City · 27,686 residents · San Diego County, California
Lemon Grove, California
In Lemon Grove, a typical home is worth $705,400 and typical rent is $1,893 a month. Compared with all of San Diego County, the typical home value is 17% lower and typical household income is 17% lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $628,123 to $757,493.
Typical rent
$2,671a month
▲ 4.2% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2022 to September 2026: from $2,310 to $2,671.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Lemon Grove is in San Diego County. The FHA loan limit ($1,104,000 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of San Diego County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
The typical home in Lemon Grove is worth $705,400,17% less than in San Diego County as a whole ($854,700).
2
The typical household income in Lemon Grove is $88,009,17% less than in San Diego County as a whole ($106,268).
3
The typical rent in Lemon Grove is $1,893 a month, 16% less than in San Diego County as a whole ($2,246).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Lemon Grove
What homes there are in Lemon Grove, 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
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
United States
Kind of home: Lemon Grove and its comparisons
Measure
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
United States
Detached house
62%
50%
57%
61%
Attached house
9%
10%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
9%
7%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
21%
30%
24%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
3%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
In Lemon Grove, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in San Diego County, 5.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
United States
Year built: Lemon Grove and its comparisons
Measure
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
United States
Before 1960
39%
17%
27%
26%
1960–1979
33%
33%
29%
24%
1980–1999
16%
30%
25%
25%
2000–2009
7%
12%
11%
14%
2010 or later
6%
8%
8%
11%
The typical home in Lemon Grove was built in 1969, 11 years before the typical one in San Diego County.
By size, homes in Lemon Grove look like those in San Diego County: 52% have 3 bedrooms or more.
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–$500K10%
$500K–$750K41%
$750K–$1M37%
$1M or more5%
Value of owner-occupied homes: Lemon Grove and its comparisons
Measure
Lemon Grove
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
10%
$500K–$750K
41%
$750K–$1M
37%
$1M or more
5%
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49923%
$1,500–$1,99927%
$2,000–$2,49917%
$2,500–$2,99915%
$3,000 or more13%
Monthly rent with utilities: Lemon Grove and its comparisons
Measure
Lemon Grove
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
23%
$1,500–$1,999
27%
$2,000–$2,499
17%
$2,500–$2,999
15%
$3,000 or more
13%
With a mortgage
$2,538 a month
San Diego County: $3,184 a month
Without a mortgage
$615 a month
San Diego County: $871 a month
Owners with a mortgage
85%
San Diego County: 70%
The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Lemon Grove is $2,538 a month, less than in San Diego County ($3,184); without one, $615.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Lemon Grove+63%
San Diego County+52%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Lemon Grove+42%
San Diego County+36%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Lemon Grove+39%
San Diego County+35%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Lemon Grove and its comparisons
Measure
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
United States
Typical home value
+63%
+52%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+42%
+36%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+39%
+35%
+32%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Lemon Grove rose 63%; in San Diego County, it rose 52%.
The typical rent in Lemon Grove rose 42% over the same time; in San Diego County, it rose 36%.
Housing prices ran ahead of income in Lemon Grove: typical income rose 39%, against +63% for home values and +42% for rent.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Lemon Grove and its comparisons
Measure
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.9%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
8.3%
6.5%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
3.00
2.72
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
76%
66%
66%
69%
Carpool
9%
8%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
2%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
4%
3%
3%
Work from home
11%
19%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
More households are short on space in Lemon Grove: 8.3% have more than one person per room; in San Diego County, 6.5%.
On average, a household in Lemon Grove has 3.00 people, more than in San Diego County (2.72).
In Lemon Grove, 76% of workers drive alone to work; in San Diego County, 66%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Lemon Grove?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Lemon Grove, worth $705,400, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 78% of the typical household income in Lemon Grove, which is $88,009 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $243,936 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of San Diego 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 Lemon Grove. 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 $24,689 (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
$5,692
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$692,623
Total interest
$996,523
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $11,912 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $2,054 a month
Tight
$2,054 to $2,640 a month
Hard
more than $2,640 a month
Your payment · 78%
Compared with the typical household income in Lemon Grove ($88,009 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$4,692
Property tax
$394
Home insurance
$294
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$312
You need at least $24,689 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 $5,692; principal and interest $4,692.
The city and its county
Lemon Grove and San Diego County
Lemon Grove is in San Diego 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).
Lemon Grove
Map of San Diego County, California, with Lemon Grove marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
Other cities with a page
Lemon Grove's own numbers
Typical home value
$705,400
Typical monthly rent
$1,893
Typical yearly household income
$88,009
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
0.67%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of San Diego County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,104,000
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,104,000
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,823
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+54%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.5%
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 San Diego County.
A typical home in Lemon Grove is worth $705,400: 17% below the county and 4% below California. With the typical household income in Lemon Grove ($88,009 a year), a typical home costs 8.0 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.
Lemon Grove8.0 years
San Diego8.0 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in San Diego County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in San Diego County rose 99% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of San Diego County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in San Diego County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +7.4% +7.4% 2016
2017: +7.1% +7.1% 2017
2018: +6.0% +6.0% 2018
2019: +2.9% +2.9% 2019
2020: +3.4% +3.4% 2020
2021: +13.8% +13.8% 2021
2022: +18.2% +18.2% 2022
2023: +5.7% +5.7% 2023
2024: +7.3% +7.3% 2024
2025: +0.7% +0.7% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in San Diego County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+0.7%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+54%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+99%
+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
Lemon Grove next to San Diego 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
Lemon Grove$705,400
San Diego$854,700
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Lemon Grove$1,893
San Diego$2,246
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Lemon Grove$88,009
San Diego$106,268
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Lemon Grove next to San Diego County and California
Measure
Lemon Grove
San Diego County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$705,400 ▼17% below the county
$854,700
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,893 ▼16% below the county
$2,246
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$88,009 ▼17% below the county
$106,268
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
52% ▼2 points below the county
55%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,752 ▼18% below the county
$5,774
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.67% ▼0.01 points below the county
0.68%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
62% ▲4 points above the county
58%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below San Diego 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 Lemon Grove
For a typical $705,400 home in Lemon Grove, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Lemon Grove's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$5,692a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$24,689
Cash to close
$45,851
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $312
Conventional, 5% down$5,563a month
Down payment
$35,270
Cash to close
$56,432
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $335
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$4,511a month
Down payment
$141,080
Cash to close
$162,242
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$5,163a month
Down payment
$105,810
Cash to close
$126,972
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Lemon Grove
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$5,692
$24,689
$692,623
7.18%
FHA MIP · $312
$45,851
580
Conventional, 5% down
$5,563
$35,270
$670,130
7.18%
PMI · $335
$56,432
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$4,511
$141,080
$564,320
7.18%
None
$162,242
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$5,163
$105,810
$599,590
8.18%
None
$126,972
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 Lemon Grove is $1,893 a month: 16% below the county. In Lemon Grove, 62% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of San Diego County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,823 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $54.29 an hour working full time.
HUD lists 4 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Lemon Grove. These are the largest.
St. Johns Plaza Apartments8150 Broadway, Lemon Grove 91945100 homes, 99 low-income · For older adults(619) 466-5354
Citronica Two7701 North Ave, Lemon Grove 9194580 homes, 79 low-income · 1 bd: 79 · 2 bd: 1 · In service since 2014 · For older adults, people experiencing homelessness
Citronica One7775 North Ave, Lemon Grove 9194556 homes, 55 low-income · Studio: 4 · 1 bd: 11 · 2 bd: 21 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2013 · For families
Citron Court7385 Broadway, Lemon Grove 9194536 homes, 35 low-income · Studio: 4 · 1 bd: 10 · 2 bd: 10 · 3 bd: 12 · In service since 2009 · For families
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 4 HUD-approved agencies with an office in San Diego County; 4 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Lemon Grove or San Diego County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Lemon Grove 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 Lemon Grove or San Diego 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 Lemon Grove and all of San Diego 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 Lemon Grove?
The typical home value in Lemon Grove is $705,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in San Diego County it is $854,700.
How much does it cost to rent in Lemon Grove?
Typical rent in Lemon Grove is $1,893 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in San Diego County is $2,823.
What is the FHA loan limit in Lemon Grove?
Lemon Grove uses the FHA limit for all of San Diego County (2026): $1,104,000 for a one-unit home and $2,123,100 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in Lemon Grove?
The typical homeowner in Lemon Grove pays $4,752 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.67% of the home’s value; in San Diego County, the rate is 0.68%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Lemon Grove?
There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in San Diego County. 4 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
