California Housing Affordability Index
Daily affordability score for California compared to the national average. Updated every night using live mortgage rates and U.S. Census Bureau income and home value data.
California Affordability Ranking
California MBR-HAI · 90-Day Trend
Dashed line = national average. Amber dashed line = 100 baseline. Score updates each morning after the nightly rate aggregation run.
Key Affordability Factors · California
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey and Current Population Survey. Mortgage rate from MBR live rate database.
How California Ranks Among All States
| Rank | State | MBR-HAI Score | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲ See top 47 states → | |||
| 48 | Dist. of Columbia | 78.7 | Moderately Less Affordable |
| 49 | Massachusetts | 77.8 | Moderately Less Affordable |
| 50 | Hawaii | 70.7 | Moderately Less Affordable |
| 51 | California You are here | 68.4 | Significantly Less Affordable |
Showing states ranked near California · May 26, 2026 • View complete national rankings →
Download California HAI Data
2026-05-26,CA,68.4,100.0,6.732
Daily scores for all 51 states, filter by state or date in Excel or Google Sheets.
All States (CSV)Press & Citation Resources · California
Ready-to-publish sentences using today's California data, an email template you can send to clients, and direct contact for press inquiries or custom data requests.
Ready-to-Publish Sentences
Each sentence updates daily with the live California score. Free for editorial use with attribution to MonitorBankRates.
In California, the MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index stood at 68.4 on May 26, 2026, ranking #51 of 51 U.S. states for homeownership affordability and indicating significantly less affordable conditions relative to the national baseline. The state-level reading combines California's 30-year mortgage rate average of 6.732% with U.S. Census Bureau housing values, household income, property taxes, and cost burden data.
“California's MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index score of 68.4 places it #51 of 51 nationwide. Below the 100 baseline, that means buyer purchasing power in California is weaker than the long-run national average computed at a 6.5% mortgage rate. The state's 30-year average is currently 6.732%, and the index lags the national average.”
Brian McKay, MonitorBankRates
🏠 MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index. California: 68.4 (Significantly Less Affordable), rank #51 of 51 states. 30-yr mortgage avg: 6.73%. National baseline = 100. Updated daily · via @MonitorBankRates → https://www.monitorbankrates.com/housing-affordability-index/california/
Housing affordability in California is currently sitting at 68.4 on the MonitorBankRates (MBR) Housing Affordability Index, ranking it #51 of 51 U.S. states. With 100 representing the long-term national baseline at a 6.5% reference rate, California's 30-year mortgage rate of 6.73% reflects significantly less affordable conditions for local buyers. The state lags the national average as a whole.
Mortgage Broker Email Template
Pre-written client update for California homebuyers. Personalize the bracketed fields and send.
For Press & Researchers
The California MBR-HAI is free to cite for editorial, academic, and policy use with attribution. We're happy to provide additional support:
- Custom data cuts: California metros, MSAs, or historical slices on request
- Embargo-friendly releases: give us 24 hours notice for scheduled coverage
- Background interviews: methodology, market context, or commentary on rate moves
- Direct contact: contact form or reply to any address listed there
For our published citation history and recent media mentions, see MBR in the Press.
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