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City · 63,157 residents · Tulare County, California

Porterville , California

In Porterville, a typical home is worth $285,700 and typical rent is $1,148 a month. Compared with all of Tulare County, typical household income is 15% lower and the typical home value is 13% lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $285,700

    13% below the county

    61% below California

    • Porterville
    • Tulare
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,148a month

    10% below the county

    44% below California

    • Porterville
    • Tulare
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $60,461a year

    15% below the county

    39% below California

    • Porterville
    • Tulare
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    54%

    4 points below the county

    2 points below California

    • Porterville
    • Tulare
    • California

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$327,631
1.5% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,475 a month
4.1% more than 12 months ago

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

Porterville is in Tulare 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 Tulare County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Porterville apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Earlimart, the typical rent is $965: 16% less than in Porterville ($1,148).

  2. Porterville has the 42nd lowest typical rent of the 648 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($1,148).

  3. The typical household income in Porterville is $60,461, 15% less than in Tulare County as a whole ($71,300).

  4. Porterville has the 48th lowest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($285,700).

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

The homes here

Housing in Porterville

What homes there are in Porterville, 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

In Porterville, 7 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Tulare County, 8.

Year built

By age, homes in Porterville look like those in Tulare County: the typical year built is 1980.

Homes in Porterville are smaller: 63% have 3 bedrooms or more; in Tulare County, 69%.

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

By price, most homes in Porterville sit under the FHA limit for Tulare County ($541,287): about 96%.

Monthly rent with utilities

HUD's 2-bedroom fair market rent (FMR) for Tulare County is $1,450; about 70% of rents in Porterville are below it.

With a mortgage

$1,752 a month

Tulare County: $1,868 a month

Without a mortgage

$530 a month

Tulare County: $569 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Tulare County: 65%

Owning costs less in Porterville: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,752 a month; in Tulare County, $1,868. Without one, $530.

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

The typical home value in Porterville rose 66% since 2015–2019, more than in Tulare County (61%).

The typical rent in Porterville rose 22% over the same time; in Tulare County, it rose 36%.

While home values in Porterville changed +66% and rent +22%, the typical household income rose 38%.

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

MeasurePortervilleTulare CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate2.7%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room 11.1%10.4%8.2%3.4%
People per household 3.213.302.842.53
Drive alone 80%77%66%69%
Carpool 15%14%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate0%3%3%
Walk or bike 2%2%3%3%
Work from home 3%6%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Much as in Tulare County, 11.1% of households in Porterville have more than one person per room.

By size, households in Porterville look like those in Tulare County: 3.21 people on average.

The car rules in Porterville: 80% of workers drive to work alone, and the typical trip takes 10 to 19 minutes.

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 Porterville?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Porterville, worth $285,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in Porterville, which is $60,461 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $98,900 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Porterville. 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 $10,000 (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

$2,308

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$280,525
Total interest
$403,609
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,825 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,411 a month

  • Tight

    $1,411 to $1,814 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,814 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in Porterville ($60,461 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,308
Principal & interest$1,900
Property tax$162
Home insurance$119
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$126

You need at least $10,000 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

Porterville and Tulare County

Porterville is in Tulare 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).

Porterville's own numbers

Typical home value
$285,700
Typical monthly rent
$1,148
Typical yearly household income
$60,461
Households that own their home
54%
Effective property tax rate
0.68%

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

Numbers for all of Tulare County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,450
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+53%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
14%

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 Tulare County.

Everything about Tulare County

Buying

Buying a home in Porterville

A typical home in Porterville is worth $285,700: 13% below the county and 61% below California. With the typical household income in Porterville ($60,461 a year), a typical home costs 4.7 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.

  • Porterville 4.7 years
  • Tulare 4.6 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Tulare County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Tulare County rose 102% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.8% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +53% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +102% +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

Porterville next to Tulare 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
  • Porterville $285,700
  • Tulare $330,100
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Porterville $1,148
  • Tulare $1,280
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Porterville $60,461
  • Tulare $71,300
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Porterville next to Tulare County and California
Measure Porterville Tulare County California U.S.
Typical home value $285,700 $330,100 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,148 $1,280 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $60,461 $71,300 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 54% 58% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,946 $2,318 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.68% 0.7% 0.7% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 55% 50% 55% 51%

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

For a typical $285,700 home in Porterville, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Porterville's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,308a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $10,000
    Cash to close
    $18,571
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $126

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,255a month

    Down payment
    $14,285
    Cash to close
    $22,856
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $136

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,829a month

    Down payment
    $57,140
    Cash to close
    $65,711
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,093a month

    Down payment
    $42,855
    Cash to close
    $51,426
    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 Porterville and for Tulare County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Porterville

0.68%of the home’s value each year

$1,946 a year for the typical owner in Porterville.

  • Porterville 0.68%
  • Tulare 0.7%
  • California 0.7%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Tulare County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
14%
18,585
Of those, with NFIP insurance
20%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 14% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 20% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Porterville

Typical rent in Porterville is $1,148 a month: 10% below the county. In Porterville, 55% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Tulare County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,450 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $27.88 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Tulare 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 $1,101 $21.17 $44,040
1 bedroom $1,108 $21.31 $44,320
2 bedrooms $1,450 $27.88 $58,000
3 bedrooms $1,995 $38.37 $79,800
4 bedrooms $2,338 $44.96 $93,520

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 Porterville

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Porterville is in ZIP code 93257.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,340: $110 less than the fair market rent for Tulare County ($1,450).

  • 93257 $1,340$1,840

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

HUD lists 12 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Porterville. These are the largest.

  • Tulare Group 45 Salisbury St, Porterville 93257 250 homes, 244 low-income · 1 bd: 129 · 2 bd: 105 · 3 bd: 16 · In service since 2008
  • Porterville 504 W Morton Ave, Porterville 93257 111 low-income homes · Run by Tulare County Housing Authority · Average payment: $121 a month (559) 627-3700
  • Santa Fe Plaza 250 N 3rd St, Porterville 93257 105 low-income homes · For older adults (559) 781-7879
  • Villa Robles Apts 450 W Springville Dr, Porterville 93257 100 homes, 99 low-income · 2 bd: 8 · 3 bd: 64 · 4 bd: 28 · In service since 2013 · For families
  • Park View Village 550 W Springville Dr, Porterville 93257 81 homes, 80 low-income · 2 bd: 41 · 3 bd: 40 · In service since 2004 · For families

See all 92 buildings in Tulare County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Porterville

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 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Tulare County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man smiles on a bench outside his apartment building.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Porterville

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

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

  • Community Services and Employment Training, Inc. (CSET)

    312 NW 3rd Ave, Visalia · 24 miles away

    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (559) 732-4194

  • Self Help Enterprises

    8445 W Elowin Ct, Visalia · 28 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 3 more
    (559) 802-1664

  • Southwest Fresno Development Corp

    1424 W California Ave, Fresno · 63 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 4 more
    (559) 209-8031

Every agency in Tulare County All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Porterville

None 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 Porterville

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

  • Tulare County Housing Authority Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (559) 627-3700

All housing agencies in California Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Tulare County

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

Everything about Tulare County Housing in California

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Tulare 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 Porterville.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Porterville

Short answers with the numbers for Porterville and all of Tulare 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 Porterville?

The typical home value in Porterville is $285,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Tulare County it is $330,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Porterville?

Typical rent in Porterville is $1,148 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Tulare County is $1,450.

What is the FHA loan limit in Porterville?

Porterville uses the FHA limit for all of Tulare 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 Porterville?

The typical homeowner in Porterville pays $1,946 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.68% of the home’s value; in Tulare County, the rate is 0.7%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Tulare County. 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).