In Mojave, a typical home is worth $213,600 and typical rent is $1,214 a month. Compared with all of Kern County, the typical home value is 37% lower, typical household income is 21% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 22 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $198,592 to $236,430.
From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
Mojave is in Kern 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 Kern County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
Mojave has the 4th lowest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($213,600).
2
38% of households in Mojave own their home, against 60% in Kern County.
3
The typical household income in Mojave is $55,660,21% less than in Kern County as a whole ($70,210).
4
Mojave has the 60th lowest typical rent of the 648 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($1,214).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in Mojave
What homes there are in Mojave, 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
Mojave
Kern County
California
United States
Kind of home: Mojave and its comparisons
Measure
Mojave
Kern County
California
United States
Detached house
55%
72%
57%
61%
Attached house
Unreliable estimate
3%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
21%
8%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
Unreliable estimate
9%
24%
19%
Mobile home
Unreliable estimate
7%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
In Mojave, 6 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Kern County, 7.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or laterUnreliable estimate
Mojave
Kern County
California
United States
Year built: Mojave and its comparisons
Measure
Mojave
Kern County
California
United States
Before 1960
30%
18%
27%
26%
1960–1979
18%
25%
29%
24%
1980–1999
36%
30%
25%
25%
2000–2009
13%
17%
11%
14%
2010 or later
Unreliable estimate
10%
8%
11%
In Mojave, half of the homes were built before 1981; in Kern County, before 1984.
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–$300K33%
$300K–$500KUnreliable
$500K–$750KUnreliable
$750K–$1MUnreliable
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: Mojave and its comparisons
Measure
Mojave
Under $100K
Unreliable estimate
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
33%
$300K–$500K
Unreliable estimate
$500K–$750K
Unreliable estimate
$750K–$1M
Unreliable
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$999Unreliable
$1,000–$1,49944%
$1,500–$1,99919%
$2,000–$2,499Unreliable
$2,500–$2,999Unreliable
$3,000 or moreUnreliable
Monthly rent with utilities: Mojave and its comparisons
Measure
Mojave
Under $500
Unreliable
$500–$999
Unreliable estimate
$1,000–$1,499
44%
$1,500–$1,999
19%
$2,000–$2,499
Unreliable estimate
$2,500–$2,999
Unreliable estimate
$3,000 or more
Unreliable
With a mortgage
$1,497 a month
Kern County: $1,968 a month
Without a mortgage
$450 a month
Kern County: $631 a month
Owners with a mortgage
59%
Kern County: 66%
Owning costs less in Mojave: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,497 a month; in Kern County, $1,968. Without one, $450.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
Mojave+102%
Kern County+58%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
Mojave+67%
Kern County+33%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
Mojave+104%
Kern County+32%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: Mojave and its comparisons
Measure
Mojave
Kern County
California
United States
Typical home value
+102%
+58%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+67%
+33%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+104%
+32%
+32%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Mojave rose 102%; in Kern County, it rose 58%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in Mojave rose 67%, more than in Kern County (33%).
The typical household income in Mojave rose 104% over that time; home values changed +102% and rent +67%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: Mojave and its comparisons
Measure
Mojave
Kern County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
3.5%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.9%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
Unreliable estimate
9.8%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
2.98
3.12
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
76%
78%
66%
69%
Carpool
Unreliable estimate
11%
10%
9%
Public transit
Unreliable estimate
0%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
Unreliable estimate
1%
3%
3%
Work from home
Unreliable estimate
8%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
1%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
Much as in Kern County, a household in Mojave has 2.98 people on average.
To get to work, 76% of workers in Mojave drive alone; in Kern County, 78%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in Mojave?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in Mojave, worth $213,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 37% of the typical household income in Mojave, which is $55,660 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $72,569 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Kern 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 Mojave. 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 $7,476 (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
$1,693
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$209,731
Total interest
$301,754
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $3,607 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,299 a month
Tight
$1,299 to $1,670 a month
Hard
more than $1,670 a month
Your payment · 37%
Compared with the typical household income in Mojave ($55,660 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$1,421
Property tax
$89
Home insurance
$89
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$94
You need at least $7,476 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 $1,693; principal and interest $1,421.
The city and its county
Mojave and Kern County
Mojave is in Kern 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).
Mojave
Map of Kern County, California, with Mojave marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
Mojave
Kern County
Other cities with a page
Mojave's own numbers
Typical home value
$213,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,214
Typical yearly household income
$55,660
Households that own their home
38%
Effective property tax rate
0.5%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Kern County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,656
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
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 Kern County.
A typical home in Mojave is worth $213,600: 37% below the county and 71% below California. With the typical household income in Mojave ($55,660 a year), a typical home costs 3.8 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.
Mojave3.8 years
Kern4.8 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Kern County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Kern County rose 88% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Kern County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Kern County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +3.0% +3.0% 2016
2017: +4.0% +4.0% 2017
2018: +5.1% +5.1% 2018
2019: +4.8% +4.8% 2019
2020: +5.3% +5.3% 2020
2021: +15.2% +15.2% 2021
2022: +17.1% +17.1% 2022
2023: +4.8% +4.8% 2023
2024: +4.7% +4.7% 2024
2025: +2.0% +2.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Kern County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
+2.0%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+51%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+88%
+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
Mojave next to Kern 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
Mojave$213,600
Kern$338,300
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
Mojave$1,214
Kern$1,300
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
Mojave$55,660
Kern$70,210
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
Mojave next to Kern County and California
Measure
Mojave
Kern County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$213,600 ▼37% below the county
$338,300
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,214 ▼7% below the county
$1,300
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$55,660 ▼21% below the county
$70,210
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
38% ▼22 points below the county
60%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$1,064 ▼64% below the county
$2,984
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.5% ▼0.38 points below the county
0.88%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
56% ▼1 points below the county
56%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Kern 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 Mojave
For a typical $213,600 home in Mojave, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Mojave's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$1,693a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$7,476
Cash to close
$13,884
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $94
Conventional, 5% down$1,654a month
Down payment
$10,680
Cash to close
$17,088
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $101
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$1,336a month
Down payment
$42,720
Cash to close
$49,128
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$1,533a month
Down payment
$32,040
Cash to close
$38,448
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in Mojave
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$1,693
$7,476
$209,731
7.18%
FHA MIP · $94
$13,884
580
Conventional, 5% down
$1,654
$10,680
$202,920
7.18%
PMI · $101
$17,088
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$1,336
$42,720
$170,880
7.18%
None
$49,128
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$1,533
$32,040
$181,560
8.18%
None
$38,448
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 Mojave is $1,214 a month: 7% below the county. In Mojave, 56% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Kern County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,656 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $31.85 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 Kern County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$1,265
$24.33
$50,600
1 bedroom
$1,273
$24.48
$50,920
2 bedrooms
$1,656
$31.85
$66,240
3 bedrooms
$2,293
$44.10
$91,720
4 bedrooms
$2,768
$53.23
$110,720
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 Mojave
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Mojave is in ZIP code 93501.
For 2 bedrooms it is $1,590: $66 less than the fair market rent for Kern County ($1,656).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in Mojave, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
93501
$1,210
$1,220
$1,590
$2,200
$2,660
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
93501 $1,590$2,200
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Mojave 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.
We found no HUD-approved agencies with an office in Kern County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Mojave or Kern County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in Mojave 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 Mojave or Kern 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 Mojave and all of Kern 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 Mojave?
The typical home value in Mojave is $213,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Kern County it is $338,300.
How much does it cost to rent in Mojave?
Typical rent in Mojave is $1,214 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Kern County is $1,656.
What is the FHA loan limit in Mojave?
Mojave uses the FHA limit for all of Kern 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 Mojave?
The typical homeowner in Mojave pays $1,064 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.5% of the home’s value; in Kern County, the rate is 0.88%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Mojave?
We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Kern County; the nearest ones are on this page. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
