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City · 13,136 residents · St. Mary's County, Maryland

California , Maryland

In California, a typical home is worth $346,800 and typical rent is $1,927 a month. Compared with all of St. Mary's County, the typical home value is 15% lower, typical rent is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 10 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $346,800

    15% below the county

    17% below Maryland

    • California
    • St. Mary's
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $1,927a month

    10% above the county

    13% above Maryland

    • California
    • St. Mary's
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $119,855a year

    About the same as the county

    16% above Maryland

    • California
    • St. Mary's
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    63%

    10 points below the county

    5 points below Maryland

    • California
    • St. Mary's
    • Maryland

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$398,050
2.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$2,507 a month
1.1% more than 12 months ago

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

California is in St. Mary's 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 St. Mary's County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets California apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Cambridge, the typical rent is $1,058: 45% less than in California ($1,927).

  2. California has the 8th smallest share of rent-burdened renters of the 170 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people (32%).

  3. Nearby, in Cambridge, the typical home value is $257,900: 26% less than in California ($346,800).

  4. 63% of households in California own their home, against 73% in St. Mary's County.

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

The homes here

Housing in California

What homes there are in California, 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 houses are the majority in California (68%), but less so than in St. Mary's County (73%).

Year built

By age, homes in California look like those in St. Mary's County: the typical year built is 1994.

There are fewer big homes in California than in St. Mary's County: 75% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 80%.

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

$1,980 a month

St. Mary's County: $2,268 a month

Without a mortgage

$656 a month

St. Mary's County: $681 a month

Owners with a mortgage

74%

St. Mary's County: 71%

Owning costs less in California: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $1,980 a month; in St. Mary's County, $2,268. Without one, $656.

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 California rose 29% since 2015–2019, less than in St. Mary's County (35%).

The typical rent in California rose 23% since 2015–2019, about the same as in St. Mary's County (25%).

Income in California grew faster than housing: it rose 42%, while home values changed +29% and rent +23%.

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

MeasureCaliforniaSt. Mary's CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate1.4%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.472.652.572.53
Drive alone 74%72%65%69%
Carpool 5%6%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%4%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate3%2%3%
Work from home 18%18%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in California are smaller: 2.47 people on average; in St. Mary's County, 2.65.

To get to work, 74% of workers in California drive alone; in St. Mary's County, 72%.

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 California?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in California, worth $346,800, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 29% of the typical household income in California, which is $119,855 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $122,157 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in California. 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 $12,138 (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

$2,850

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$340,519
Total interest
$489,926
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,857 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,797 a month

  • Tight

    $2,797 to $3,596 a month

    Your payment · 29%

  • Hard

    more than $3,596 a month

Compared with the typical household income in California ($119,855 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,850
Principal & interest$2,307
Property tax$246
Home insurance$145
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$153

You need at least $12,138 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

California and St. Mary's County

California is in St. Mary's County, Maryland. 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).

California's own numbers

Typical home value
$346,800
Typical monthly rent
$1,927
Typical yearly household income
$119,855
Households that own their home
63%
Effective property tax rate
0.85%

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

Numbers for all of St. Mary's County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,787
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+43%
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 St. Mary's County.

Everything about St. Mary's County

Buying

Buying a home in California

A typical home in California is worth $346,800: 15% below the county and 17% below Maryland. With the typical household income in California ($119,855 a year), a typical home costs 2.9 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.

  • California 2.9 years
  • St. Mary's 3.4 years
  • Maryland 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in St. Mary's County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in St. Mary's County rose 60% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of St. Mary's County.

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +6.1% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +43% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +60% +60% +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

California next to St. Mary's County, Maryland and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • California $346,800
  • St. Mary's $407,600
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • California $1,927
  • St. Mary's $1,747
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • California $119,855
  • St. Mary's $119,446
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
California next to St. Mary's County and Maryland
Measure California St. Mary's County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $346,800 $407,600 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,927 $1,747 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $119,855 $119,446 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 63% 73% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $2,963 $3,424 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.85% 0.84% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 32% 46% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below St. Mary's 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 California

For a typical $346,800 home in California, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, California's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,850a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,138
    Cash to close
    $22,542
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $153

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,787a month

    Down payment
    $17,340
    Cash to close
    $27,744
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $165

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,270a month

    Down payment
    $69,360
    Cash to close
    $79,764
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,590a month

    Down payment
    $52,020
    Cash to close
    $62,424
    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 California and for St. Mary's County.

Property tax

Effective rate in California

0.85%of the home’s value each year

$2,963 a year for the typical owner in California.

  • California 0.85%
  • St. Mary's 0.84%
  • Maryland 0.97%

What Maryland publishes Homestead tax credit (cap on yearly assessment increases) (Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax-Property Article))

Exemptions and deadlines in Maryland

Flood risk in St. Mary's County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of St. Mary's County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
2.3%
957
Of those, with NFIP insurance
55%
County Maryland U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 2.3% 1.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 55% 74% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in California

Typical rent in California is $1,927 a month: 10% above the county. In California, 32% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of St. Mary's County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,787 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $34.37 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of St. Mary's 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 $1,328 $25.54 $53,120
1 bedroom $1,642 $31.58 $65,680
2 bedrooms $1,787 $34.37 $71,480
3 bedrooms $2,242 $43.12 $89,680
4 bedrooms $2,853 $54.87 $114,120

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 California

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). California has 3 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,680 in 20634 to $2,060 in 20619.

1 of the 3 is above the fair market rent for St. Mary's County ($1,787).

  • 20619 $2,060$2,580
  • 20634 $1,680$2,110
  • 20653 $1,710$2,150

3 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for California 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 California

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 St. Mary's County. The nearest ones are below; many serve by phone or online.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in California

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for California or St. Mary's County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in California the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Maryland

  • MMP 1st Time Advantage

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers, with a deferred 0% second mortgage for the down payment: $6,000, or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • MMP Flex Loans

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; Flex 6000 brings $6,000 and Flex 3% brings 3% of the loan for the down payment, as a deferred 0% second loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Maryland SmartBuy

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program loan of up to 15% of the price (maximum $25,000) to pay off your student debt when you buy a home; no interest or monthly payments, and forgiven after five years if you stay in the home. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near California

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

  • Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action

    8371 Old Leonardtown Rd, Hughesville · 23 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (301) 274-4474

  • Habitat for Humanity Choptank

    29349 Maple Ave, Trappe · 34 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 8 more
    (410) 476-3204

  • Housing Options & Planning Enterprises, Inc.

    6188 Oxon Hill Rd Ste 700, Oxon Hill · 44 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 11 more
    (301) 567-3330

All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near California

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves 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 California

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

  • Housing Authority of St. Mary's County, MD Public housing and Section 8 vouchers (301) 880-7074

All housing agencies in Maryland Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in St. Mary's County

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

Everything about St. Mary's County Housing in Maryland

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If St. Mary's 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 California.

All guides
A mother holds hands with her two daughters on the beach at sunset.

Questions

Housing questions about California

Short answers with the numbers for California and all of St. Mary's 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 California?

The typical home value in California is $346,800, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in St. Mary's County it is $407,600.

How much does it cost to rent in California?

Typical rent in California is $1,927 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in St. Mary's County is $1,787.

What is the FHA loan limit in California?

California uses the FHA limit for all of St. Mary's 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 California?

The typical homeowner in California pays $2,963 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.85% of the home’s value; in St. Mary's County, the rate is 0.84%.

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

We found no HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in St. Mary's 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).