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City · 5,988 residents · Imperial County, California

Salton City , California

In Salton City, a typical home is worth $200,600 and typical rent is $1,372 a month. Compared with all of Imperial County, the typical home value is 35% lower, typical rent is 30% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 31 points higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $200,600

    35% below the county

    73% below California

    • Salton City
    • Imperial
    • California

  • Typical rent

    $1,372a month

    30% above the county

    33% below California

    • Salton City
    • Imperial
    • California

  • Typical household income

    $47,827a year

    17% below the county

    52% below California

    • Salton City
    • Imperial
    • California

  • Households that own their home

    88%

    31 points above the county

    32 points above California

    • Salton City
    • Imperial
    • California

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

Salton City is in Imperial 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 Imperial County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Salton City apart

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

  1. 88% of households in Salton City own their home, against 57% in Imperial County.

  2. Salton City has the 2nd lowest typical home value of the 654 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($200,600).

  3. Salton City has the 16th lowest typical household income of the 659 cities in California with more than 5,000 people ($47,827).

  4. Nearby, in Mecca, the typical rent is $916: 33% less than in Salton City ($1,372).

  5. The typical rent in Salton City is $1,372 a month, 30% more than in Imperial County as a whole ($1,056).

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

The homes here

Housing in Salton City

What homes there are in Salton City, 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 Salton City, 9 in 10 homes are single-family detached houses; in Imperial County, 6.

Year built

Homes in Salton City are newer: the typical year built is 2002; in Imperial County, 1988.

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
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,401 a month

Imperial County: $1,774 a month

Without a mortgage

$472 a month

Imperial County: $554 a month

Owners with a mortgage

39%

Imperial County: 59%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Salton City is $1,401 a month, less than in Imperial County ($1,774); without one, $472.

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

Homes in Salton City gained value more slowly than in Imperial County: 52% since 2015–2019, against 58%.

The typical rent in Salton City rose 40% over the same time; in Imperial County, it rose 27%.

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

MeasureSalton CityImperial CountyCaliforniaUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate3.3%4.2%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate9.9%8.2%3.4%
People per household 2.943.492.842.53
Drive alone 83%79%66%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate9%10%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate3%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%3%3%
Work from home Unreliable estimate7%17%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate2%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Salton City are smaller: 2.94 people on average; in Imperial County, 3.49.

In Salton City, 83% of workers drive alone to work; in Imperial County, 79%.

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 Salton City?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Salton City, worth $200,600, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 42% of the typical household income in Salton City, which is $47,827 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $72,164 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Salton City. 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 $7,021 (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

$1,684

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$196,967
Total interest
$283,389
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $3,388 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,116 a month

  • Tight

    $1,116 to $1,435 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,435 a month

    Your payment · 42%

Compared with the typical household income in Salton City ($47,827 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$1,684
Principal & interest$1,334
Property tax$177
Home insurance$84
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$89

You need at least $7,021 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

Salton City and Imperial County

Salton City is in Imperial 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).

Salton City's own numbers

Typical home value
$200,600
Typical monthly rent
$1,372
Typical yearly household income
$47,827
Households that own their home
88%
Effective property tax rate
1.06%

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

Numbers for all of Imperial County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,347
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+60%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
1.4%

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 Imperial County.

Everything about Imperial County

Buying

Buying a home in Salton City

A typical home in Salton City is worth $200,600: 35% below the county and 73% below California. With the typical household income in Salton City ($47,827 a year), a typical home costs 4.2 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.

  • Salton City 4.2 years
  • Imperial 5.4 years
  • California 7.4 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Imperial County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Imperial County rose 109% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County California U.S.
Last year (2025) +7.3% +0.8% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +60% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +109% +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

Salton City next to Imperial 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
  • Salton City $200,600
  • Imperial $309,600
  • California $734,700
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Salton City $1,372
  • Imperial $1,056
  • California $2,036
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Salton City $47,827
  • Imperial $57,681
  • California $99,122
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Salton City next to Imperial County and California
Measure Salton City Imperial County California U.S.
Typical home value $200,600 $309,600 $734,700 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,372 $1,056 $2,036 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $47,827 $57,681 $99,122 $80,734
Households that own their home 88% 57% 56% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,123 $2,394 $5,124 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.06% 0.77% 0.7% 0.94%

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

For a typical $200,600 home in Salton City, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Salton City's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $1,684a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $7,021
    Cash to close
    $13,039
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $89

  • Conventional, 5% down $1,647a month

    Down payment
    $10,030
    Cash to close
    $16,048
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $95

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,348a month

    Down payment
    $40,120
    Cash to close
    $46,138
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,533a month

    Down payment
    $30,090
    Cash to close
    $36,108
    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 Salton City and for Imperial County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Salton City

1.06%of the home’s value each year

$2,123 a year for the typical owner in Salton City.

  • Salton City 1.06%
  • Imperial 0.77%
  • California 0.7%

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

Exemptions and deadlines in California

Flood risk in Imperial County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
1.4%
601
Of those, with NFIP insurance
4.2%
County California U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 1.4% 2.8% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 4.2% 31% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Salton City

Typical rent in Salton City is $1,372 a month: 30% above the county.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Imperial County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,347 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $25.90 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Imperial 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 $938 $18.04 $37,520
1 bedroom $1,030 $19.81 $41,200
2 bedrooms $1,347 $25.90 $53,880
3 bedrooms $1,819 $34.98 $72,760
4 bedrooms $2,251 $43.29 $90,040

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 Salton City

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Salton City has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,510 in 92275 to $1,990 in 92274.

2 of the 2 are above the fair market rent for Imperial County ($1,347).

  • 92274 $1,990$2,630
  • 92275 $1,510$2,040

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Salton City 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?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Salton City

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 Imperial 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 Salton City

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

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

  • Coachella Valley Housing Coalition

    45701 Monroe St Ste G, Indio · 33 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 4 more
    (760) 347-3157

  • Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc.- Palm Springs

    190 W Amado Rd, Palm Springs · 50 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Fair housing pre-purchase workshops
    • and 4 more
    (760) 864-1541

  • Urban League of San Diego County

    4305 University Ave Ste 360, San Diego · 76 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in other languages.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (619) 266-6237

All counseling agencies in California

Help in Spanish near Salton City

3 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 Salton City

In HUD’s record, no housing authority with an office in Imperial County is named for Salton City or Imperial County.

2 other authorities have an office in Imperial County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Imperial County

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

Everything about Imperial County Housing in California

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Salton City, with the typical home value.

Neighboring counties

If Imperial 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 Salton City.

All guides
A father and mother walk their son by the hand down the sidewalk.

Questions

Housing questions about Salton City

Short answers with the numbers for Salton City and all of Imperial 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 Salton City?

The typical home value in Salton City is $200,600, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Imperial County it is $309,600.

How much does it cost to rent in Salton City?

Typical rent in Salton City is $1,372 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Imperial County is $1,347.

What is the FHA loan limit in Salton City?

Salton City uses the FHA limit for all of Imperial 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 Salton City?

The typical homeowner in Salton City pays $2,123 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.06% of the home’s value; in Imperial County, the rate is 0.77%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Imperial 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).