City · 31,720 residents · Contra Costa County, California
San Pablo, California
In San Pablo, a typical home is worth $551,700 and typical rent is $2,018 a month. Compared with all of Contra Costa County, typical household income is 38% lower, the typical home value is 36% lower, and the share of households that own their home is 26 points lower.
Typical home value from Zillow, September 2021 to September 2026: from $593,254 to $553,824.
Typical rent
$2,375a month
Typical rent from Zillow, December 2025 to September 2026: from $2,256 to $2,375.
From Zillow (ZHVI/ZORI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).
San Pablo is in Contra Costa County. The FHA loan limit ($1,249,125 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Contra Costa County. See the county
What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.
1
42% of households in San Pablo own their home, against 68% in Contra Costa County.
2
The typical household income in San Pablo is $79,478,38% less than in Contra Costa County as a whole ($127,229).
3
The typical home in San Pablo is worth $551,700,36% less than in Contra Costa County as a whole ($866,800).
4
The typical rent in San Pablo is $2,018 a month, 15% less than in Contra Costa County as a whole ($2,375).
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).
The homes here
Housing in San Pablo
What homes there are in San Pablo, 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
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
United States
Kind of home: San Pablo and its comparisons
Measure
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
United States
Detached house
45%
68%
57%
61%
Attached house
13%
9%
7%
6%
Building of 2 to 4
12%
6%
8%
8%
Apartments (5 or more)
25%
17%
24%
19%
Mobile home
4%
1%
4%
6%
Boat, RV and other
Unreliable estimate
0%
0%
0%
Homes in San Pablo are varied: detached houses are the largest group, at 45%, against 68% in Contra Costa County.
Year built
Before 19601960–19791980–19992000–20092010 or later
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
United States
Year built: San Pablo and its comparisons
Measure
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
United States
Before 1960
35%
23%
27%
26%
1960–1979
29%
30%
29%
24%
1980–1999
21%
28%
25%
25%
2000–2009
12%
12%
11%
14%
2010 or later
3%
7%
8%
11%
Homes in San Pablo are older: the typical year built is 1969; in Contra Costa County, 1978.
What it costs here
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
Value of owner-occupied homes
Unreliable estimate
Under $100K8%
$100K–$200KUnreliable
$200K–$300KUnreliable
$300K–$500K28%
$500K–$750K47%
$750K–$1M10%
$1M or moreUnreliable
Value of owner-occupied homes: San Pablo and its comparisons
Measure
San Pablo
Under $100K
8%
$100K–$200K
Unreliable estimate
$200K–$300K
Unreliable estimate
$300K–$500K
28%
$500K–$750K
47%
$750K–$1M
10%
$1M or more
Unreliable estimate
Monthly rent with utilities
Unreliable estimate
Under $500Unreliable
$500–$9994%
$1,000–$1,49916%
$1,500–$1,99921%
$2,000–$2,49928%
$2,500–$2,99914%
$3,000 or more9%
Monthly rent with utilities: San Pablo and its comparisons
Measure
San Pablo
Under $500
Unreliable estimate
$500–$999
4%
$1,000–$1,499
16%
$1,500–$1,999
21%
$2,000–$2,499
28%
$2,500–$2,999
14%
$3,000 or more
9%
With a mortgage
$2,279 a month
Contra Costa County: $3,435 a month
Without a mortgage
$686 a month
Contra Costa County: $1,009 a month
Owners with a mortgage
63%
Contra Costa County: 71%
Owning costs less in San Pablo: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,279 a month; in Contra Costa County, $3,435. Without one, $686.
How it changed
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024
Change since 2015–2019
Typical home value
San Pablo+55%
Contra Costa County+39%
California+46%
United States+53%
Typical rent
San Pablo+43%
Contra Costa County+31%
California+36%
United States+33%
Typical household income
San Pablo+49%
Contra Costa County+28%
California+32%
United States+29%
Change since 2015–2019: San Pablo and its comparisons
Measure
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
United States
Typical home value
+55%
+39%
+46%
+53%
Typical rent
+43%
+31%
+36%
+33%
Typical household income
+49%
+28%
+32%
+29%
From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in San Pablo rose 55%; in Contra Costa County, it rose 39%.
Since 2015–2019, the typical rent in San Pablo rose 43%, more than in Contra Costa County (31%).
To compare: typical income in San Pablo rose 49%; the home, +55%; the rent, +43%.
How people live
U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024
How people live: San Pablo and its comparisons
Measure
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
United States
Rental vacancy
Unreliable estimate
2.8%
4.2%
5.5%
Homeowner vacancy
Unreliable estimate
0.7%
0.8%
0.9%
More than one person per room
18.2%
5.4%
8.2%
3.4%
People per household
3.18
2.78
2.84
2.53
Drive alone
64%
60%
66%
69%
Carpool
16%
10%
10%
9%
Public transit
6%
5%
3%
3%
Walk or bike
3%
2%
3%
3%
Work from home
9%
21%
17%
15%
Other means
Unreliable estimate
2%
2%
2%
Typical commute
Unreliable estimate
30 to 39 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
20 to 29 minutes
In San Pablo, 18.2% of households live with more than one person per room, against 5.4% in Contra Costa County.
Households in San Pablo are bigger: 3.18 people on average; in Contra Costa County, 2.78.
In San Pablo, 16% of workers share a car to get to work; in Contra Costa County, 10%.
Do the math
What would you pay each month for a home in San Pablo?
A typical home costs more than the typical income allows
We start with a typical home in San Pablo, worth $551,700, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 68% of the typical household income in San Pablo, which is $79,478 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $193,543 a year.
The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Contra Costa 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 San Pablo. 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 $19,310 (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
$4,516
at 7.18% · 30 years
Loan amount
$541,707
Total interest
$779,389
Paid off in
November 2056
Includes $9,317 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.
Does it fit the income?
Comfortable
up to $1,854 a month
Tight
$1,854 to $2,384 a month
Hard
more than $2,384 a month
Your payment · 68%
Compared with the typical household income in San Pablo ($79,478 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.
Monthly payment breakdown
Principal & interest
$3,670
Property tax
$372
Home insurance
$230
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)
$244
You need at least $19,310 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 $4,516; principal and interest $3,670.
The city and its county
San Pablo and Contra Costa County
San Pablo is in Contra Costa 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).
San Pablo
Map of Contra Costa County, California, with San Pablo marked. Around it, the neighboring counties.
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
Other cities with a page
San Pablo's own numbers
Typical home value
$551,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,018
Typical yearly household income
$79,478
Households that own their home
42%
Effective property tax rate
0.81%
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).
Numbers for all of Contra Costa County
FHA limit, one-unit home
$1,249,125
Conventional limit, one unit
$1,249,125
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,805
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+31%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
2.3%
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 Contra Costa County.
A typical home in San Pablo is worth $551,700: 36% below the county and 25% below California. With the typical household income in San Pablo ($79,478 a year), a typical home costs 6.9 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.
San Pablo6.9 years
Contra Costa6.8 years
California7.4 years
United States4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024
How prices have changed in Contra Costa County
According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Contra Costa County rose 71% in the 10 years through 2025.
FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Contra Costa County.
Yearly change in FHFA’s price index in Contra Costa County, 2016 to 2025
2016: +10.3% +10.3% 2016
2017: +7.5% +7.5% 2017
2018: +7.0% +7.0% 2018
2019: +2.2% +2.2% 2019
2020: +1.1% +1.1% 2020
2021: +13.7% +13.7% 2021
2022: +14.5% +14.5% 2022
2023: −1.7% −1.7% 2023
2024: +1.9% +1.9% 2024
2025: −0.0% −0.0% 2025
Change in FHFA’s price index in Contra Costa County, California and the United States
Period
County
California
U.S.
Last year (2025)
−0.0%
+0.8%
+2.9%
5 years (2020–2025)
+31%
+40%
+47%
10 years (2015–2025)
+71%
+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
San Pablo next to Contra Costa 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
San Pablo$551,700
Contra Costa$866,800
California$734,700
United States$332,700
Typical monthly rent
San Pablo$2,018
Contra Costa$2,375
California$2,036
United States$1,413
Typical yearly household income
San Pablo$79,478
Contra Costa$127,229
California$99,122
United States$80,734
See the full table
San Pablo next to Contra Costa County and California
Measure
San Pablo
Contra Costa County
California
U.S.
Typical home value
$551,700 ▼36% below the county
$866,800
$734,700
$332,700
Typical monthly rent
$2,018 ▼15% below the county
$2,375
$2,036
$1,413
Typical yearly household income
$79,478 ▼38% below the county
$127,229
$99,122
$80,734
Households that own their home
42% ▼26 points below the county
68%
56%
65%
Typical yearly property tax
$4,461 ▼38% below the county
$7,156
$5,124
$3,119
Effective property tax rate
0.81% ▼0.02 points below the county
0.83%
0.7%
0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income
56%
56%
55%
51%
“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Contra Costa 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 San Pablo
For a typical $551,700 home in San Pablo, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, San Pablo's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.
FHA, 3.5% down$4,516a month
Least cash to close
Down payment
$19,310
Cash to close
$35,861
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
FHA MIP · $244
Conventional, 5% down$4,415a month
Down payment
$27,585
Cash to close
$44,136
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
PMI · $262
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI$3,592a month
Down payment
$110,340
Cash to close
$126,891
Rate
7.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
ITIN, 15% down (example)$4,102a month
Down payment
$82,755
Cash to close
$99,306
Rate
8.18%
Mortgage insurance
None
Four ways to pay for a typical home in San Pablo
Loan
Monthly payment
Down payment
Loan amount
Rate
Mortgage insurance
Cash to close
Minimum score
FHA, 3.5% down Least cash to close
$4,516
$19,310
$541,707
7.18%
FHA MIP · $244
$35,861
580
Conventional, 5% down
$4,415
$27,585
$524,115
7.18%
PMI · $262
$44,136
620*
Conventional, 20% down, no PMI
$3,592
$110,340
$441,360
7.18%
None
$126,891
620*
ITIN, 15% down (example)
$4,102
$82,755
$468,945
8.18%
None
$99,306
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 San Pablo is $2,018 a month: 15% below the county. In San Pablo, 56% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.
HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Contra Costa County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,805 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $53.94 an hour working full time.
HUD fair market rent for all of Contra Costa County
What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.
HUD fair market rent in Contra Costa County (Fiscal year 2027)
Size
Fair rent a month
Hourly wage
Yearly income
Studio
$2,088
$40.15
$83,520
1 bedroom
$2,290
$44.04
$91,600
2 bedrooms
$2,805
$53.94
$112,200
3 bedrooms
$3,592
$69.08
$143,680
4 bedrooms
$4,250
$81.73
$170,000
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 San Pablo
HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). San Pablo is in ZIP code 94806.
For 2 bedrooms it is $2,630: $175 less than the fair market rent for Contra Costa County ($2,805).
Fair market rent by ZIP code and size in San Pablo, fiscal year 2027.
ZIP code
Studio
1 bd
2 bd
3 bd
4 bd
94806
$1,930
$2,150
$2,630
$3,360
$3,980
ZIP code2 bd3 bd
94806 $2,630$3,360
1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for San Pablo 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)
HUD lists 9 buildings with rents for lower incomes in San Pablo. These are the largest.
Hilltop Commons Apts15690 Crestwood Dr, San Pablo 94806324 homes, 169 low-income · 1 bd: 112 · 2 bd: 60 · In service since 2001
Vista del Camino100 Austin Ct, San Pablo 94806141 low-income homes · Run by Housing Authority of the County Contra Costa · Average payment: $601 a month · Average wait: 91 months(925) 957-8001
El Paseo Family Apts1150 Brookside Dr, San Pablo 94806132 homes, 130 low-income · 2 bd: 76 · 3 bd: 56 · In service since 2007 · For families
Giant Road Family Apts907 Lake St, San Pablo 9480686 homes, 84 low-income · 1 bd: 16 · 2 bd: 30 · 3 bd: 40 · In service since 2007 · For families
El Portal Gardens14041 San Pablo Ave, San Pablo 9480681 low-income homes · For older adults(510) 235-3900
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 Contra Costa County; 2 say they serve in Spanish.
No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for San Pablo or Contra Costa County. The ones below are statewide in California: they work in San Pablo 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 San Pablo or Contra Costa 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 San Pablo and all of Contra Costa 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 San Pablo?
The typical home value in San Pablo is $551,700, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Contra Costa County it is $866,800.
How much does it cost to rent in San Pablo?
Typical rent in San Pablo is $2,018 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Contra Costa County is $2,805.
What is the FHA loan limit in San Pablo?
San Pablo uses the FHA limit for all of Contra Costa County (2026): $1,249,125 for a one-unit home and $2,402,625 for a four-unit home.
How much property tax do owners pay in San Pablo?
The typical homeowner in San Pablo pays $4,461 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.81% of the home’s value; in Contra Costa County, the rate is 0.83%.
Where can I find free help to buy or rent in San Pablo?
There are 4 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Contra Costa County. 2 say they serve in Spanish. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.
