 74% 62% 55% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Lake 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 Clearlake

For a typical $214,200 home in Clearlake, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Clearlake's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,730a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,497
    Cash to close
    $13,923
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $95

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,691a month

    Down payment
    $10,710
    Cash to close
    $17,136
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $102

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,371a month

    Down payment
    $42,840
    Cash to close
    $49,266
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,570a month

    Down payment
    $32,130
    Cash to close
    $38,556
    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 Clearlake and for Lake County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Clearlake

0.68%of the home’s value each year

$1,457 a year for the typical owner in Clearlake.

  • Clearlake 0.68%
  • Lake 0.73%
  • California 0.7%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Lake County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
15%
5,319
Of those, with NFIP insurance
15%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 15% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 15% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Clearlake

Typical rent in Clearlake is $1,240 a month: 9% below the county. In Clearlake, 74% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Lake County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,616 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $31.08 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Lake 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 $1,233 $23.71 $49,320
1 bedroom $1,235 $23.75 $49,400
2 bedrooms $1,616 $31.08 $64,640
3 bedrooms $2,238 $43.04 $89,520
4 bedrooms $2,701 $51.94 $108,040

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 Clearlake

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Clearlake is in ZIP code 95422.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,580: $36 less than the fair market rent for Lake County ($1,616).

  • 95422 $1,580$2,190

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Clearlake 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 Clearlake

HUD lists 13 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Clearlake. These are the largest.

  • Ridge Lake Apts 3800 Old Highway 53, Clearlake 95422 91 homes, 90 low-income · 1 bd: 40 · 2 bd: 49 · 3 bd: 2 · In service since 2008
  • Cache Creek Apts Homes 16080 Dam Rd, Clearlake 95422 80 homes, 79 low-income · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 50 · 4 bd: 6 · In service since 2003 · For families
  • Clearlake Apts 7145 Old Highway 53, Clearlake 95422 72 homes, 71 low-income · 1 bd: 32 · 2 bd: 36 · 3 bd: 4 · In service since 2006 · For families (707) 994-5111
  • Lakeview Terrace Apts 7055 Old Highway 53, Clearlake 95422 60 homes, 59 low-income · 2 bd: 24 · 3 bd: 28 · 4 bd: 8 · In service since 2005 · For families
  • Walnut Grove Senior Apts 3155 Smith Ln, Clearlake 95422 60 homes, 59 low-income · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 2004 · For older adults

See all 23 buildings in Lake County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Clearlake

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.

We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Lake County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A young woman and a young man point to a line in their notes beside a laptop in a library.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Clearlake

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Clearlake or Lake County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Clearlake 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 Clearlake

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

  • Balance - Santa Rosa

    3033 Cleveland Ave, Santa Rosa · 34 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (800) 777-7526

  • Greater Sacramento Urban League-Oak Park

    2331 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento · 68 miles away · Spanish

    • Budget and credit workshops
    • Homelessness services
    • and 4 more
    (916) 286-8652

  • Sacramento Neighborhood Housing Services Inc Aka Formally Known As Neighborworks Homeownership Center Sacramento Region

    2411 Alhambra Blvd, Sacramento · 68 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 8 more
    (916) 452-5356

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Clearlake

2 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 Clearlake

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

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Lake County

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

Everything about Lake County Housing in California

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Lake 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 Clearlake.

All guides
A father holds his baby and his young son by a white picket fence.

Questions

Housing questions about Clearlake

Short answers with the numbers for Clearlake and all of Lake 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 Clearlake?

The typical home value in Clearlake is $214,200, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Lake County it is $324,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Clearlake?

Typical rent in Clearlake is $1,240 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Lake County is $1,616.

What is the FHA loan limit in Clearlake?

Clearlake uses the FHA limit for all of Lake County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Clearlake?

The typical homeowner in Clearlake pays $1,457 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.68% of the home’s value; in Lake County, the rate is 0.73%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Lake County; the nearest ones are on this page. 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).