We all know California is one of the most-expensive places to live in the U.S., but the annual release of median incomes and state standards for affordable housing are always enlightening. And after years of substantial increases—particularly for Southern California—it appears the growth has begun to slow down.
Statewide, the median income for a four-person household now stands at $111,300. The threshold increases for metropolitan counties to a median income of $111,900, while non-metropolitan counties stand at $87,900.
State Income Limits apply to designated programs, are used to determine applicant eligibility and may be used to calculate affordable housing costs for applicable housing assistance programs. The Department of Housing and Urban Development annually updates its Public Housing and Section 8 Income Limits to reflect changes in median family income levels for different size households and income limits for extremely low-, very low-, and low-income households.
The 2024 thresholds in SoCal saw only modest upticks, if at all. L.A. County actually remains unchanged, with a median limit of $98,200 for a four-person household. The median income for a four-person household in Orange County is now $129,000. Riverside County, San Bernardino County, San Diego County and Ventura County also saw small increases.
In NorCal, the Santa Clara County median income for a four-person household is up to $184,300. San Francisco County came in at $186,600, as did San Mateo County.
In the valley, Sacramento County clocked in at $113,900. Same for neighboring Placer County.
To see the full county-by-county breakdown, click here.